Jolly Jester

Jesters originated in a prehistoric tribal society, however, these days we mainly think of Jesters in association with the Middle Ages.

During those times a jester was the symbolic twin of the ruler. In those days people with mental handicaps found a social niche if they could behave in amusing ways.

Freedom of speech was not recognized in certain societies and only the court jester could speak frankly on the various controversial issues because it was “a jest” but even the jesters had to exercise careful judgment in how far he might go, because he needed to walk a thin line and was not immune from punishment.

This required a jester in the modern sense to be far from a fool. In a deck of cards the Joker playing card is the wild card and has no firm or fixed place in the hierarchy, can be a remnant of the court jester’s position.