Literature - Book Report/Review Example

c. Lear uses alliteration such as "pelting of this pitiless," "houseless heads," and "shake the superflux," which demonstrate his fanciful state of mind and the fact that his serious and kingly side has given way to madness. He uses imagery such as "looped and windowed raggedness" to describe those whose misfortunes are greater than his. c. The figurative language compares the fluidity of a woman's mind to smoke, which cannot be contained in any way. Rosiland uses alliteration like "the wiser, the waywarder" to denote a playful approach to her subject.

Puck, Touchstone, and Lear's fool all serve comedic purpose, and they are all fools, and yet each character serves his master differently, and serves a different role in the play. Puck, the most independent, is nonetheless bound to Oberon, with some degree of awe and fear for his master. Touchstone, who chooses to follow Rosiland and Celia, also takes the liberty to amuse himself at the expense of other, and is faithful to his mistresses, but with more devotion and less respect. Lear's fool is completely devoted to the King, choosing to suffer beside him with no regard to his own suffering.

Puck's actions have a huge impact on the plot, interfering with most of the mortals' journeys. Even in serving Oberon, all his actions are done with the purpose of entertaining himself. Puck gathers the plant that makes people fall in love and who mixes up the dose, turning the lovers' night into an odyssey of confusion. As Oberon says, "This is thy negligence" (3.2.345). Puck also puts the ass's head on Bottom, ensuring a lively night for him and Titania. His central role is also demonstrated by his delivery of the epilogue.

He has a reputation known to all the fairies, who immediately see "you are that shrewd and knavish sprite Called Robin Goodfellow" (2.1.33). Touchstone also lays claim to a reputation, since he has been in court and is aware of the conventions of society. Although Puck has more power, Touchstone has more leeway, since Puck will always be Oberon's subject, whereas Touchstone may choose who to follow. Although he is the Duke's subject, Celia knows "He'll go along o'er the wide world with me" (1.3.130) He has less effect on the plot, serving primarily a comic purpose for comparison.

His trumped-up manners are compared to those of the honest rustics (particularly in his wooing of Audrey), while his over-the-top mirth is contrasted with Jacques's melancholy. He too, while devoted to Celia, seeks to please himself in his jokes, although he also hopes to entertain those around him. Lear's Fool is the most faithful of fools, applying himself only to the king's needs. Although he can be funny, his purpose is to use humorous license to make serious points. Only the fool has the power to tell Lear that he has made a