The Great Chain of Being in Hamlet
The Great Chain of Being was an order in society in Shakespeare's time and it's structure was evident in Hamlet. Examples include:
The Great Chain of Being was an order in society in Shakespeare's time and it's structure was evident in Hamlet. Examples include:
- The concept of the Great Chain plays a major role in the play, especially as Hamlet decides whether he should risk his position on the Chain or play it safe and stay where he is.
- With Hamlet’s pursuit to avenge his father’s murdering by killing Claudius, he is faced with the dilemma of killing his uncle and thinking/knowing this would mean he is going to hell. This also means he might lose his position in the Chain. His other option is to kill his uncle, accomplishing what his father intended for him to do.
- A very general example of the Chain's structure is the way the nobles are addressed
- For instance, when Horatio – who is Hamlet’s best friend – interacts with Hamlet himself. Horatio asks Hamlet, "What is't my lord ? We will." Hamlet orders Horatio and Marcellus to never speak of the events that transpired and they respond, "My lord, we will not. " (1.5.146-148). Simply by the way Horatio addresses Hamlet, you can see there is a class distinction. Also, even though Marcellus is not as close to Hamlet as Horatio is, both of them address him as, Lord. In this case Horatio and Marcellus would fall under the category of 'Man' in the Chain, whereas Hamlet is classified as part of the 'Nobles'.
- Throughout the play the 'Nobles' are addressed differently as evidence of the class distinction which is structured by the Great Chain of Being.