The Role of the Fool
"Whereas the comedy of the clown arises from the broad comedy of slapstick or bawdy, or the unintentional misuse of words…the wit of the fool is more deliberate, his punning and riddling sharp and witty. Traditionally melancholic, the fool rarely intervenes in events. He usually remains emotionally disengaged from the other characters and his detachment allows him to comment on their actions rather like a chorus…In the tragedies, the fool often provides comic relief, but again his function is complex and even symbolic. Free from the conventional restrictions of the master/slave relationship, he may provide a distorted but illuminating reflection to the behaviour of the hero."
from Louise McConnell, Exit, pursued by a bear
