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Great Chain of being

Great Chain of being. Inversions and Disruptions. For centuries, European thought categorized all of existence into a clear hierarchy called The Great Chain of Being. In this system, everything, from God to the smallest pebble, had its place and purpose . Shakespeare did not invent this.

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Great Chain of being

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  1. Great Chain of being

  2. Inversions and Disruptions • For centuries, European thought categorized all of existence into a clear hierarchy called The Great Chain of Being. • In this system, everything, from God to the smallest pebble, had its place and purpose.

  3. Shakespeare did not invent this. • Accepting one’s place in the chain was a duty that would be rewarded by God in heaven. • Disrupting the chain was thought to lead to chaos

  4. Spiritual/Supernatural Humanity/Human Animals/Natural Plants Rocks

  5. Realms • In the spiritual realm there would be: God, Archangels, Angels, Saints, Etc. • In our realm we would have: King, Nobles, Churchmen, Gentlemen, Commoners/Peasants, Women • For the Natural Realm we would see: Lions all the way to the worms

  6. The whole philosophy was geared towards keeping social stability and, for centuries, it worked. • Anyone who tried to upset the Chain (women wanting equal rights, noble plotting to kill the king and take over, etc.) was really going against God and the entire universe.

  7. Since everything was connected, and everything had its place, a person trying to transcend their role upset it all. • The result? Family relations, animal behaviour, even the laws of physics were turned upside own until natural order was re-established.

  8. Shakespeare’s Tragic Arc

  9. Macbeth • Fair is foul and foul is fair • Good is evil and evil is good • Things are becoming their opposite • Witches will meet Macbeth (foreshadow) and trouble will follow Witches Macbeth Supernatural Human

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