athousandstorieshigh replied to your photo:I had a new book waiting for me when I got in from...
It sounds quite interesting! Although Shakespeare’s fools meant to humorously shame what was wrong with society, it did seem that many people often hated them (words from a teacher).
If we're looking at Shakespeare, I can tell you, as someone who has his BA in English, the fools (and fool-like characters) are definitely seen as acceptable receptacles of derision and disparagement to the others of the play, even if the audience sees just how worldly wise these fools tend to be (and should be heeded). In the book, from part of what I read online, speaks of this in that, fools were capable of speaking out sharply and truthfully only because no one had to take them seriously, because all could look at them with disdain and feel superior.