Summary
An analysis of how Shakespeare uses supernatural elements to depict the tragic consequences of challenging gender roles and the Great Chain of Being.
Shakespeare and the Elizabethan Hierarchy
Highlights
Breaking the Great Chain of Being
In the Elizabethan era, societal norms dictated that women were loving and loyal but inherently incapable of leadership. By invoking supernatural forces, Shakespeare's characters challenge the natural hierarchy established by God, known as the 'Great Chain of Being'.
Tragic Consequences
Shakespeare illustrates that defying this rigid, divinely ordained social order through gender transgression or supernatural interference leads to inevitable and bloody tragic repercussions.