Shakespeare

The Great Chain of Being: During the Elizabethans believed in an absolutely ordered universe in which all
things could be ranked in order of superiority. This view corresponded with their religious beliefs, political system
and limited scientific understanding. Beings and existence were divided and ranked as shown below:

Heaven:
God ruled over the angels and archangels
Earth:
There was order everywhere-
Society reflected this with its hierarchy of classes from highest to lowest-Kings, churchmen, nobles, merchants and
peasants.
Animals:
Had their own order; lion as “king”
Plant life:
Oak is noblest tree; rose is the noblest flower
Minerals:
Connecting all things from the inanimate to God; gold is noblest
God
Archangels, Angels
Star Controllers of Destiny

Moon
King or Queen
Church and Nobility
Princes and Knights
Nobles
Professionals and tradespeople
Peasants
Children

Lion
Other animals

Oak and Rose

Other Plants

Gold
Other Minerals

In the Great Chain of Being there are those ruling and God is the primacy of the entire Universe

Life was like a morality play written, staged and directed by God. It was common for there to be a contrast
between good and evil, and it was believed that events occurred in order to create a balance between the two. If
an individual was struck by illness or misfortune, it was because God was punishing them. Going against God’s will
would lead to severe punishment and eventually, hell.
Right and wrong was established by the Church and, its leaders were the representatives of God-kings
were king by divine right. Everyone else was below the king and the Church with nobility and clergy above the
common people. Children had no rights except those allowed them by their parents. Adolescents had to obey
every wish of their parents until marriage, which was usually arranged by the parents, especially the upper classes.
As well, a wife was to obey her husband.