The Ideology of the Fool in Shakespeare’s King Lear

In using the definition of ideology as, “The set of beliefs characteristic of a social group or individual,” (The Concise Oxford Dictionary). I will show that while the Fool in King Lear may not follow any deep-seated ideology such as Communism or Marxism, he does have his own characteristic beliefs, which create an ideology that he follows throughout the play.

It would be a brave person indeed to claim that Shakespeare’s Fool, in King Lear, follows any deep-seated ideology such as Communism, Marxism, Feminism or even anti-Feminism. The Fool is “A link between the stage and the auditorium… the role of the fool resembles that of the Greek chorus.” Due to this role, the Fool has a certain amount of impartiality (although his feelings towards other character are not wholly impartial) to the action going on around him and therefore does not follow any global ideology that we would recognize today. It could also be argued that the disappearance of the Fool from the play altogether in Act III, Scene 6, “clearly indicates that the poet did not take the figure as seriously as many of his critics do.”

However, in taking the definition of ideology given in the opening paragraph, it soon becomes noticeable that the Fool does have his own set of beliefs, which could qualify as certain ideologies he follows. One of the more prominent ideologies held by the Fool in King Lear is the belief in always being honest, and “to hold up the mirror and invite a true seeing.” We find out about the Fool’s belief in telling the truth early on in the play in Act I, Scene 4.

Lear: Take heed, sirrah – the whip.
Fool: Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when the Lady
Brach may stand by th’ fire and stink.

(King Lear I 4 114-117)

In the build up to this passage, the Fool tries to point out to Lear, how foolish he has been in dividing his kingdom between his two daughters whilst banishing Cordelia. Lear warns the Fool that if he continues in this manner he may be whipped, to which the Fool replies that, “perhaps, truth telling is whipped out of the house while flattery is rewarded.”

Another ideology of the Fool, evident in the play, is his belief that he should remain loyal to King Lear. “The Fool is faithfully loyal to Lear, sharing his master’s distress as he wanders over the heath. He remains at the king’s side after he goes mad, and when Lear is finally persuaded to rest, he lies beside him.” An example of the Fool’s loyalty to Lear occurs in the opening scene during the storm on the heath, when Kent asks a Gentleman of the King’s whereabouts.

Kent: But who is with him?
Gent: None but the fool; who labours to outjest
His heart-struck injuries.

(King Lear III 1 118-120)

Here we see that the Fool’s deep loyalty to King Lear has meant that, “all his faculties are strained to cheer and divert his master.” It is interesting also to note that the Fool’s loyalty as displayed above, comes at a time when the King has been forsaken by his two daughters, Goneril and Regan, and deserted by his 100 knights.