19th century, Europe, France, French, primary source, quotes
The range of jesterly skills included the capacity to versify, at least in improvising witty ditties, and there are instances of a court poet having something of the jester’s role. In some cases, such as in China, jesters were able to write poems which passed...
20th century, English, quotes, research
How much analysis of other countries and cultures, informing both policy and relations with others, gives consideration to what makes them laugh? Seriously. Trying to understand another country merely by reading its literature results in limited knowledge even when...
19th century, dramatic character, Europe, France, French, play, primary source, quotes
Angely in Victor Hugo’s play, Marion de Lorme, does not behave obviously like a jester until the scene he shares with the king, who says: ‘Come. You who are never frightened of my majesty, Light in my soul a ray of gaiety’. ‘Viens. ...
16th century, England, English, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Tudor
Sir Thomas More warns of the dangers of having ‘fun’ with the king. More had enough wit and humour to have been himself occasionally likened to a jester, and had his own jester at home. You often boast to me that you have the king’s ear and often have...
5th century, dramatic character, India, play, primary source, quotes, Sanskrit
Another neat riposte from vidusaka, the stock comic figure of Sanskrit drama, who bears a strikingly irreverant similarity to court jesters. Here, in Kalidasa’s in Malavika and Agnimitra,  the queen catches the king wooing a rival and vidusaka provides him a...
20th century, dramatic character, Europe, French, play, primary source, quotes
​A not uncommon trope in the jester-king relationship is the reversal of their roles, either in jest, or to provide a corrective to the king, or if the king is forced to take on the role of jester, as in Frank Wedekind’s play King Nicolo (1901). In another...
4th century BCE, Europe, Greece, Greek, primary source, quotes, stories
Philip, who pitches up at Xenophon’s symposium in search of a decent meal, seems to be a fall-flat flailing fool, and bears some resemblance to the parasite dinner-guest who sings (or jokes) for his supper. I love Philip’s sulking stance when nobody...
16th century, England, Europe, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tudor
Clod was jester to Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603), and he puns on his own name as part of an elaborate wheeze to talk the queen out of riding in the rain, which none of her attendants felt like doing. This is a good example of the interventions jesters could make, and be...
