great being chain

8/3/2019 Great Being Chain

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TThehe CChain ofhain of BBeingeing

Chaos and Order in the

Renaissance Worldview

Shakespeare 208 (Winter 2002)Shakespeare 208 (Winter 2002)


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IIn then the BBeginning...eginning...

Biblical explanation for cosmology

Designed by a benevolent deity

Perfection and lack of change

Perfect order and hierarchy from

God down to the most insignificant

creature or object


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In Principio creatavit DeusIn Principio creatavit Deuscaelum et terram....caelum et terram....

In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and

the Earth. But the Earth was void and withoutform, and darkness was upon the face of thedeep: and the spirit of God moved over thewaters. Genesis 1:1

For Renaissance Christians, the act ofcreation is an act of imposing organizationon raw chaos. For them, orderliness is nextto Godliness.


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The Design?The Design?AA ChainChain fromfrom

Highest . . . .Highest . . . .

Creator seen as highest link in chain, but

also outside it.

Purely spiritual beings below the creator.

Beings of both spirit and physical body

(humans) below angelic beings. Then animate creatures with only physical

bodies and five senses, but lacking reason(non-human mammals, fowl, fish, insects)


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. . .Down to the Lowest. . .Down to the Lowest

Then animals with fewer than five senses orinanimate bodies (oysters, barnacles, mollusks)

Then plant life, which is both inanimate andlacking in sensory organs (trees, shrubs,bushes, vegetables)

T

hen minerals and inanimate objectsEverything had a place in the hierarchy, and all

was well as long as each creature behavedaccording to its station.


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The Universe as We Knowit


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Versus the PtolemaicModel

EarthEarthEarth

Planets

The Sun

The Moon


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The Ptolemaic ModelThe Ptolemaic Model

Grew Increasingly ElaborateUnder Medieval Theology

Sublunary Spheres

Music of the Spheres

Astrological Influence

All Creation interconnected by Divine Love

Stars and Planets corresponded to Alchemicalelements, to Bodily Humors, to types ofplants....to nearly everything.


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FFourour AAlchemicallchemical EElementslements

Fire (Highest but most volatile element, closestto heavenly matter that composes spiritualether and stars; its natural state was warm/dry)

Air (Second ranking element; Natural state:warm/wet)

Water (Earth naturally sinks below water, sowater is higher in status. Natural state: cool/wet

Earth (Lowest but most stable element, closestto base desires. Natural state: cool/dry)


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Four Bodily HumorsFour Bodily Humors

Choler(calledYellow Bile in some models)liquid in the body that caused irritability andanger

Tears (in some models, Black Bile) liquid inthe body that caused melancholy, sadness,and depression)

Blood (corresponded to excitement, energy,sexual arousal, happiness, desire for activity)

Phlegm (corresponded to lethargy, boredom,inaction, fatigue, sleepiness)

From Latin Humoris: liquid


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So What Went Wrong?So What Went Wrong?

For medieval and Renaissance

Christians, the universe was

created by a benevolent deity. Sohow did one explain the existence

of unpleasant evil within a world

that was thought to have been

created as an ordered paradise?


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Keep in mind, all of creation was

bound together. Whatever

affected one thing affected other

things in the Chain of Being. This

was called a Correspondence.

What is below is like that which

is above. What is above is like

what is below. Thus is the

miracle of the Oneaccomplished.

--Paracelsus


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CorrespondencesCorrespondencesThree interlocking parts of theChain corresponded to eachother. These were:

Macrocosm (the universe, nature,and the skies)

Microcosm (the Human body as a

map of the Universe)

Body Politic (the kingdom as a socialinstitute, including its governmentand its citizens).


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The Human Body was theThe Human Body was the

MicrocosmMicrocosm

It connected to every part of creation.


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The Body is a Little World.The Body is a Little World.

Created in Gods Own Image

Set in the very center of creation

Given the position of primate over the

animals

Given both soul and flesh.

Immortal, never dying....


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Remember those FourRemember those Four

Bodily Humors?Bodily Humors? Choler(calledYellow Bile in some models) liquid in the

body that caused irritability and anger

Tears (in some models, Black Bile) liquid in the body thatcaused melancholy, sadness, and depression)

Blood (corresponded to excitement, energy, sexual arousal,happiness, desire for activity)

Phlegm (corresponded to lethargy, boredom, inaction,fatigue, sleepiness)

What would happen if the human

body became corrupted?


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Health and BalanceHealth and Balance

When the humors are balanced

proportionately in the human

body, mankind is healthy, andexperiences no negative or

inappropriate emotions.

When unbalanced, it was

another story.


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Unbalance Leads to DiseaseUnbalance Leads to Disease


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...And to Civ

il Disorder...And to Civ

il Disorder


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...And to Disorder in Nature...And to Disorder in Nature

Animals attacking people, eating their own

young, stealing grain from crops, all these

were signs of the fallen nature of the earth,

and corresponded to breaks in the Chain ofBeing and disorder within the microcosm.


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...And to disorder in the...And to disorder in the

heavenly constellations.heavenly constellations.


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EnterEnter SinSin andand DisorderDisorderNow the serpent was more subtle thanany of the beasts of the earth which the

Lord God had made. And he said to thewoman: Why hath God commanded you,that you should not eat of every tree ofparadise? (Gen 3:1)

Demonic trickery leads

humanity to rebel against

its place in nature as

paragon in divine creation.


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DecayDecay in thein the

Sublunary SphereSublunary SphereNote that the vast majority of creation was stillthought to be perfect, uncorrupt.The effects of

sin were limited to the earth and its immediateatmosphere, i.e., everything beneath the orbitof the moon.

Thus the references in Shakespeare to the

sublunary sphere, and everything beneaththe moon.

Within this boundary, the nature of theworld changed. It began to rot....


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So how did theSo how did the GreatGreat

ChainChain Work?Work?

Sort of like the Death-Star, the Chain had afew pieces missing due to human rebellion.

But enough pieces remain for it to function.

The trick is for each creature to know itsduty and its place in the Chain, and act

accordingly.


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HierarchyHierarchy Primate

Higher on Chain had more spiritual aspects, greater

capacity for rationality (as opposed to instinct),closer in likeness to God.

Correspondences on three levels:

Microcosm (the individual human body)

Macrocosm (the universe and the world of nature)

Body Politic (the kingdom)


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God

The Supreme Primate

King of Angels (Rex Angelorum)


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Angelic BeingsAngelic BeingsOrganized in strict hierarchy

of seven choires (or nine,

depending upon source).

There are nine orders ofangels, to wit, angels,

archangels, virtues, powers,

principalities, dominations,

Ophanim, Cherubim, andSeraphim.

--St. Gregory, Summa

Theologica


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The King and

NobilityRight to rule given by God, and

could only be removed by

Him.

Believed superior in his virtue,wisdom, grace, and strength.


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Humanity of Various RanksHumanity of Various RanksAncient medieval model of Three Estates:

Bellatores: Knights and royalty, those who fight andrule, protecting the physical health of Gods flock

Oratores: The Clergy, the priests who pray and tend tothe spiritual needs of Gods flock.

Labores: Those who work, the farmers and serfs whofeed Gods flock.

If those who protect the kingdom do their job, the peoplewill be safe. If those who work the fields do their job, allwill be fed. If those who tend to the soul do their job, allwill have their spiritual needs met. Refusing to keepones place damages the Body Politic, society as a

whole.


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Even the lowest serf slavingEven the lowest serf slaving

away in a field had someaway in a field had somedignity and authority over otherdignity and authority over othercreatures....creatures....


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. . . Ruling over the. . . Ruling over the

Fields and FloodsFields and FloodsJust as God had authority over all kings,

and king had authority over men,lesser men had dominion over animals

and plants.

Once again, this authority was believedto be sanctioned by the Bible.


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Let us make man to our image and

likeness: and let him have dominion over thefishes of the sea, and the fowls of the air,and the beasts of the field, and the wholeearth, and every creeping creature thatmoveth upon the ground. (Gen 1:26)

And let the fear and dread of you be uponall the beasts of the earth, and upon all thefowls of the air, and all that moveth upon theearth, all the fishes of the sea are delivered

into your hands. And every thing thatmoveth and liveth shall be meat to you, evenas the green herbs have I delivered them allto you. (Gen. 9:2-3)


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Each had its hierarchy.Each had its hierarchy.

And God made the beasts of the earth

according to their kinds, and cattle, andevery thing that creepeth on the earth

after its kind. And God saw that it was

good. --(Gen. 1:25)


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Among Beasts, the primate wasAmong Beasts, the primate was

either the lion or the elephant.either the lion or the elephant.


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Fish, Flesh, and FowlFish, Flesh, and Fowl


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Mineral WorldMineral WorldYou Blocks, You Stones, You Worse Than Senseless Things!

--Shakespeares Julius Caesar

Even rocks had rankings. Diamonds were the mineral

primate, with other gems below them.

As Tillyard notes, every object in creation was thoughtto have unique gifts. Even the basest of objects, astone lacking sentience, sensation, location, and

reproduction, was still endowed with the trait ofunusual durability and hardness.

Everything, even stones and dirt, had an importantplace, even if just supporting those who walkedupon them.


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This cosmology permeatedThis cosmology permeatedearlier medieval society inearlier medieval society inWestern EuropeWestern Europe Barthomew Anglicus Natural Philosophy

Lucretius De Rerum Natura Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica

Any educated person would be familiar withthese concepts in the days before the1600s. Modern people know about atoms orevolution, even if they arent themselvesphysicists or biologists. Likewise, evenuneducated peasants would know about the

chain.


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An Example: HawkingAn Example: Hawking

Consider for example the sport of hawking (hunting smallanimals with trained birds).


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An Example: HawkingAn Example: HawkingEach rank in society had a corresponding bird to use.

Emperor: Golden Eagle, Vulture, & Merlin King: Gyrfalcon (male & female)

Prince: Female Peregrine

Duke: Rock Falcon (subspecies of the Peregrine)

Earl: Peregrine

Baron: Male peregrine Knight: Saker

Squire: Lanner Falcon

Lady: Female Merlin

Yeoman: Goshawk or Hobby

Priest: Female Sparrowhawk

Holywater clerk: Male Sparrowhawk

Knaves, Servants, Children: Old World Kestrel


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To use a bird for the wrong rank was an act not just ofpoor etiquette, but ofsubversion.

For example, keeping a falcon above one's station was

considered a felony and duly regarded as an act ofrebellion against an inflexible social order. TheBoke of St. Albans relates that the typicalpunishment of cutting off the hands of people whokept birds above their social rank also served as an

excellent deterrent to the crime.


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Another Example: HuntingAnother Example: HuntingEven the more general sport of hunting was

a re-enactment of the social hierarchy.


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Ethical, Political andEthical, Political and

Literary Ramifications?Literary Ramifications?Important to know ones place, and not seek to rise above it

through unholy ambition.

Equally important to know ones place, and not to sinkbelow it by neglecting ones duties.

Important to balance physical and animal needs of the bodywith divine reason.

Pre-established hierarchy of literary symbols, accessible toany educated reader or writer.


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Thus Pride Becomes theThus Pride Becomes the

Worst SinWorst SinPride is always an act of

disobedience to legitimate

authority, hence an actagainst the will of God, and

also against the very

structure of the universe. It

is cosmological vandalism.


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After all, it is the originalAfter all, it is the originalsin leading to Lucifers fallsin leading to Lucifers fallin medieval theology.in medieval theology.

And thou saidst in thy heart: I will ascend

into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the

stars of God, I will sit in the mountains of the

covenant, in the sides of the North. I willascend above the height of the clouds, I will

be like the most high. (Isaiah 14:13-14)


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Regicide: The Worst Act of

PrideIfI could find exampleof thousands that had struck anointed kingsAnd flourishd after, Ild not dot; but [. . .]

Nor brass nor stone nor parchment bears not one.--The Winters Tale I.ii. 357-360

The King is Gods deputy on earth, and is himself parallel inauthority to God. Just as God is king of Angels and all creation,the king is ruler of his countrymen, and deserves similar awe.The unlawful death of kings always causes disruption in the

heavens (stars fall from the sky, freakish storms blow acrossthe country) and disruption in the world of nature (famines,plagues, unnatural activity among the animals, etc.)


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Killing the King is attacking an emblem ofKilling the King is attacking an emblem ofGodhead. It is worse than even killing aGodhead. It is worse than even killing apriest. For he has two bodies, and injuringpriest. For he has two bodies, and injuring

the head of the state is a blow to the entirethe head of the state is a blow to the entirepeople.people.


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Explicit Presentatio!Explicit Presentatio!

Works Consulted:

Boethius. The Consolation of Philosophy. Trans. Richard Green.NY: Macmillan Pub. Co., 1962.

Douay-Rheims Translation of the Bible.

Kantorowicz, Ernst. The Kings Two Bodies. NJ: Princeton UP,1997.

Saintbury, George, ed. Elizabethan andJacobean Pamphlets.NY: Macmillan and Co., 1892.

Tillyard, E. M. W. The Elizabethan World Picture

2002 Dr. L. K. Wheeler

Modern Chain of Being


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Modern Chain of Being

What would a Modern Chain of Being

look like for modern society?

great being chain

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