They probably went through a few Court Jesters before the kings decided to ignore their barbs and just laugh instead…After all, it couldn’t be true could it? Who would say that to the King? So eventually what the jesters said could be true, yet laughable enough so they didn’t get killed….I admit, it had to be a tough audience….
As I recall, the court jester wasn’t just supposed to be funny, he was supposed to be a fool, that is, because the king considered the jester mad (crazy, insane), the jester could tell the truth but the king wouldn’t take him seriously. Everybody else though got the message.
Fondly remembering the Danny Kaye movie, The Court Jester — “The pellet with the poison’s in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true”. . . or was it in the vessel with the pestle?
There was a BIG difference between a “jester” and a “fool”.
The “Jester” was often a person with a physical deformity and/or of short stature who was of at least average intelligence and used his position to get revenge on those who had slighted him.
The “Fool” was a person of low intelligence who was laughed at because of his mistakes.
oldpine52 about 6 years ago
At least they didn’t die at the Palace.
Kveldulf about 6 years ago
Okay, who’s going to be the first to question the colour of the king’s hair?
Superfrog about 6 years ago
No fooling.
rwjames about 6 years ago
I love that one of the punishments is literally a laughing stock.
Varnes about 6 years ago
They probably went through a few Court Jesters before the kings decided to ignore their barbs and just laugh instead…After all, it couldn’t be true could it? Who would say that to the King? So eventually what the jesters said could be true, yet laughable enough so they didn’t get killed….I admit, it had to be a tough audience….
pcolli about 6 years ago
Jester song at twilight…..
belgarathmth about 6 years ago
This could easily be a “Wizard of Id” comic. The Fink locks up poor Jester all the time.
sandpiper about 6 years ago
The room for discarded advisors and agency heads
Packratjohn Premium Member about 6 years ago
The jester was traditionally the only person who was allowed to speak the truth to the king. Guess that’s all changed now…
tripwire45 about 6 years ago
As I recall, the court jester wasn’t just supposed to be funny, he was supposed to be a fool, that is, because the king considered the jester mad (crazy, insane), the jester could tell the truth but the king wouldn’t take him seriously. Everybody else though got the message.
pnmiq about 6 years ago
What got him sent to the dungeon was beginning with, “It was a dark and Stormy night”. That is all it took.
GreenT267 about 6 years ago
Fondly remembering the Danny Kaye movie, The Court Jester — “The pellet with the poison’s in the flagon with the dragon! The vessel with the pestle has the brew that is true”. . . or was it in the vessel with the pestle?
Greyhame about 6 years ago
Looks like the old Benny Hill routine.
Radish the wordsmith about 6 years ago
Has Bung showed up for the interview yet?
magicwalnut Premium Member about 6 years ago
I wonder if they could escape punishment by beginning every joke with, “Thou wise, intelligent, infallible Magesty”?
Ermine Notyours about 6 years ago
The Jester made fun of the King? What a fool.
JudyAz about 6 years ago
So did the jester borrow the coat from James Dean?
1MadHat Premium Member about 6 years ago
It’s hard to entertain the humor impaired……
RAGs about 6 years ago
There was a BIG difference between a “jester” and a “fool”.
The “Jester” was often a person with a physical deformity and/or of short stature who was of at least average intelligence and used his position to get revenge on those who had slighted him.
The “Fool” was a person of low intelligence who was laughed at because of his mistakes.
keenanthelibrarian about 6 years ago
So the jesters are all “figurative-ists?”