When Fools Speak Wisely

I love the wisdom of Shakespeare. Little lines like, “Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor.” There’s so much in that line–a woman standing up for herself, not wanting to be judged by the doings of her father, asserting her individuality and separateness. Rosalind puts the blame squarely where it belongs, on the Duke’s perception.

And “Treason is not inherited, my lord.” Yikes.  It’s so easy to judge people, and if you really don’t like them you can even judge their children.  And Shakespeare quietly, elegantly tells us this is not right. Without preaching a word.

I like the theme of the lowly ones speaking true, profound words.  Sometimes it’s the youngest who are elevated above the elders.  In the bible, Joseph is chosen over his older  brothers, David over his brothers, Ephraim over Manasseh, and Rachel over Leah.  In As You Like It, even Orlando, the youngest brother, is the chosen one in a sense. This trend is mythic.  The proper order of things is violated, not followed, set aside. And because of that the story is more interesting and relatable.

And at times it’s the castaways who spout brilliance.  Touchstone, the clown, no less,  says, “The more pity that fools may not speak wisely what wise men do foolishly.” Again, the echo of scripture, fools confounding the wise. And what of his name? Touch-stone?  There’s a visual for earthiness, grounded-ness.  I’ll bet that’s where the film company borrowed their name.

When the throw-away characters are raised up, that’s mythic. Including the carpenter’s son.  What good ever came out of Nazareth?

Shakespeare pokes fun at those who are full of themselves, while being so very full himself.  He is brilliant, yet he exposes the foibles of those who are too smart for their own good. There’s humility there…

He really must have had great fun in writing, in exposing the great stories, the great myths.

C.S. Lewis said the bible is the greatest Myth in that good triumphs over evil. It’s not that it’s not true, it’s that the story of good triumphing over evil is told in that book.

Just a thought.