What is the difference Between jester and court jester
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Some pretty good answers already to this question. I don't agree with some of the statements. The problem is that the comparisons are difficult because the definitions of clown and jester can vary.
But in simple terms, a clown is a comical performer who can trade on both comedy and tragedy in a professional manner and is often paid to entertain. Again there are "clowns" in many different cultures and they are viewed and function differently. The term clown is most often use for circus performers.
Now the Jester is something quite different historically. The jester was a member of the royal courts of western civilization. These courts had the King at the top and all powerful.
Then the order and structure of the court would be layered down and at the bottom of the ladder was the court jester.
The person with the least power was the jester. But he had one power which no one else in the court had. He was the only one who could make fun of the King.
The Kings realized that they needed at least one person in the court who was not a “yes-man.” In a sense the jester was the closing of the circle to bring the court into some sort of balance. The King needed to laugh from time to time, and it was the jester’s function to bring comedy and levity to the court. He was allowed to poke jests even at the king himself and it allowed the king to laugh even at himself.
That did not mean that the jester was immune from the axe if he went too far. If the King did not find the jester to be funny and perhaps too critical of the king, he might lose his position in the court along with his head.
But in simple terms, a clown is a comical performer who can trade on both comedy and tragedy in a professional manner and is often paid to entertain. Again there are "clowns" in many different cultures and they are viewed and function differently. The term clown is most often use for circus performers.
Now the Jester is something quite different historically. The jester was a member of the royal courts of western civilization. These courts had the King at the top and all powerful.
Then the order and structure of the court would be layered down and at the bottom of the ladder was the court jester.
The person with the least power was the jester. But he had one power which no one else in the court had. He was the only one who could make fun of the King.
The Kings realized that they needed at least one person in the court who was not a “yes-man.” In a sense the jester was the closing of the circle to bring the court into some sort of balance. The King needed to laugh from time to time, and it was the jester’s function to bring comedy and levity to the court. He was allowed to poke jests even at the king himself and it allowed the king to laugh even at himself.
That did not mean that the jester was immune from the axe if he went too far. If the King did not find the jester to be funny and perhaps too critical of the king, he might lose his position in the court along with his head.
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