The fool's speeches in act 2 scene 4

In act 2 scene 4, the fool makes various mocking speeches. These speeches critisize both Kent and the king for acting foolishly.

In the beginning of the scene, the fool makes fun of Kent for being put in the stocks. He later says, " let go thy hold, when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following." Here the fool warns Kent to not follow the kings' behaviour because the king acts foolishly.

The fool also reminds the king of his irrational choice to give up all his power and wealth. " Fathers that wear rags, Do make their children blind, But fathers that bear bags, Shall see their children kind." He means that now Lear has given up all his power to Goneril and Regan they no longer have to pretend to love or care for him. This was an important statement for it is the start of Lear's realization of the mistake he made.

The fool then tells Lear to " cry to it nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels". This means that just like the housewife who realized too late that the eels were alive, Lear has realized his mistake too late because there is nothing he can do about it now.