MADreads

Fooling with Shakespeare

March 10th, 2009 Dennis - Central

When I saw Christopher Moore had a new book coming out, I placed a hold right away. His latest release is Fool and retells Shakespeare’s King Lear from the point of view of his jester, here called Pocket. While purists might quibble with Moore’s new version, the main plot points are still present, although the ending is changed greatly. Bear in mind, too, that Moore has enlivened that story with a salaciousness that wasn’t allowed in Shakespearean times. No euphemistic references to “making of the two-backed-beast” here. The F-bombs fly, verbally and otherwise. You have been warned.

Moore also enlivens things by giving his jester something of a political eye, speaking “truth to power.” And rather than commenting on or highlighting the action as in Shakespeare’s play, this fool belies his job-title, working behind the scenes to right injustices new and old, and make sure the bad guys get what’s coming to them. Pocket, small in stature as he is in this version, also seems to delight in cutting others down to his size. He misses no chance to belittle Lear’s daughters Goneril and Regan and their respective husbands, nor does he shy away from calling Gloucester’s illegitimate son Edmund a bastard every chance he gets. Lear comes in for more than his share of verbal abuse as well, richly deserved after bequeathing his wealth and power to his two eldest daughters and leaving nothing to Cordelia, who is actually his most faithful and loving daughter. Cordelia is also the favorite of Pocket, whose career with Lear began when he was the only one who could make the young motherless child smile.

Pocket’s back story takes up a good piece of the action, giving his background as an orphan raised in a nunnery and his subsequent death sentence (he got away with some help) for his relationship with a women being held prisoner there. More of his past is revealed in various dealings with a trio of witches and a ghost that has more to do with Pocket than one might suspect. In addition, Pocket is the one who sets in motion the series of events that lead to a falling out between the two older sisters and helping to expose the machinations of Edmund.

Base individual that I am, I enjoyed this much more than the original. There’s more than enough going on to keep even the most Shakespeare-resistant reader entertained. Moore’s sense of humor is well worth experiencing and this will give you an excuse to brush up on your Shakespeare without having to actually watch or read his work.

Also available as an audiobook.

Entry Filed under: Recreational Fiction