When you think about the word “jester,” do you imagine a silly man in a colorful costume doing tricks? Although that’s not too far off, jesters were much more than that. Believe it or not, we still have jesters today, just not in their signature bells and pointy hat. 

The History of Jesters

     Jesters were entertainers for kings and queens. From the book that I’ve been reading titled Soulsmith by Will Wright, I’ve learned that they’ve been around since ancient Egypt, and they were main performers of religious ceremonies. Some jesters were actually believed to have magical powers while others were forced to be slaves and had to perform in rich, private, households. The purpose of jesters was to entertain people with their dances and follies; however, they were also extremely known for telling the truth in such a way nobody else could. Because they were “fools,” they could say what many others dared not to.  

Jesters Live On  

     Have you ever been in the presence of a class clown? Every school has one. The class clown is the one who constantly jokes around, even during class. Sometimes, they can get into some real trouble, but they make school more enjoyable and less stressful for others around them, believe it or not. Class clowns play the same role that jesters did, they

keep things light and make people laugh when things grow tense.  

    We don’t only see the form of jesters in school though. They exist online through the existence of meme artists, TikTok comedians, and YouTubers that constantly joke about real life problems. Comedians like Bo Burnham and Trevor Noah are doing the exact same thing too. They make you laugh, but they’re also telling you things that actually make you think. 

   Film and TV characters that seem eerily like jesters exist too. For example, Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender or even Olaf from Frozen. They’re funny and captivating, but they’re also extremely expressive and important to the plot of their respective stories.  

     But not all jesters are the same. Take Joker, for example, and how he represents a darker counterpart of the jester, instead of bringing humor to those around him. 

The Future of Jesters

     At the end of the day, jesters bring other people joy, but they also tell the truth, even when it’s painful. From that one friend who’s always cracking a joke here and there, even when the moment isn’t the best, or a TikTok personality, there’s no doubt that jesters are still up and kicking even without their signature bells and pointy hat.