Unreliability of the Great Chain of Being In the play The Tempest, William Shakespeare explores the relationship between power and weakness. Those who are seen as powerless because of their social status, may have more strength based on their abilities. In the play, the characters in a higher position show less of an authority compared to other minor characters who take charge during tough situations. Shakespeare includes several character traits to explain that the greed of wanting power is useless because the higher stance in society does not necessarily lead to being almighty. Through the use of characterization, Shakespeare condemns the Great Chain of Being by exposing its unreliability. The Boatswain displays a leadership role on the
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Sebastian and Antonio are already seen as more powerful according to the Great Chain of Being, yet they still crave more. Antonio says to Sebastian that “[his] strong imagination sees a crown/dropping upon [Sebastian’s] head” (II. i. 230-231) which will lead them to more power. Antonio is characterized as an arrogant and power-hungry person. His intentions of becoming even more superior in the Great Chain of Being sounds too easy and unrealistic. Sebastian decides to kill the king with “[o]ne stroke” and “[he] the King shall love [Antonio]” (II. i. 334,336) because of his advice. Sebastian is easily persuaded by what Antonio says and wants to kill the King in order to gain more authority. The Great Chain of Being is crumbling more and more because Antonio initially disrupts the flow of the social structure when he steals his brothers position by force. If the social ranking was stable, the positions would stay as they are, but Antonio and Sebastian display that it is …show more content…
Caliban gathers wood for his current master, Prospero, but finds Stephano instead. Caliban runs across him, but assumes that he is a “brave god” who “bears celestial liquor”, only knowing this Caliban “kneel[s] to him” (II. ii. 121,122). Once again, there is a shift in the Great Chain of Being because Caliban sees someone else more fit to be his master. This scenario is beyond what one would expect because Caliban actually wants to be a slave. Many might anticipate him to want freedom, yet that is not the case. The supposed “celestial liquor” is what brought about Caliban’s change of heart. Stephano uses this great opportunity to gain power, so he agrees and says that indeed he is the man “out o’ th’ moon” (II. ii. 143). Stephano says that he is basically god, agreeing with Caliban, which gains his trust. One lie lead to an increase in social status, but this leads the readers to conclude that the Great Chain of Being can be manipulated and therefore is
Sebastian and Antonio are already seen as more powerful according to the Great Chain of Being, yet they still crave more. Antonio says to Sebastian that “[his] strong imagination sees a crown/dropping upon [Sebastian’s] head” (II. i. 230-231) which will lead them to more power. Antonio is characterized as an arrogant and power-hungry person. His intentions of becoming even more superior in the Great Chain of Being sounds too easy and unrealistic. Sebastian decides to kill the king with “[o]ne stroke” and “[he] the King shall love [Antonio]” (II. i. 334,336) because of his advice. Sebastian is easily persuaded by what Antonio says and wants to kill the King in order to gain more authority. The Great Chain of Being is crumbling more and more because Antonio initially disrupts the flow of the social structure when he steals his brothers position by force. If the social ranking was stable, the positions would stay as they are, but Antonio and Sebastian display that it is …show more content…
Caliban gathers wood for his current master, Prospero, but finds Stephano instead. Caliban runs across him, but assumes that he is a “brave god” who “bears celestial liquor”, only knowing this Caliban “kneel[s] to him” (II. ii. 121,122). Once again, there is a shift in the Great Chain of Being because Caliban sees someone else more fit to be his master. This scenario is beyond what one would expect because Caliban actually wants to be a slave. Many might anticipate him to want freedom, yet that is not the case. The supposed “celestial liquor” is what brought about Caliban’s change of heart. Stephano uses this great opportunity to gain power, so he agrees and says that indeed he is the man “out o’ th’ moon” (II. ii. 143). Stephano says that he is basically god, agreeing with Caliban, which gains his trust. One lie lead to an increase in social status, but this leads the readers to conclude that the Great Chain of Being can be manipulated and therefore is