The jester was performer who entertained people at courts, fairs and markets. They emerged from different backgrounds including poets, musicians, and scholars. They were known as jesters, court jesters, and fools; and used various skills such as songs, music, storytelling, acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes and magic to entertain the common folk. Basically, a jester is one who jests, jokes or mocks.
The word jester did not come into use until the mid-16th century. It derives from gestour or jestour, originally Anglo-Normal (French) and it means storyteller or minstrel. The most ancient jesters were found in the fifth dynasty of Egypt around 2400 BC.
They were portrayed as a living expression of defiance against hypocrisy or ignorance. They confronted authority openly or subverted it while appearing to play along. A jester is a truth-teller in a world of lies that highlights the madness of the world with his wit.
Looking at Uta’s design, the jester’s face is that of a skull. The skull with a jester’s hat is a staple of Gothic imagery. It represents laughing at Death or Death laughing at you.
The jester is found on the trump card The Fool, which is the first card in the major arcana deck. This represents someone who is starting out on a journey. He is often portrayed standing at the edge of a cliff. This means stepping out into the unknown. It’s a card of new beginnings, fresh starts or changes in attitude. The fool makes no plans or gives no thoughts to consequences along the way. He is happy to do something different.
The traits of the fool are: innocence, beginning, simplicity, fresh start and blind faith.
Also present on the card is the rose, which I have talked about before since Uta has various rose designs throughout his tattoos.
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