Great Chain of Being

The "Great Chain of Being" was a fundamental belief in Jacobean England (1603 to 1623 (the reign of James I)) asserting a divinely ordained hierarchy of all things. In Macbeth this belief is crucial as the play explores the consequences of disrupting this natural order. Macbeth's ambition to usurp the throne and his willingness to commit regicide are presented as a direct challenge to God's plan leading to widespread chaos and suffering.

Divine Order

The Chain of Being, as depicted in the play is a hierarchal structure where God is at the top, followed by angels, humans, animals and inanimate objects each with a designated place. Disobeying the monarch or disrupting this order was seen as a sin, challenging God's authority.

Macbeth's Rebellion

Macbeth's ambition and willingness to kill Duncan, the rightful King, directly violate the natural order. His rise to power, achieved through violence is presented as rebellion against the divine plan leading to a breakdown of social order.

To help you remember what the "Great Chain of Being" is use the following mnemonic: