For the Elizabethans, having an established order was of dire importance.
The very broad spectrum of order they implemented was the Great Chain of Being. This was a hierarchical way of thinking about the world. At the very top of the chain was the Kingdom of God, which included God, the angels and any other divine being. Next, was the State, which consisted of the kings and queens, dukes, and any other personnel who enforced the law. The State was followed by the Church, which included the priests, friars, fathers, and all others who dedicated their lives to serving God. Following the Church was the Family, who had the father figure as the head of the household; something that Shakespeare constantly presents in his plays. The three final rows of this Great Chain are Animals, Plants, and Nonliving Things. This hierarchical way of thinking suggests that everything and everyone is connected. This is also the basis for being able to understand much of Shakespeare’s work (Bevington, 2014). Shakespeare continuously explores the roles of the people within these hierarchies, as well as how they are all interconnected, if at all. In relation to gender differences in his plays, having an understanding of the importance this hierarchy, and the male-dominated world the Elizabethans lived in, helps the audience gain a better perspective of many of the themes and dilemmas Shakespeare presents. |