The theory of the universe was of great importance to Shakespeares contemporaries and was used by him in developing events in his plays. According to this idea:

everything in the world has its position fixed by God
Earth = center of the universe. Stars move around it
God is the head of everything
on earth there is order everywhere.
Society reflected this order with its fixed classes from the highest to the lowest – kings, churchmen, nobles, merchants, and peasants.
The animals had their own degrees too, lion = “king”.
Plant life and minerals, too.
Any break in the chain (such as killing the king) pretty much ensured pre -ordained chaos
Fate/Fortune = main controlling force in life. It has ups and downs.

The Elizabethans called this hierarchical structure The Great Chain of Being.

	Created by Laura Overhoff about 9 years ago

	Copied by Laura Overhoff about 9 years ago

Alles Wichtige rund um Shakespeare und sein Zeitalter.

Shakespeare und das Elizabethanische Zeitalter - Für Abi & Matura