Definition and Explanation

• Concept: “everything in the world has its own place”
• No matter what you do, you cannot make your way up in the chain
• You are all that you are born with, for the rest of your life, no matter what you do to try and change it
• The English society depended on a certain “order”:
  • Hierarchical: The Great Chain of Being dictated everyone’s social station and standing
  • Obedience: The lower classes were to submit to the upper classes. The upper classes, in turn, were responsible for the welfare and upkeep of the lower classes.

Philosophical Perspective

• In the Elizabethan times, everything in the universe was said to have a place in this hierarchy
• Less spirit and more matter an object had, the lower down on the chain it was
• Italian philosopher, Pico Della Mirandola, believed human beings were capable to rise to the angel level through philosopher contemplations
• Aristotle: Thought the universe was completely perfect, so was the “Great Chain of Being”

Presented in the Play

• Lear is the King he is, a man of great power
• Relinquishes the kingdom to his daughters, as a reward, to test their love for him
• Lear surrounds himself with people who use him (i.e his daughters (except Cordelia) )
• Edmund is considered low on the chain because of the circumstances that surround his birth
• Father treats him poorly because of his illegitimacy

• i.e.: King acknowledges his intent to abdicate his thrown

• By surrendering the throne to fuel his ego he disrupts the Great Chain of Being because he is challenging the position that God has given him
• Chaos occurs later in the play
• Lear banishes those around him that genuinely care for him.

Profundity Scale

• Mental -> King Lear divides his kingdom, Edgar holds onto the letter to keep & attain his Father’s attention
• Psychological -> King Lear divides his kingdom to rid himself of burdens and responsibilities
• Philosophical -> “Greed for power”

Cite this article as: William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team), "The Chain of Being Shakespeare," in SchoolWorkHelper, 2022, https://schoolworkhelper.net/the-chain-of-being-shakespeare/.