The Fool (spoilers for all RotE books, including LST)

[Farseer]

Sorry for partly cross-posting (have just put something about this in my Gernia vs RotE thread) but thought I'd point it out for those who haven't read the SS series and so would not enter that section due to spoilers.

I think it was very clever for Robin to cast Beloved as 'Fool', a jester whose job it was to keep the court, Shrewd etc amused, in good humor, and with perspective. In essence he provided balance in that arena, as would all jesters, for his king and the people (not to mention Fitz!).

His role as White Prophet was an extension of this balancing role...similar but on a grander stage. As White Prophet, Fool has seen himself as central to bringing balance back into the world (though, of course, with the help of Changer). In the RotE, this balance to the world is to be returned by the restoration of Elderlings and dragons.

I also love that he took on the role of one considered to have the least value as a member of the court however he was truly one of the most valuable to the future of the world. It is a theme I love about Robin's characters...that while many 'greats' fail, many other 'lesser ones' do prove to be more than they appear BUT, that's for another thread!

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I've just realised I'd forgotten to come back to this part of the thread! How ever have I missed this great part of the 'gender' discussion?!

Oh, I think Robin commented on it years ago in her newsgroup saying something along the lines of "that's the kind of knowledge that, even if the Fool one day decides to share with me, would stay between us - I wouldn't betray the Fool's trust". I thought it was a delightful answer, and so so very Robin.

I love it !!! While it is heaps of fun to speculate and raise points for debate either way, it is the whole 'mystery' about Fool that I love, not only 'his' gender but ALL that is Beloved! I read an interview of Robin's the other day where she spoke about her thoughts regarding author genders (if female authors are overlooked etc), and her thoughts seem to very much reflect those of Fool...in that it matters not at all !

It has to do with the Fool's presence in the Rooster's Crown (Farseer, I know you love the significance of the Crown). In that, every minstrel could not perceive the Fool's physical form but his very being in the crown. Through his blood, every minstrel perceived and referred the Fool as 'he'. His very being is male.

Love this too - a great point, Bink (and nice reference to the Rooster Crown )! It could be said though that Beloved was male at that time and this is why he was perceived as male by the minstrels. Ah, looking through, ok, NeverBeenWise's post seems to follow my thinking in that regard.

A more solid counter-point...hmm, from whence could one come? What about the scene where Paragon was alight and his dragons were vying for domination within him? Amber was below-decks and had her hands (including the one which was covered with Skill) ungloved in Paragon’s blood place and therefore both he and the dragons were connected with her and aware of her via the Skill. At no stage did either of them, or Paragon, consider Amber to be anything other than a ‘she’.

BUT, in this example, I am guessing that you would invalidate it by saying that Paragon and the dragons had already perceived Amber to be female via her physical form and therefore just believed what was before them? I disagree, particularly as they were linked via the Skill however I will try and come up with another, stronger counter-point, simply for the sake of debate !

I think Robin's comments regarding it are important though, as is her clever use of names throughout the story-telling. There are many times when two or more identities are mentioned in the one sentence and that is because she is referring to two distinctly different characters, even if they are housed within the one 'body'. Say wha' ?!