In As You Like It by Shakespeare, Jaques is a static and melancholic character who continually prefers to stay away from the imprudence of love, wishing he could say what he thinks without remorse. Unlike most other characters, who seize opportunities for change, Jaques, for the most part, successfully resists the magic of the Forest of Arden. His use of the word “fool” is telling. He often uses the term "fool" to describe others, like Orlando and Touchstone, who search for love. Furthermore, a fool's place in court intrigues him, because such fools are allowed to express their opinion without consequences - a skill Jaques desires. Ultimately, a reversal of circumstances makes Jaques the fool, which causes his stubborn character to give in and recognize the merits of love and the kind word. This essay shows how the word and role of “fool” both empowers and humbles Jaques. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Jaques often uses the term "fool" in Act II, scene vii, where he simply describes the profession of a court jester. Such a fool has the ability to say whatever he wants because no matter how sarcastic or cutting his statements may be towards others, they could be interpreted as a joke and forgiven. He talks to Duke Senior about how he "met a fool in the forest" and how he wishes he were a fool so he could "blow on whoever he wants" or criticize whoever he wants without consequences. However, he changes the meaning of the madman role he wishes to play from an optimistic one to a darker, more purposeful one. The jester in the forest generally reflected on luck and the passage of time, while if Jaques had the ability to speak freely, he would "purify the unclean body of the infected world, / If they patiently receive [his] medicine." Declaring his wish to 'purge the world of its infections', alters the fool's aim from that of simply making a situation more light-hearted to 'relieving the world of its misdeeds'. Although the aims are similar – to turn a negative situation into a positive one – Jaques chooses to expressing a jester's purpose in such a way as to emphasize a negative view of the world; the words "disgusting body of the infected world" give a resonant image of pus and rotting flesh, which one would not naturally associate with a court fool Jaques he also suggests superiority of thought over the specific fool he encountered in the forest, mocking his intelligence. He laughed for an hour "without intermission" after listening to the fool's contemplative musings, and later compared the fool's brain to a biscuit. of dried sea after a voyage, with “strange places full / of observation, which he vents / in mutilated forms,” or having a jumble of thoughts that he cannot coherently present. By suggesting the idiocy of the fool in the forest, Jaques inherently implies that he finds himself more intelligent, and thus further justifies his mental tendency to dwell on the negative; now, not only does he see the world as a more negative place, but he feels that he is right to think so and those who think differently are not as smart as him. To ensure that he does not compare his intellect to that of the fool, he emphasizes his desire to wear the clothes of a fool: a "colorful coat" or a patchwork costume. By desiring to dress only as a fool, he gains the right to free speech without compromising his opinions and "sinking" to a level of intelligence where he would retain the incoherent thoughts of the fool he hasencountered. In Act III, scene ii, Jaques' use of the term “fool” changes during a conversation with Orlando. He initially invites Orlando to sit with him and "rant against our mistress, the world, and all our misery", or complain about the state of the world. When Orlando refuses to sit with Jaques, Jaques responds, "The worst fault you have is being in love," and later, further belittles Orlando by calling him "Mister Love." Jaques made it clear that he strongly associates Orlando with his concern for love, and because of this he has a bad opinion of Orlando. Indeed, he states, "Truly, I was looking for a fool when I found you," Jaques may have been looking for a "fool" as in a court jester, but because of his association with Orlando, the meaning of the word shifts from that of jester to that of 'he who has a lack of sense and intellect'. Once again, with the help of the word “fool,” Jacques mocked the ideals of love. However, the nature of Orlando's responses stings Jaques. Orlando states that the fool Jaques was looking for has "drowned in the stream", and if Jaques were to look inside, he should find the fool. When Jaques responds that he would only see his reflection, Orlando continues: "Which I think is a fool or a cipher." He can't stand being called a fool and leaves suddenly. Suddenly, his means of strengthening his melancholy betrayed him; so far he has used the term "silly" to his advantage and unfortunately that has happened to be the subject he is directed at. Through this reversal of who is called “crazy,” Jaques's superiority complex is kept in check, and although he continues to call lovers like Orlando, “crazy,” he also shows a faint recognition of the reasoning behind the pursuit of love. In the final scene, Act V, scene iv, as Touchstone and Audrey enter the wedding scene, he observes, "There is surely another flood coming, and these couples are coming to the ark." He compares the lovers to a pair of animals seeking refuge in Noah's ark, recognizing the "flood" of ever-present dangers that reside outside the forest: corruption, hatred, and Duke Frederick's vengeful, approaching army. He also recognizes the “shelter from the storm” that marriage could provide; it would allow them to focus their attention on a more intimate and loving counterpart and distract them from the threats found in the outside world. However, such recognition is short-lived, and he overturns any glimmer of sympathy he might have had for the lovers with his next sentence: "Here come a pair of very strange beasts, which in all languages ​​are called mad." Although he has openly noted the security that marriage would offer, he proceeds to declare the folly of the search for love and marvels at the "strangeness" of the couple. Such an opinion implies that Jaques would prefer the storm of the outside world to the safe haven offered by love, reconfirming Jaques's negative attitude and his preference for a state of mind in which the fears of the world are not ignored, but openly acknowledged and hugged. Throughout the rest of the scene, Jaques demonstrates that he maintains his aversion to love and recognizes its merits, but continues to use the term "crazy" to reinforce his superiority of thought. Addressing Duke Senior regarding Touchstone, Jaques remarks: “Is he not a rare fellow, my lord? He is as good as any, yet he is a fool. Since Touchstone is both a professional fool and a fool to Jaques because he is in love, Jaques's sentence can be interpreted with the application of both meanings of "fool": "he is as clever as they are, even if he is only a idiot". jester" and "he's smart.