Jester is one of the basic character archetypes in any type of literature, mythological and psychological classifications. It portrays an individual whose aim is to amuse, provoke, and enlighten the public with deep truths.
Historical Context
Medieval and Renaissance Jesters
In medieval and renaissance Europe, jesters were entertainers, who worked for the royal courts. They entertained the King, Queen and their guests. They appeared in bright costumes and performed various acts, including telling a story, singing and even physical comedy.
Some popular jesters in histories were Will Sommers, the jester of the King Henry VIII of England and Triboulet of King Francis I of France. These were funny people who could tell the King the truth and bluntly criticize him in a humorous way.
Native American Trickster Figures
The figure of the jester can be compared to the trickster figure characteristic for Native American mythology and known as Coyote or Raven.
These are characterized by their ability to outwit others and always bring change by using their intelligence; in their stories they usually convey moral lesson. They embody both humor and wisdom to challenge the norms and encourage adaptability.
Characteristics of the Jester Archetype
- Humor and Wit: A jester is characterized by his or her ability to make jokes and pull pranks. They tell jokes and use funny stories and humorous nicknames to make people laugh and have fun.
- Playfulness: They are entertaining and most of them act or perform games, jokes and tricks. They are jovial in nature and are able to make people around them happy.
- Insight and Wisdom: Jesters sometimes possess deep insight and wisdom. They bring out the reality that may not be so apparent to normal people.
- Subversion of Authority: Jesters tend to mock authorities and other members of the society. These two elements show the satirical and parodical views of the world, which involve the irony and criticism of the existing norms and values.
- Role in Society: Jesters were in fact, comedians in royal palaces, but more importantly they were the only ones who were allowed to tell the Kings and Queens some truths which none else could. In modern context, they are considered as comedians, clowns or any identity that employs humor to comment society.
Examples of Jester Archetype in Literature
1- “King Lear” by William Shakespeare
Character: The Fool
In “King Lear,” the Fool performs as a jester to King Lear. His witty and sharp commentary provides the deep look into the actions of Lear and the unfolding tragedy. Although, Fool was a jester, however he speaks profound truths and indicates the folly of Lear and the consequences of his decisions.
2- “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Character: Bombur
Comic relief in movies is best depicted by the clumsy characters, such as bombur, one of the dwarves in “The Hobbit”, who constantly preoccupies the audience with thoughts of food. He brings in element of comedy to the film that does make it more funny than rather being just a serious adventurous.
3- “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare
Character: Touchstone
In “As You Like It” Touchstone plays the role of a court fool, a clown, whose main function is to make commentary on the actions of the characters and the society at large. His comedy tends to disguise his outlook into the nature of things.
4- “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes
Character: Sancho Panza
Sancho Panza who is the squire of his master ‘Don Quixote’ sometimes depicts humor with his wit and pranks. Sancho Panza is the humorist of the two and his twentieth-century outlook often provides a more realistic attitude towards the quixotic adventures as well as the true nature of the world.
5- “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare
Character: Dogberry
Dogberry, the constable, offers humor to the play through speaking the wrong things and carry out awkward movements. Despite his foolishness, he realizes the villainous action against Hero, proving the transformation of a jester into a source of truth in his ineptitude.
6- “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare
Character: Feste
Feste, the clown, move around singing and making smart remarks on issues concerning the play and the other characters. His position is not just that of entertainer but he observes life and love and the state of folly.
7- “Gulliver’s Travels” by Jonathan Swift
Character: Lemuel Gulliver
Nevertheless, there is a clear indication that Gulliver serves as an ordinary jester in the narrative of “Gulliver’s Travels” and at some point in the novel, he tends to expound the incongruities of the societies he comes across by provocation. The places that he travels and the enlarged features of the locales and their inhabitants function to satirize the modern European culture.
8- “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer
Character: The Miller
The Miller in ‘The Canterbury Tales’ narrates an erectile and humorous story that is simply a caricature of other pilgrims’ statuses. His role as a narrator with a sharp wit sets with the jester archetype.
9- “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll
Character: The Cheshire Cat
Being the symbol of a jester, the Cheshire Cat with his grin and a tone of voice provokes thinking of Alice thinking and try to give her helpful advice in an absurd Wonderland.
10- “The Princess Bride” by William Goldman
Character: Vizzini
Vizzini is an over confident mastermind in “The Princess Bride”, who tries to manipulate those around him through wit. He speaks in jest constantly and always underestimates his adversaries, thus having the comic aspect associated with the jester archetype.
11- “The Iliad” by Homer
Character: Thersites
Thersites is a minor character in “The Iliad,” the hero whose rhetoric is almost always sarcastic. Being an opponent of the Greek rulers, particularly Agamemnon, this character represents the aspects of a fool, the role of a person who uses provocation and laughter to tell the truth that others do not wish to listen.
The Jester in Modern Media
Films
Character: The Joker in “The Dark Knight”
The Joker is dark and perverted version of the jester archetype. His disruptive antics and comedy style undermine the everyday and superordinate structures of Batman and Gotham City. He is patently evil, yet he tells uncomfortable truths about people and the world.
Television
Character: Michael Scott in “The Office”
Michael Scott, the manager of the branch of the Dunder Mifflin, pretends to be an idiot due to his jokes, and misconceptions. But the unexpectedly dynamic character sometimes offers moments of genuine insight and emotional depth, which reflects the intrigue nature of the jester archetype.
See also: What is archetype?
Functions of the Jester Archetype
Entertainment
The jester’s primary role is to provide the audience with amusement. Thus, jesters entertain their audience, making people happy as they divert their attention from the many problems in life.
Truth-Telling
Jesters have the freedom of speaking the truths that no one else would dare utter. Thus, they can comment and lampoon the state of affairs in politics, society or their intimate lives.
Social Commentary
Jesters’ key function to society relates to them being social critiques. They are the social commentators, who expose and note the fallacies in the society and encourage the audience to think critically about the world around them.
Challenging Authority
Jesters occupy a very strategic position, because they challenge the authority on any matter without any fear of being punished. They are able to make fun of authority and point at their weaknesses and inconsistencies.
Promoting Resilience
Jesters raise awareness of resilience and adaptability. Their spirit reflects optimism and laughter, as well as light-heartedness. They compel other people to look for humor and laughter, which creates a feeling of spirited fortitude.
Psychological Perspective
Archetypes in Carl Jung’s theory play an important role in the collective unconscious; one of them is the jester. The chief function of the jester is to apply pressure to a man’s vulnerable self that is his foolishness and encourage him to approach life’s foolishness humorously. This archetype provides for optimism and the ability to smile and even laugh as a people even in challenging circumstances.
See also: Literary Devices That Start With A
