The court jesters of old, bedecked in their motley attire, enjoyed a unique, nigh unmatched privilege. Theirs was the power to speak truth to royalty, to express criticisms that others dared not utter. Their words could be as biting as a winter’s gale or as sharp as a finely honed dagger, but they were also interspersed with a touch of humor, softening the blow while never diluting the message. One could argue that they risked their heads with each jest, for the line between amusing critique and treasonous insult was razor thin. However, it was this risk, this dance on the precipice, that made them invaluable.

Fast forward to the present era, an age when the written word travels at the speed of light, reaching the far corners of the globe. Today, the court is the online world, a court of multitudes, where anyone can be a king, queen, or jester. But this modern court lacks one crucial element – the daring jesters, those who could and would speak out when no one else could.

We live in times fraught with complexity. The era of cancel culture has made it so even in the most liberal countries, writers tread a path filled with the fear of societal exile. An errant sentence, an unpopular opinion, or a misunderstood satire, and the guillotine of public opinion descends swiftly, ruthlessly.

I reflected upon this reality recently, as I conversed with a close friend about the current state of literature. The books that found their way to us, which should have been treasures of thought, insight, and commentary, felt insipid, conforming to the media-led ‘activism’ or flaunting banality with a stark lack of elegance. They were, to our dismay, as insignificant as a speck of dust on a finely tailored frack – there, but contributing nothing of value.

The fearless jesters of the literary world seem to be a rare breed in the current landscape. Few authors dare to traverse the risky path of social and political commentary, to play the role of the jester, to risk their reputations and careers for the sake of authentic expression.

But, the need for these jesters has never been more paramount. As our world becomes increasingly polarized and the exchange of ideas is stifled by the fear of ostracization, we need individuals willing to challenge the status quo, to prick the bubbles of complacency and apathy, to stimulate conversations that go beyond the echo chambers of the internet.

In this court of multitudes that thrives online, the jesters are conspicuous by their absence. As consumers of literature and members of society, we must ask ourselves: what can we do to bring back the jesters, to encourage dissent, dialogue, and diversity of thought? The road ahead is uncertain, but the quest is clear.