The Clown

Summary

A clown reflects on the solitude and transient nature of their role as an entertainer, despite the facade of royalty and adoration during performances.

Abstract

The text presents a poignant narrative of "The Clown," who, after the audience has left, confronts the stark reality of his existence. Alone on the stage, the clown grapples with the illusion of grandeur, sitting on a makeshift throne that symbolizes his temporary significance. As the crew dismantles the set, the clown is reminded of the impermanence of his role and the harsh truth that the audience's applause is fleeting. Despite the realization that each performance is a band-aid over his broken heart, he resigns himself to continue the charade, armed with humor and antics for an audience that remains oblivious to his inner turmoil. The clown's musings are punctuated by a quote from Shakespeare's "King Lear," drawing a parallel between his own situation and the descent into madness of the eponymous character.

Opinions

The clown perceives his role as both a source of joy for others and a mask concealing his own sorrow.
The author suggests that the clown's profession, while seemingly glamorous, is ultimately hollow and isolating.
The clown's throne, a symbol of his elevated status on stage, is ironically revealed to be a temporary and fragile construct.
The narrative implies that the clown's performances are a form of self-medication, a way to cope with personal heartbreak.
The quote from "King Lear" hints at the clown's fear of succumbing to despair and madness due to his lifestyle.

Alone

The curtains close And I am alone on the stage The audience have got their money’s worth And they have dusted themselves off And gone home But I, the clown, The entertainer The laugh-maker Sit on my makeshift throne Pretending for some more time That I am king, And the people who pay to see me, my loyal subjects Soon, they finish clearing away the props and then they ask me to move, Their voices rough, but kind So that they can take away my ‘throne’, And then, I see it for what it is: An old chair, painted over, patched, And nailed down in the manner of all temporary things And I know that every nail on my pretend throne, Will be the ultimate nails in my coffin of buried hopes…

And yet, and yet, I ready myself for another day of sealing my broken heart With the daily arsenal of antics and jokes And the hysterical laughter of an indifferent crowd.

‘O, that way madness lies. Let me shun that; No more of that.’ Shakespeare ‘King Lear’, Act 3, Scene 4