8-1GreatChainofBeing

WHAT IS “THE ELIZABETHAN WORLD PICTURE” AND “THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING”? //Answer prepared by Maddy W//

According to Rogers Jami, the creator of the website “King Lear William Shakespeare”, in the Elizabethan world picture of order, Queen Elizabeth was the supreme link at the top of the chain and each of her loyal subjects played a lesser role and stature. The lower ranking individuals were to stay at their ranking in the chain and not to rise above. This concept emphasized the role of the political ruler the Queen and would suppress any and all uprising from lowly peasants. Thus the rulers represent the “Divine Right” to be the supreme decision maker of all authority. E. M. W Tillyard author of __The Elizabethan World Picture__ states, “The passage (The Elizabethan World Picture) is at once cosmic and domestic. The sun, the king, primogeniture hang together; the was of the planets is echoed by the war of the elements and by the war on earth; the homely brotherhoods or guilds in cities are found along with an oblique reference to creation out of the confusion of chaos” (Tillyard**__)__** In the Elizabethan world picture of order any civil disturbance of the Great Chain of Being, would be a threat to the supreme order of being and thus if the chain were broken would have dire consequences for all mankind. It was thought that any disturbance of the Elizabethan Great Chain of being could and would have dramatic changes in the heavens and God. The Elizabethan world picture of order The Queen Elizabeth, Nobleman, Clergy, landowners, merchants, artisans, laborers, serfs, animals, plants, and the rocks.

The Great Chain of being represents a hierarchical link of beings it is the concept that every existing thing in the universe has a certain place in the order of the universe. The position in the chain was determined by a balance of the amount of spirit and matter that each object or person contained. God was the ultimate Supreme Being.

The Great Chain of Being determined the interdependence of each of the elements and divisions of the order. Represents perfection to the highest degree at the top of the chain is God, the greatest and fullest being, and then at the bottom of the chain is the lowest and least being or thing. Within each step in the chain there are subdivisions, precious metals, diamonds, gold, silver, rubies, sapphires, to the lowest metal tin. God is the highest, then angels, stars, elements, man, animals, plants, metals and liquids.

In Elizabethan England, Queen Elizabeth would be the highest and noblest of all beings and then the least important would be the poorest thieves.

It is the division of the hierarchical link that defines the roles that the characters portray in the different plays of Shakespeare. It allows the audience to have an understanding of the role that each character would play in the scene. The deviations from the hierarchal order that the characters played in the scenes would create an element of conflict for the play and the characters.

__ Works Cited __ Books: Sheavyn, Phoebe. //The Literary Profession In the Elizabethan Age//. Kessinger Publishings LLC, 2006. Print. Tillyard, E. M. W.. //The Elizabethan World Picture//. Vintage, 1959. Print.

Websites: Alchin, L.K. "Elizabethan Education." William Shakespeare Site-Map. 25 Febuary 2009. 4 Apr 2009 . Rogers, Jami. "Chain of Being." //King Lear William Shakespeare//. 29 March 2009 .