Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Fool

A fool is a person who lacks wisdom, prudence, or good judgment, often behaving in a silly, reckless, or irrational manner. The term originates from the late 12th-century Old French fol, meaning "mad, insane, or foolish," derived from Latin follis, referring to a bellows or windbag, implying an empty-headed or inflated individual devoid of substance. This connotation of intellectual or moral deficiency has persisted across languages and cultures, frequently appearing in religious texts to denote those who reject divine wisdom or ethical principles. In historical contexts, particularly during the medieval and periods in , a fool often specifically denoted a or professional entertainer employed by and to provide amusement through wit, , music, and . These figures, dressed in distinctive attire including a hooded cap with bells and ass's ears, a parti-colored , and a bauble (a mock scepter), held a paradoxical social position: as licensed outsiders, they could mock authority and reveal uncomfortable truths that others dared not voice, serving as both and informal advisors to rulers. For instance, fools like Will Somers, to King Henry VIII of in the 16th century, influenced royal decisions by blending humor with candid observation, such as openly ridiculing Queen Anne Boleyn in 1535 without reprisal. Their role extended beyond entertainment to practical duties, including household chores, animal care, and even battlefield support, as exemplified by Taillefer, the dwarf of , who rallied troops and sang at the in 1066. The cultural archetype of the fool transcends , appearing globally as a wise critic or social mediator who uses folly to expose human vices and folly. In ancient , jesters such as Twisty Pole advised emperors on policy through clever riddles, while in , figures like amused and counseled in the 16th century. African traditions, including among the , featured griot-like fools who mocked leaders to prevent tyranny, and Native American "contraries" inverted behaviors to teach societal norms. In literature, the fool embodies this duality as a voice of truth amid chaos, notably in William Shakespeare's plays, where characters like the Fool in deliver profound insights through apparent nonsense, echoing the Bard's own line: "The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool." This enduring symbol highlights the fool's role in challenging power structures and celebrating the liberating potential of apparent absurdity.

Etymology and general meanings

Etymology

The word "fool" derives from the Latin , meaning "" or "leather bag," which metaphorically suggested or , evoking the idea of an empty-headed or windbag-like person lacking substance. This root traces back to the Proto-Indo-European bhel-(2), "to blow" or "swell," implying puffed-up similar to deflated bellows. From Latin, the term evolved through follus ("foolish") into fol (or fool), denoting "mad," "insane," or "" by the , with connotations of madness or senselessness. It entered as fole around the early 13th century, initially signifying a "silly, stupid, or ignorant person," often tied to the image of mental vacuity like an uninflated bag. By the , associations with buffoonery emerged, influenced by follis' secondary sense of "inflated speech" or "puffed cheeks" in Latin descriptions of clowns. The noun's development paralleled related forms like "," reinforcing paths through and idiocy. The modern French fou ("mad") directly descends from the same fol, maintaining the core sense of . Historical shifts expanded the word's usage: by the mid-14th century, it functioned as a meaning "to act foolishly," with transitive senses like "to fool" (dupe or beguile) appearing in the and the phrase "make a fool of" attested from the 1590s. These evolutions solidified "fool" as a term for both inherent silliness and deliberate , rooted primarily in the linguistic thread of inflated emptiness and mental derangement.

Definitions and usage

In contemporary English, the noun "fool" primarily denotes a person lacking judgment, prudence, or common sense, often used to describe someone who acts unwisely or impulsively. For example, the phrase "Only a fool would ignore the warning" illustrates this sense, emphasizing poor decision-making. Another key noun sense refers to a professional jester or buffoon employed in historical courts for entertainment, typically dressed in motley attire with a cap, bells, and bauble. As an insult, it can mean an idiot or simpleton, conveying disdain for perceived stupidity, as in calling someone a "complete fool" for a naive error. The adjective form "foolish," derived from the noun, implies silliness, imprudence, or a lack of good sense, often applied to actions or ideas rather than people directly. A "foolish mistake," for instance, highlights an avoidable error stemming from thoughtlessness. As a verb, "fool" means to deceive or trick someone into believing something false, as in "He fooled everyone with his ." It also signifies acting in a playfully silly or frivolous manner, such as "Stop fooling around," which carries a lighter, often neutral tone. The word's usage has evolved from a medieval for the mentally impaired or insane—rooted briefly in Latin follis (""), implying an empty-headed "windbag"—to a modern critiquing poor judgment, while phrases like "play the fool" retain neutral or affectionate connotations for jesting behavior.

The in and culture

Court jesters

Court jesters, also known as fools, originated in medieval during the 12th to 16th centuries as professional entertainers employed by and monarchs to provide amusement through jests, , , , and satirical commentary. These performers often donned distinctive attire—multicolored clothing symbolizing their chaotic role—and wore bells on their caps or shoes to announce their presence and enhance the comedic effect. Their social function extended beyond mere ; jesters served as tension relievers in rigid court environments, using humor to diffuse conflicts and offer indirect advice to rulers. A key aspect of the jester's role was their "license to fool," a privileged status granting them freedom to criticize authority figures, including the monarch, without fear of reprisal, as such remarks were framed as jests. This liberty was particularly evident in English courts under (r. 1509–1547), where jesters could mock the king's policies or personal failings to highlight truths others dared not voice. Jesters were categorized into two main types: "artificial fools," who were trained professionals skilled in and performance, and "natural fools," individuals with intellectual disabilities employed for their unfiltered, innocent behaviors that amused the court. The latter were valued for their perceived authenticity, though this practice reflected the era's limited understanding of disabilities. Prominent examples include , 's favored artificial fool from the 1520s to the 1560s, renowned for his sharp wit and ability to cheer the king during turbulent times, such as the . Sommers' longevity in service—he outlasted the king and entertained his successors—underscored the jester's integral place in court life. In , (c. 1480–1560) served kings , , and , embodying not just humor but profound insight; historical accounts portray him as a wise counselor who used to warn of national perils, later immortalized as a symbol of Polish intellect. By the 18th century, the tradition declined sharply in with the rise of professional theater and changing court dynamics, as staged performances replaced personal jesters and absolutist monarchies grew less tolerant of . While the model dominated, parallel roles existed globally; in ancient , court jesters like You Meng (serving King Zhuang of Chu, r. 613–591 BCE) used riddles and puns for entertainment and counsel, a practice that waned by the 16th–17th centuries. In the , jesters often overlapped with court dwarfs, who performed comic routines and light mockery from the 15th to 19th centuries, though without the full critical license of their counterparts.

The wise fool archetype

The represents a paradoxical figure whose apparent simplicity or idiocy conceals profound insight and truth, often challenging societal conventions through humor or absurdity. This trope emerged prominently in medieval during the Feast of Fools, a Christian celebrated around New Year's or Epiphany, where social hierarchies were temporarily inverted, allowing lower or commoners to mock authority figures and reveal hidden realities under the guise of festive folly. Historical manifestations of the wise fool appear in ancient texts, including the , where fools are contrasted with the wise to underscore moral lessons; for instance, Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction," portraying fools as those who reject superficial knowledge yet inadvertently highlight deeper truths through their disregard. In the , Desiderius Erasmus's Praise of (1511) elevated the by personifying Folly as a wise commentator on human affairs, arguing that folly sustains happiness and social bonds where rigid wisdom fails, as "children and fools always speak the truth." Psychologically, the wise fool embodies liberation from societal constraints, fostering spontaneity and unfiltered truth-telling via humor, which disrupts rigid norms and invites reflection. This figure aligns with Jung's , a element of the that exposes the irrationality of the conscious through playful subversion, as seen in myths where the trickster's antics reveal truths. The archetype's cultural impact persists in modern , where figures akin to court jesters—such as comedians critiquing power—use feigned foolishness to expose hypocrisies, echoing the fool's privileged role in truth-telling. A seminal literary example is de Cervantes's (1605–1615), whose protagonist's naive chivalric delusions yield unexpected wisdom, influencing portrayals of idealistic folly in and .

The fool in literature and arts

In Shakespearean works

In William , fools serve multifaceted roles, offering through witty banter and wordplay while delivering profound moral insights and sharp social critiques that other characters cannot voice without consequence. These figures, often privileged as "licensed fools," speak uncomfortable truths to power, exposing , , and the absurdities of . Shakespeare employs the term "fool" more than 300 times across his works, frequently to highlight the irony between apparent foolishness and genuine . Prominent among Shakespeare's fools is in Twelfth Night, a domestic in Olivia's household whose philosophical songs and observations underscore the play's themes of illusion and . Feste's clever retorts, such as his assertion that "foolery... does walk about the orb like the sun," reveal a keen intellect that complicates perceptions and reveals deeper truths about and identity. In , embodies the professional court , using his motley attire and satirical debates on and life to mock pretensions and affirm the value of honest simplicity over artificial sophistication. The Fool in stands as a poignant loyal advisor, remaining by the king's side to highlight Lear's descent into madness through poignant riddles and songs that blend humor with heartbreak. This character's unflinching honesty, as in his lament that Lear has become "" by abdicating power, positions the Fool as a voice of conscience amid tragedy. Shakespeare's portrayal of fools evolved from the simpler clowns of his early works, such as Costard in (circa 1594–1595), a rustic bumpkin whose malapropisms and literal-mindedness provide broad without deeper philosophical undertones. By contrast, later fools exhibit greater intellectual depth, exemplified by in (circa 1600), whose skull evokes reflections on mortality and the equalization of all in death, transforming the fool into a of universal human frailty. This development in Shakespeare's fools was influenced by the actor , who joined the around 1599 and performed key fool roles until at least 1607, bringing a more cerebral style of comedy that emphasized philosophical wit over physical . Armin's own writings on further shaped these characters, shifting them from mere entertainers to resilient commentators who often outlast the play's tragic upheavals, symbolizing enduring amid .

In modern literature and film

In modern literature, the fool persists as a vehicle for and introspection, often reimagining historical archetypes to critique contemporary society. Christopher Moore's 2009 Fool retells Shakespeare's from the perspective of , the king's , portraying him as a cunning anti-hero who navigates and through and irreverence. This narrative emphasizes the fool's role in exposing royal , blending bawdy humor with poignant commentary on power dynamics. Similarly, in , the fool's disruptive energy challenges linear rationality and societal norms through absurd escapades that highlight human . Film adaptations have likewise evolved the fool into a symbol of and comic wisdom, drawing loosely on influences while adapting to modern contexts. In the 1955 comedy , Danny Kaye's character Hawkins serves as a bumbling yet resourceful infiltrating a medieval court, using and wordplay to thwart villains and restore order, exemplifying the fool as an unlikely savior. The 2001 animated film features , voiced by , as a loquacious sidekick whose naive optimism and relentless humor provide levity while subtly undermining the fairy-tale , positioning him as a who fosters unlikely alliances. In Todd Phillips' 2019 film , Arthur Fleck transforms into the anarchic , his descent into madness serving as a chaotic critique of urban alienation and institutional failure, reinterpreting the fool as a dangerous agent of societal upheaval. Thematically, 20th- and 21st-century depictions portray fools as anti-heroes who challenge authority through naivety or deliberate absurdity, evolving from satire toward existential commentary. Samuel Beckett's 1953 play features Vladimir and Estragon as tramps trapped in futile routines, their clownish banter evoking the fool's to underscore the absurdity of existence and the illusion of progress. This shift reflects a broader trend where fools embody against oppressive structures, transitioning from courtly to profound explorations of human . Cultural adaptations extend the motif globally, integrating local traditions into cinema. In Indian film, characters inspired by historical jesters like appear in works such as the 1990 biographical TV series Tenali Rama, where the poet-jester uses clever riddles and pranks to advise kings and satirize corruption, preserving the vidushaka archetype from classical drama. Japanese cinema and tropes, particularly the "boke" (fool) in manzai duos, feature the boke's foolish antics paired with a tsukkomi straight man's retorts to highlight social and provide release from .

The fool in symbolism and games

The Fool in Tarot

The Fool is one of the 22 cards in a deck, traditionally numbered 0 (or 22 in some early decks) to signify its position outside the conventional sequence, representing the beginning or end of the soul's journey. It originated in 15th-century tarocchi decks, such as the from the 1450s, where it depicted a ragged wanderer or outcast figure symbolizing folly and marginality in society. In the iconic Rider-Waite deck, illustrated by and published in 1909, the card shows a youthful figure in colorful attire poised at the edge of a cliff, carrying a over one shoulder, accompanied by a small , and bathed in sunlight, evoking themes of adventure and innocence. In upright position, The Fool symbolizes new beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, and a , embodying unlimited potential and freedom from the burdens of the past, much like the archetype who navigates life with unburdened curiosity. It encourages embracing the unknown with open-mindedness and trust in the universe, representing the pure spirit at the start of life's journey. When reversed, the card warns of recklessness, naivety that leads to , hesitation in the face of opportunity, or blind risks without foresight, urging a balance between spontaneity and caution. Historically, in the Rider-Waite deck, The Fool marks the initiation of the soul's transformative journey through the , drawing on esoteric traditions to elevate the figure from a mere to a profound symbol of potential. Esoteric interpretations, particularly from the Hermetic Order of the in the late , associate the card with the Hebrew letter , the first letter of the alphabet, linked to the element of air and the breath of life, signifying primal energy and divine inspiration.

In other games and media

In board and games, the fool often manifests as a penalty role or representing defeat and ridicule. In the Durak, played with a 36- , players shed cards through attacks and defenses, with the last player holding cards declared the "durak" or fool, who loses and faces mockery from opponents. Similarly, in Old Maid, a matching game using a standard with one unpaired queen as the "Old Maid" , the player left holding this penalty at the end is the loser, embodying a foolish outcast akin to the durak's humiliation. Video games frequently feature the fool as a character tied to trickery and rebellion, drawing loosely from motifs without direct . In (2016), developed by , the protagonist belongs to the , symbolizing new beginnings, innocence, and spontaneity, while embodying a figure who defies societal through summoning and heists. This arcana's personas, such as , emphasize chaotic freedom and rebellion against authority. In the Final Fantasy series by , jester-like fools appear as antagonists or allies with hidden cunning, such as Zorn and Thorn in (2000), twin court who serve as mages and spies for Queen Brahne, blending comic antics with deadly . Kefka Palazzo in (1994) evolves from a mad infused with into a god-like destroyer, highlighting the fool's descent into anarchic power. In and , the portrays eternal or naive profundity amid darker narratives. Neil Gaiman's The Sandman (DC Comics, 1989–1996) incorporates the archetype through tie-in elements like the , where represents The Fool as a chaotic, free-spirited wanderer unbound by rules, reflecting the series' themes of dreams and folly. In , The Simpsons features as a quintessential fool: a cheerful, well-meaning with implied neurodivergence, whose absurd antics provide while occasionally revealing unexpected insight, as in episodes where his exposes adult hypocrisies. Across these media, the fool serves as with underlying depth, evolving from medieval roots into modern interactive formats. This archetype often grants protagonists supernatural luck or disruptive potential, as seen in wildcards.

Culinary uses

Fruit fool

A is a traditional made by folding pureed, sweetened into or , resulting in a light, airy texture. The term "foole" first appears in English records in 1598, describing a simple preparation of clouted mixed with , though fruit-based versions likely emerged later. An early printed recipe for fool appears in The Compleat Cook (1658), instructing to stew gooseberries, strain them, and blend with cream and sugar. The name derives from the Old French verb fouler, meaning "to crush" or "to trample," reflecting the mashing of the into a pulp, rather than any connection to the concept of foolishness. Initial recipes favored for richness, often incorporating a base with eggs for thickness, but by the , simpler versions using only whipped plain cream became standard, eliminating eggs entirely. Preparation involves stewing tart fruits such as or raspberries until soft, straining to remove skins and seeds, sweetening to taste, and gently folding the cooled puree into stiffly to preserve volume. The mixture is then chilled before serving, typically in glasses for a layered effect. The classic gooseberry fool, prized for its tangy balance against the cream, traces directly to 17th-century English cookbooks and remains a seasonal favorite in summer. Modern variations adapt the for dietary needs, including vegan options that substitute coconut cream or plant-based for , while maintaining the fruit-cream fold. International influences have popularized adaptations like , where the vegetable's sharp acidity pairs with sweetened cream for a vibrant twist.

Other food terms

One prominent culinary term homophonous with "fool" is fūl medames, an ancient dish pronounced approximately as "fool." This of slowly simmered fava beans dates back to the Pharaonic era, with roots in ancient cooking methods involving buried pots, as indicated by its Coptic-derived name meaning "buried." Typically served as a breakfast food with , , , and optional additions like lemon juice or , it remains a staple in and broader but shares no etymological connection to the English term. In historical , "fool" originally referred to mashed or pureed dishes beyond the modern -based , emerging in the as a simple preparation of blended fruits with or . For instance, early recipes like apple fool involved mashing tart produce such as apples into a creamy mixture, before the term became primarily associated with sweetened fruit desserts. Such uses were common in English cookery books, though they faded in favor of more specialized sweets by the 18th century. Beyond these, "fool" appears rarely in modern culinary contexts outside desserts, with no widespread dishes adopting the name; terms like "fool's gold" refer to in but hold no food relevance. In non-English speaking regions, the word can cause confusion with the dessert due to phonetic similarities, such as with fūl medames in contexts. Cookbooks occasionally employ puns on "fool" for humorous recipe titles or vegetable-based twists, but these remain niche and non-standard.

Other uses

In economics

The greater fool theory is an investment strategy in which an investor buys an overvalued or overpriced asset in the expectation of selling it at an even higher price to a "greater fool" who is willing to pay more, regardless of the asset's intrinsic value. This approach gained prominence during the 1970s with the Nifty Fifty stocks, a group of high-growth blue-chip companies like Xerox and Polaroid that traded at extreme price-to-earnings ratios, often exceeding 50, as investors speculated on perpetual appreciation without regard for fundamentals. The theory exemplifies speculative behavior that fuels market bubbles, where rising prices attract more participants chasing momentum rather than value. At its core, the operates through a mechanism of , a term coined by Chair in 1996 to describe excessive optimism driving asset prices beyond sustainable levels. It contrasts sharply with , which emphasizes purchasing assets at prices below their intrinsic worth based on thorough analysis, as advocated by investors like and . However, the strategy carries significant risks: participants who buy in late may become the "last fool," holding the asset when enthusiasm wanes and prices collapse, leading to substantial losses. This vulnerability was evident in the 2008 housing crisis, where subprime mortgages and speculation created a reliant on ever-increasing home prices, only for the market to crash when credit tightened and no greater fools remained. A related concept is "fool's gold," referring to , a that mimics the appearance of real but holds no economic ; since the , it has served as a in for illusory or deceptive assets that promise but deliver disappointment. In modern applications, the has been invoked to explain in cryptocurrencies during the 2021 boom, when and other tokens surged to record highs—Bitcoin reaching over $69,000—driven by hype and retail frenzy rather than utility, before plummeting over 70% in subsequent years. Critics argue that the encourages short-termism and speculative gambling over prudent investing, potentially destabilizing markets by prioritizing price momentum over economic fundamentals. has warned against such approaches, likening investments reliant on finding a greater fool to unproductive , as seen in his critiques of and cryptocurrencies where value depends solely on resale to another buyer.

Slang and idioms

The term "April fool" refers to a prankster or the victim of a on , originating from 16th-century traditions tied to the shift from the to the , when those who clung to the old New Year's date in late March or early April were mocked as fools. This practice, known as poisson d'avril ("April fish") in , spread across Europe and evolved into the modern idiom for lighthearted deception on . A "" describes a futile or pointless task, with the phrase emerging in the early , as evidenced by its first recorded use around 1629 in to denote a undertaken by someone easily tricked. It often implies a deliberate , such as sending a on an impossible errand, a custom documented in and workplace initiations from the 1700s onward. The "fool's paradise" denotes a of illusory based on false hopes, tracing back to the 15th century in the of 1462, where it appears as "folis paradyce" to critique . By the , it had become a common expression in English proverbs, warning against unfounded optimism, as seen in its adaptation in Shakespeare's . In , "fool around" means to waste time idly or engage in casual sexual activity, with the verb form of "fool" dating to the late for playful behavior and gaining its modern connotations by the in . The phrase "no fool," as in "he's no fool," indicates a shrewd or perceptive person not easily deceived, a usage solidified in 20th-century colloquial English to contrast with . Cultural variations include "play the fool," prevalent in to describe acting silly or irresponsibly for amusement, often in social or performative contexts since the . Globally, "ship of fools" serves as a for a misguided or incompetent group, derived from Sebastian Brant's 1494 satirical poem Das Narrenschiff, which depicted society as a vessel crewed by the foolish and was widely translated across by the early . Over time, "fool" in English shifted from a derogatory label for the mentally disabled or simpletons in the —rooted in Latin follis ("," implying )—to a lighter, often affectionate term for harmless silliness in 20th-century pop culture, reflecting broader societal tolerance for playful . This evolution is evident in its use from medieval insults to modern idioms like the "greater fool" in casual economic banter, denoting someone who buys into overvalued assets hoping to pass them on.

References

  1. [1]
    Fool - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
    was foolify. Related: Fooled; fooling. Fool around is 1875 in the sense of "pass time idly," 1970s in sense of "have sexual adventures.".
  2. [2]
    Fool; Folly - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
    The fool was he who was thoughtless, careless, conceited, self-sufficient, indifferent to God and His Will, or who might even oppose and scoff at religion and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  3. [3]
    The Paradox of the Fool | Close Look | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
    Mar 3, 2023 · The fool was the quintessential medieval entertainer, whether on the street or at court. His slippery character allowed him to move between worlds, defying the ...Missing: significance - - | Show results with:significance - -
  4. [4]
    The Role of Fool was a Staple in Medieval Culture... In Some of the ...
    Sep 18, 2018 · Royal Fools were the only ones in the court who could openly mock the monarch- and keep their heads. Will Somer's, the 'King's Fool' of Henry ...
  5. [5]
    Fooling Around the World: The History of the Jester
    Fooling Around the World: The History of the Jester (from Chapter 1: Facets of the Fool and Chapter 7: Stultorum Plena Sunt Omnia, or Fools Are Everywhere).
  6. [6]
    A fool's cap of etymologies, or the praise of folly | OUPblog
    Nov 1, 2023 · Fool was borrowed from Old French and, like folly, ultimately goes back to Latin follis “an inflated ball.” Obviously, a windbag is not a ...
  7. [7]
    fool, n.¹ & adj. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...
    Bible (1970) translates the Hebrew with the stupid or stupid men. Latin stultus translates various Hebrew words, e.g. nāḇāl fool (Psalm 14:1) or 'ēwīl foolish ( ...
  8. [8]
    FOOL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
    The meaning of FOOL is a person lacking in judgment or prudence. How to use fool in a sentence.
  9. [9]
    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/foolish
  10. [10]
    What Did Court Jesters Actually Do? - History Facts
    Jun 6, 2024 · The roots of the court jester can be traced back to the comedic actors, or balatrones, of ancient Rome. Due to Rome's periodic censorship ...
  11. [11]
    Court Jesters in Medieval England - Oxford Castle & Prison
    Apr 28, 2022 · Court jesters in medieval England had to entertain court and keep the royals happy, however, their role was not always filled with laughs.
  12. [12]
    History of the Medieval Jester - Owlcation
    Nov 10, 2023 · The medieval jester grew out of ancient traditions of the comic actor. Many diverse cultures around the world have had some form of the ...
  13. [13]
    Henry VIII's favourite fool – a new book draws a portrait of the man ...
    Sep 25, 2023 · Will Somers, the court fool. Somers died peacefully under Queen Elizabeth I after a long and successful career at the Tudor court.
  14. [14]
    “Fools” and disability in the Tudor court - FutureLearn
    Research suggests that many “fools” working in the Tudor court had learning disabilities that were considered advantageous for their work. The word “fool” was ...
  15. [15]
    The King's Fools: Disability in the Tudor Court - Historic England
    The 'natural fool' at court. These fascinating glimpses of 'natural fools' at the Tudor court show people with learning disabilities playing significant roles ...
  16. [16]
    Will Somer: Peter Andersson on Henry VIII's Court Fool
    Dec 5, 2023 · What comes to mind when you think about a “court jester?” What if we told you that fools in the Tudor court didn't look or sound anything ...
  17. [17]
    On A Fool's Errand: Writing A Biography of Will Somer
    Oct 11, 2021 · Andersson reflects on the challenges of trying to write a biography of Henry VIII's court fool, Will Somer. ... Jester Around the World (2001), ...
  18. [18]
    Who Was the Famous Stańczyk from Jan Matejko's Painting?
    The royal jester is the only one to see the approaching disaster… by Michał Haake. Jesters bring pleasure, jokes, fun and laughter to others, 'as if this is ...
  19. [19]
    The history of court jesters in Britain: Fooling around
    Sep 29, 2025 · Playing the fool was once a sought-after job. From court pranksters ... While fools and jesters came into their own at Christmas and on ...
  20. [20]
    Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester around the World
    Some of the great fools or jesters were You Meng, jester to King Zhuangwang of Chu (r.613–591 B.C.); You Zhan, known as “Twisty Pole,” court jester for the Qin ...Missing: Ottoman | Show results with:Ottoman
  21. [21]
    THE KING'S JESTER - THE COURT DWARF - Ekrem Buğra Ekinci
    Sep 4, 2024 · There were always about 5-10 dwarfs in the Ottoman courts. They were educated and trained in the Seferli ward (the section that ceremonially ...
  22. [22]
    Symbolic Inversions. An Interpretation of Contrary Behavior in Ritual
    that annual Feast of Fools at Christmas time, every rite and article of the church no matter how sacred was celebrated in mockery. A dominus festi, or lord ...
  23. [23]
    The Laughter of Fools: The Relevance of Wisdom in Today's World
    23:9 to the wise is “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.” Fools do not listen, so do not waste your words.
  24. [24]
    [PDF] Jung, "On the Psychology of the Trickster Figure
    This collective figure gradually breaks up under the impact of civilization, leav- ing traces in folklore which are difficult to recognize. But the main part of ...
  25. [25]
    The Wisdom of the Fool: Psychological Perspectives
    (1974). The Wisdom of the Fool. Psychological Perspectives: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 97-116.Missing: wise aspects
  26. [26]
    Interview with Beatrice K. Otto, author of Fools Are Everywhere
    ... wise fool.' In a religious context, the fool could be the man who spurned worldly success for a more spiritual calling, which might apply in Europe or ...
  27. [27]
    Sancho Panza: Wise Fool - jstor
    2 See Enid Welsford, The Fool: His Social and Literary History (London, 1935); R. H. Go. Wise Fools in Shakespeare (Liverpool, I958). 3 According to Moreno ...<|separator|>
  28. [28]
    Shakespeare quotes about fools
    Apr 1, 2025 · Here are just a few of the more than 300 times the word “fool” is mentioned in Shakespeare's works, often by some of his wise—and witty—fools.
  29. [29]
    [PDF] Playing the Fool: Feste and Twelfth Night - Scholarship @ Claremont
    Apr 22, 2016 · “Fools and fooling complicate perceptions, disrupt meaning, confound and compound perspective.” Robert H. Bell, Shakespeare's Great Stage of ...
  30. [30]
    A Modern Perspective: Twelfth Night - Folger Shakespeare Library
    The Fool, who is independent of the love story, draws the attention of the audience to the absurdity of love, even while the romantic narrative enlists our ...
  31. [31]
    Touchstone Character Analysis in As You Like It - SparkNotes
    Touchstone begins the play in Duke Ferdinand's service, working in his capacity as a professional fool. Also known as “licensed fools,” such figures had ...
  32. [32]
    The Fool Character Analysis in King Lear - SparkNotes
    In Act I, Scene 4, for example, the Fool exclaims that Lear is truly the foolish one for giving up his power and rendering himself “nothing.” This harsh ...
  33. [33]
    Character Analysis Fool - King Lear - CliffsNotes
    The Fool is the king's advocate, loyal and honest, but he is also able to point out the king's faults, as no one else can.
  34. [34]
    Love's Labour's Lost Act 1, Scenes 1 & 2 Summary & Analysis
    Constable Dull enters with a letter and the fool, Costard. He tells them that he has a letter from Armado, and Costard tells them that the letter concerns him ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
  35. [35]
    The Evolution of Shakespeare's Fools in Three Plays
    Clowns and Fools. Shakespeare's comic characters generally fall somewhere along the twin axes of clown to fool, natural to artificial. The archetypal clown is a ...
  36. [36]
    Shakespeare's Fools - Yorick in Hamlet
    Jan 21, 2022 · Shakespeare's Fools: Yorick in Hamlet. From The Fools of Shakespeare by Frederick Warde. London: McBride, Nast & company.
  37. [37]
    Armin's Foolish Parts with Shakespeare's Company 1599-1607 ...
    In the following essay, Felver describes the fool roles in the plays of Shakespeare's middle period (1599-1607) that were likely performed by the versatile ...
  38. [38]
    https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.3138/9781487596125-007/pdf
  39. [39]
    FOOL - Kirkus Reviews
    It's narrated by the eponymous King's Fool, known as Pocket (for his diminutive size), who waxes profanely about his upbringing among monks and nuns, his ...Missing: summary | Show results with:summary<|control11|><|separator|>
  40. [40]
    The Adventures of a Postmodern Fool, or the Semiotics of Learning
    The Fool's journey emphasizes learning through experience and the unconscious process of meaning-making in a semiotic context. Cultural interpretations of the ...
  41. [41]
    Donkey Archetype Meaning & Symbolism - MyMythos
    The Donkey archetype is the modern incarnation of the Sacred Fool, the companion whose apparent simplicity masks a profound emotional wisdom. He is the ...
  42. [42]
    Batman's “Joker” as Mythic Archetype – The Clown Prince of Crime
    Feb 4, 2016 · Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks.
  43. [43]
    Versions of the Clown in Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot ... - jstor
    crying, naïve fool, or the coon of blackface minstrelsy. This initial list in itself might indicate the multiple dramatic and cultural traditions and roots ...
  44. [44]
    Tenali Rama, Birbal and Gopal Bhar: Who are the witty men who ...
    Sep 15, 2024 · “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit,” said Feste, the Shakespearean fool in Twelfth Night, seemingly deployed for comic relief but a ...
  45. [45]
    The Architecture of Laughter: Japanese Humor History, Culture, and ...
    The core structure of Manzai and much of Japanese comedy relies on the two-person archetype: the boke (the funny man or fool) and the tsukkomi (the straight man ...
  46. [46]
    From Il Matto to the Fool in Tarot - Tarot Heritage
    The Waite Smith Fool card has a rose from the Golden Dawn's imagery, as well ... The fifteenth-century Fool is pre-rational, the victim of a defective ...
  47. [47]
    The Fool Tarot Card Meanings - Biddy Tarot
    The Fool Reversed suggests that you have conceived of a new project but aren't ready to 'birth' it into the world just yet. You may worry that you are not fit ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
  48. [48]
    https://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/term/fool
  49. [49]
    Podkidnoy Durak - Card Game Rules - Pagat.com
    The last player left holding cards is the loser. This player is the fool (durak) and is ridiculed by the other players. In the partnership game, when one team ...Introduction · Objective · Deal · The Play
  50. [50]
    Fool - Persona 5 Guide - IGN
    Apr 8, 2017 · The Fool arcana is the beginning of the tarot deck, represented by 0, and is the second confidant you will unlock.
  51. [51]
    Persona 5: 3 Devious Tricksters from the Fool Arcana - Game Rant
    Nov 10, 2020 · Much of Persona 5's Fool arcana is devoted to entities like Ose and Decarabia from the Ars Goetia, a mid-17th century text on the art of demon ...
  52. [52]
    Final Fantasy: 8 Coolest And 7 Lamest Characters In The Series
    Mar 24, 2017 · Kefka Palazzo is an example of a power hungry villain gone mad. Really you couldn't have written it any better. Going from a simple jester to an ...
  53. [53]
    https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Kefka_Palazzo
  54. [54]
    Ralph Wiggum - Incredible Characters Wiki
    Ralph Wiggum is a character in The Simpsons. Ralph is a happy-go-lucky, well-meaning boy who suffers from some form of psychiatric or neurological disorder.
  55. [55]
    Persona 5: The 10 Strongest Fool Arcana Personas, Ranked
    Dec 9, 2019 · The Fool Arcana is one of the most well-known arcanas in Persona 5, but not every one has been created equally. We've ranked the ten ...<|separator|>
  56. [56]
    The Origin Of Great Britain's Fool Desserts - Tasting Table
    Dec 11, 2023 · In Old and Middle French, the term fouler meant to mash or crush, which is exactly what happens to the fruit before it's folded into the fool ...Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
  57. [57]
    Raspberry Fool - The perfect date dessert - Giangi's Kitchen
    Rating 5.0 (13) · 30 minJan 12, 2025 · “Foole” as it was called, was first mentioned as a dessert around 1598, made of clouted cream. The earliest recipe for fruit fool dates back to ...
  58. [58]
    Fool - Miss Foodwise
    Sep 7, 2012 · When researching this dish I wanted to find out about the origin of the term 'Fool'. A fool, is a dessert made by blending pureed tarty fruits ...Missing: etymology | Show results with:etymology
  59. [59]
    Fools - Researching Food History
    Apr 1, 2013 · Gooseberry Fools were made with cooked and strained berries, which were then mixed with a cooked egg custard or just cream without eggs. Charles ...Missing: clotted phased 19th
  60. [60]
    3 Delicious Recipes for Classic Fruit Fools - Serious Eats
    Fruit fool is a classic English dessert. Traditionally, fools are made by folding a stewed fruit (the classic one is gooseberries) into a creamy, sweet custard.Missing: clotted eggs phased 19th century
  61. [61]
    Rhubarb Fool | Recipe - Natalie Penny
    Rhubarb Fool. Quintessentially English, I just love the simplicity of a fool. I've made this one vegan by swapping the whipped cream for whipped coconut ...
  62. [62]
    Foul Mudammas (Egyptian Fava Beans) - Chef Tariq
    Rating 5.0 (2) · 3 hr 10 minFul is also the Arabic name for fava, and broad beans, and just in case you're wondering, it's pronounced fool. What is Foul Mudammas?
  63. [63]
    Everything You Ever Needed to Know About Mashed Fava Beans
    Mar 7, 2018 · Medames, meanwhile, derives from a Coptic (ancient Egyptian) word meaning “buried,” reflecting the slow-cook method of burying the pots in ...Missing: pronunciation | Show results with:pronunciation
  64. [64]
    Ful Medames | Traditional Stew From Egypt - TasteAtlas
    Dec 17, 2015 · Ful medames is an ancient, pre-Ottoman and pre-Islamic national dish of Egypt, a traditional breakfast food consisting of slowly simmered fava beans.Missing: pronunciation etymology
  65. [65]
    A Simple Fool - Saveur
    Oct 17, 2000 · Exactly when the fool first appeared is an open question—but literary references to the dessert date back to the 16th century. Its name may ...Missing: etymology origin
  66. [66]
    Mango Fool - The Magic Saucepan
    Jun 12, 2013 · This classic English dessert dates back to the early 16th century and the word fool is believed to have originated from the French word ...
  67. [67]
    https://www.harryanddavid.com/articles/shared-experiences/food-puns
  68. [68]
    Greater Fool Theory: What It Means in Investing, With Examples
    The greater fool theory argues that prices go up because people are able to sell overpriced securities to a "greater fool," whether or not they are overvalued.
  69. [69]
    Bull Market Rhymes - Oaktree Capital Management
    May 26, 2022 · ... greater-fool theory”). Because of the high level of optimism: Stock ... This applies to the Nifty-Fifty growth companies in the late ...
  70. [70]
    Fool's Gold: Meaning, Avoiding bad Investments, Grammar
    Fool's gold is a gold-colored mineral mistaken for real gold. In finance, it refers to an investment thought to be valuable that later ends up worthless.
  71. [71]
    Cryptocurrency and the "greater fool" theory of economics - Big Think
    Jun 17, 2022 · The greater fool theory of economics suggests that it doesn't matter at what price you buy an asset, so long as there is some “greater fool” out ...
  72. [72]
    7 Controversial Investing Theories - Investopedia
    Opponents of EMH point to Warren Buffett and other investors who have ... The greater fool theory proposes that you can profit from investing as long ...Efficient Market Hypothesis · Greater Fool Theory · Odd Lot Theory · Prospect Theory<|control11|><|separator|>
  73. [73]
    April Fools: The Roots of an International Tradition | Folklife Today
    Mar 28, 2016 · Uncle Sam tiptoes through a field of April Fools' tricks, including a hat with “Trying to make an April fool of him” by Frederick Burr Opper, ...Missing: idiom | Show results with:idiom
  74. [74]
    fool's errand, n. meanings, etymology and more
    The earliest known use of the noun fool's errand is in the early 1600s. OED's earliest evidence for fool's errand is from before 1629, in the writing of M.
  75. [75]
    Fool's Errand - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase
    It has long been part of the initiation of new recruits to send them on 'fool's errands'. A credulous beginner might be sent to the stores to fetch a skyhook or ...
  76. [76]
    fool's paradise, n. meanings, etymology and more
    OED's earliest evidence for fool's paradise is from 1462, in the writing of William Paston, justice. fool's paradise is formed within English, by compounding.
  77. [77]
    A Fool's Paradise - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase
    What's the origin of the phrase 'A fool's paradise'? ... This is an early phrase, first recorded in the Paston Letters, 1462: “I wold not be in a folis paradyce.”.
  78. [78]
    Meaning of be no fool in English - Cambridge Dictionary
    to not be stupid or easily deceived: I notice Ed didn't offer to pay for her - he's no fool. She's no fool. She knew it was in her interests to take the deal.
  79. [79]
    The Ship of Fools, by Sebastian Brandt - Project Gutenberg
    ' It was the first printed book that treated of contemporaneous events and living persons, instead of old German battles and French knights. People are always ...II. The Shyp of Folys. · III. The Egloges. · The Myrrour of Good Maners.