CONNECTIONS

THE GREAT CHAIN OF BEING-----BONDS

King Lear: connection between family, realm (society), mind and nature

Macbeth: between society, mind and nature

Doctor Faustus: between society and

One of the most important concepts during the classical period was of the Great Chain of Being. Its major
premise was that every existing thing in the universe had its place in a divinely planned hierarchical order,
which was pictured as a chain vertically extended. An object's place depended on the relative proportion of
spirit and matter it contained--the less spirit and the more matter, the lower down it stood. Besides universal
orderliness, there was universal interdependence. The doctrine held that different segments of the chain
reflected other segments. Thus if one bond was broken, or someone stepped beyond their place, it would
reverberate throughout. When things were properly ordered, reason ruled the emotions, just as a king ruled his
subjects, the parent ruled the child, and the sun governed the planets. But when disorder was present in one
realm, it was correspondingly reflected in other realms.

Shakespeare’s plays reveal that he subscribed to this school of thought whenever there was disorder in one
realm in his plays it would be reflected in other. For example in King Lear disorder in his family (child ruling
parent) leads to disorder in his realm (subject ruling king) as well as disorder in his mind (the loss of reason)
leads to disorder in nature (the raging storm). Also in Macbeth after Duncan’s murder there is a terrible storm
outside and slowly Macbeth has emotional problems ans starts to hallucinate. Thus problem in the realm
reflected in nature and then reflected within one’s mind. Marlowe on the other hand likes to look at this more
ambiguously and go against norms. His characters often step beyond their designated place in the Great Chain
of Being and the repurcussions aren’t obvious as in the case of Dr. Faustus. Dr. Faustus steps out of his place in
the Great Chain of Being when he eases to have normal human power and acquires extra ones through black
magic and a pact with Lucifer.

-The pattern of fate in Macbeth shows that before Macbeth succumbs to the temptation of power, he is at the
height of his nobility. From the moment he decides to murder Duncan, Macbeth’s path goes downward, his life
becomes horror filled and he is filled with self-hatred.

-Unlike Macbeth Faustus’ path tragic career is more parodixical. He gains much power and even as he becomes
a little more petty and arrogant he enjoys his power without the pain Macbeth faces. However he has to pay a
great price for this priviledge to step out of his place in the Great Chain of Being, he has to give up his sole.
VIRTUOUS WOMEN ACCUSED
Othello—Desdemona / Othello
The Winter’s Tale—Hermione / Leontes
Much Ado About Nothing—Hero / Claudio
Theme of the persecuted and “resurrected” heroine.

Shakespeare is often touted as a man who portrays strong-willed, literate women, and some have even
speculated if Shakespeare was actually perhaps a woman. Though Shakespeare may portray strong virtuous
women, he does not paint a just society. In three of Shakepseare’s plays, Othello, The Winter’s Tale, and Much
Ado About Nothing, honorable women are unjustly accused of gross infidelity and suffer the consequences.
Desdemona, Hermione and Hero suffer punishments for crimes they did not commit and though their pasts
are blameless, their words are not believed. Through this persecution these heroins die, either literarily or
figuratively, and their good name is restored only after outside forces reveal their virtue. Desdemona,
Hermione and Hero cannot serve as witness in their own defence because the slandered person is bereft of his
character and so has no recourse. Thus these women were not able to defend their own honour though they
attempted to valiantly, not through any lack in themselves but through the prejudice of their society. Thus
agency is taken away from them and they are forcefully pasified by the play since they cannot clear their own
good name but must let the story enfold for it to come out. And only through death and a ‘resurrection’ of a
‘new’ person can they leave the slander behind.

These plays reveal to us not how a generous nature, such as Othelo or Claudio, can be led by the nose as asses
are into believing slanderous things about virtuous women but the nature of jealousy. It is pure jealousy in the
cases of all three men, Leontes, Othelo and Claudio, that leads them to be blinded to the true nature of their
loved one and make them believe the worse. It is jealousy which blinds reason and makes irrational
conclusions plausible.

Desdemona: dies completely and is ‘resurrected’ in memory only and reputation when good name restored
Hermione: apparently dies and is truly resurrected when her statue comes to life when good name restored
Hero: never actually dies but pretends to and is then ‘resurrected’ once her good name is restored
RICHES AND THE ACQUISITION OF RICHES REVEALS GREED

The Jew of Malta

The Merchant of Venice

Volpone
Riches and acquisition of riches in The Jew of Malta, The Merchant of Venice and Volpone is used to reveal sin.
through dishonest means often hide a, he cheerfully profits from those who seek to profit from him

-they all earn money through ‘dishonest’ means

-they are greedy and prize money sometimes even above family connections

- The end of the play sees them learn a lesson and either lose their wealth or life

DISGUST
Disgust is a powerful human emotion which has possibly evolved in human beings to protect them. People tend
to be disgusted by feces, urine, blood, pus and so on and the sense of disgust will protect them against diseases.
Similarly disgust of theft, tyranny or incest will keep society healthy and in order. Disgust also reflect moral
taboos.

Hamlet

Troilus and Cressida

Measure for Measure

Compare and contrast the ways in which — and the ends to which — the medium of tragic
farce is put in Troilus and Cressida, Hamlet, or The White Devil.

SOMETHING ELSE

A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream

Henry 4, Part 1

The White Devil

The Duke of Brachiano and Isabella