King Lear's Fool

In Shakespeare's King Lear one of the most significant characters is one of the most unlikely. This character is "The Fool", who contributes alot to the play through his hilarious wit. The fool through his expected character freely expresses his opinions without any form of redress. His opinions which would have had any other man beheaded in an instance are expected and accepted. The Fool's role, unbeknownst to the other characters in the play takes on the likeness of a preacher or critic, which everyone takes for jest. In his 'jest' he makes everyone think he is joking when in actuallity he is speaking out upon the injustices and other evils going on in the castle. Due to the Fool's wit many reader's have donned him as the sharpest and cleverest character in the play, King Lear; and I can't say that I don't agree.