Comparing Shakespeare's Hamlet And The Great Chain Of Being

Hamlet and the Great Chain of Being William Shakespeare’s Hamlet tells a tragic tale of murder and revenge that teaches modern ideas about the archaic theory of the Great Chain of Being. Deeply ingrained in the mindset of 17th century Denmark, The Great Chain of Being acts both as a guideline for acceptable behavior and as a strict social hierarchy where every being has a divinely selected place. Born near the top of his social rung, Prince Hamlet blindly accepts the order of the world until tragedy disrupts his comfortable worldview and leaves him seeking vengeance, but unable to act for fear of defying the all important natural order. After learning of his beloved father’s murder, Hamlet struggles desperately between maintaining reason

An indigenous belief at the time, the Great Chain of Being shapes Hamlet’s worldview and controls his actions. Given that “he himself is a subject to his birth” Hamlet is not his own master and “may not, as unvalued persons do, / Carve for himself” without regard to his social responsibilities (1.3.21-23). From this background emerges Hamlet’s initial stance on the sentiment of passion. Even before his desire to avenge Old Hamlet overtakes his reason, Hamlet wishes to find “that man / That is not passion’s slave,” who he “will wear…In my heart’s core, ay, in my heart of hearts” thus making his fledgling argument that passion is to be avoided and one must follow the Great Chain of Being (3.2.67-69). Hamlet believes strongly in the emphasis of the Great Chain on reason which makes him wonder “What is a man / if his chief good and market of his time / be but to sleep and feed?” (4.4.35-37). Without using one’s intelligence and thoughtfulness one risks becoming “A beast,” Hamlet argues that God would not have made humans with “That capability and godlike reason / To fust in [them] unused” (4.4.38-41). Therefore Hamlet must adhere to the Great Chain of Being and rise above life’s temptation to give in to passion and

By avenging his father, Hamlet is free from the plague of his conscience, and thus from his cowardice. By obtaining the throne through murder and marrying his brother’s wife, Claudius has sinned beyond repair and will continue to lie and kill to satisfy his thirst for power. Hamlet now knows that leaving Claudius, “the serpent that did sting [his] father’s life” alive would have far greater consequences than breaking from the Great Chain of Being. Shakespeare uses Hamlet to demonstrate the shortcomings of the social and moral hierarchies of the time, which while well-intentioned, do more harm than good. While disregarding the Great Chain of Being often produces dire results, The Chain’s importance is overwrought and its policies, uncompromising. Hamlet discovers over the course of the play that despite everything he grew up learning, there is a time and a place for passion. Foolish bravery and desire should not be level with beasts and peasants on the Great Chain of Being. By giving in to his passions and ending King Claudius’s murderous reign as his final act, Hamlet fulfills his duties of revenge for Old Hamlet and of overcoming cowardice for