who provides social criticism regarding courtly life and behavior.
Duke Senior is delighted with Touchstone’s humor and comments, “He uses his folly like a stalking-horse, and under the presentation of that he shoots his wit” (95-96). In hunting the hunter could hide behind his stalking-horse (which could be a real horse or an imitation one) so that he could shoot his prey, which would not be aware of his presence. In this metaphor, Touchstone hides behind his foolish appearance and behavior to shoot his wit – to make witty comments – about his targets. Duke Senior is thus praising Touchstone, whose wit is unexpected yet accurate.