1. Chain of Being
Orsino: “Give me thy hand, And let me see in thy woman’s weeds” ( ).
Viola= hand woman weeds
low lower lowest
(not head) (than man) (vegetative class)

2. Chain of Being
Olivia: “If one should be a prey, how much the better / To fall before the lion than the wolf” ( ).
“prey” & “fall” indicates submission to man
Orsino= lion Cesario= wolf
(highest) (lower)

3. The Elements
Viola: “If I did love you in my master’s flame…In your denial I would find no sense” ( ).
Orsino= flame (highest)= his love is the highest element…he is of the highest class.

4. The Heavenly Hierarchy/Fate
HEAVENLY HEIRACHY
Viola: “Most excellent and accomplished lady, the heavens rain odors on you!” ( ).
Olivia= blessed by heavens; rain (water) lower element establishing her womanly place
FATE
Olivia’s letter, “In my stars I am above thee…”( ).
“stars” are responsible for the realms below the moon. Olivia is of a higher class than Malvolio.

5. The Humors & Spirits
Earth= Black Bile/Melancholy (a thoughtful ponderer)
Water= Phlegm (calm, unemotional, self-content & kind)
Air= Sanguine/Blood (arrogant, cocky, indulgent, confident)
Fire= Choler (doer, leader, ambition, energy, passion)

6. Man as Microcosm (Humor/Spirits)
Heart= often with Viola, Orsino, and Olivia
Orsino: “How will she love when the rich golden shaft…when liver, brain, and heart, these sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled her sweet perfections with one self king! “( )
She will be completely balanced (of humor and spirits… sanguine=liver, phlegm= brain) when she is in love with me (top of the chain).

7. MI & the Chain of Being CONTENT:
Translate the concepts of the Chain of Being using the assigned intelligence (see handout).
Be sure to observe the following requirements:
CONTENT:
All 4 parts of the chain should be represented
Elements should be included
At least 1 primate should be exemplified
Bodily hierarchy should be included
The role of chaos should be addressed
SPECIFICS:
Complete in 20 minutes
All group members must be involved
Group Primate is highlighted (this person is in charge of the assigned work)

8. Essay: Prewrite Consider the message: Consider the context:
Chain of Being (philosophy)
Elizabethan England/ No. Renaissance (history)
Shakespeare’s Background (Biography)
Shakespearean devices (literary)
Consider the character(s):
Viola Malvolio
Orsino Feste
Olivia Maria
Sebastian Antonio
Andrew
Toby
Fabian
Consider the message:
Women should be treated equally