Nothing is defined as: something that has no existence; something that has no quantitative value; and one that has no substance or importance. However, in William Shakespeare's play King Lear, nothing is given a much greater value: the story in its whole comes from nothing. The concept of nothing is the basis of the entire play; without this concept, the play itself, would be nothing. The importance of the concept of nothing can clearly be seen by examining the characters that have nothing, Lear's and Gloucester's realizations once they have nothing, and Cordelia's choice to speak of nothing.
             King Lear is filled with characters that have nothing on some level. First, both The Fool and Poor Tom have nothing in the way of wealth, power and status; however, they both possess plenty of knowledge. It is from this knowledge that The Fool and Poor Tom influence and foreshadow to the unknowing protagonists what is to come. The Fool's main role in King Lear is that of a conundrum. He is constantly speaking in riddles that are perceived as ridiculous by the other characters, but in truth are very significant. The Fool says,
             FOOL. Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle and eat
             up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
             clovest thy crown i' the middle and gavest away both
             parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back o'er the dirt.
             Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou
             Gavest thy golden one away. (1.4.155-60)
             Due in part to The Fool's status in society, and in part to his unique way of riddling when he speaks, he is often not taken seriously. However, if one ignores the context of The Fool's words and looks at the words themselves, one can see that The Fool speaks truth and wisdom. He uses the metaphor of a crown, an egg, and meat, to show Lear the mistakes he has made, and that consequences will follow. The egg is used to symbol...