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

9. Birthday Partners & Messages in Twelfth Night
In your groups, brainstorm a list of ideas that are presented in the play
What does Shakespeare wish to say about these topics?
Topic List (5-10):
Love
Message List (5-10):
True love is an illusion

10. Explore your 3 categories & consider preferred context
Character possibilities
Viola
Olivia
Sebastian
How possibilities
Verse and Prose
Defiant behavior
Contrasting characters
Message possibilities
True love is an illusion
Women should be treated equally
Etc.
Experiment with different formulas & go with the one that provides you with the most examples.
Create your thesis!
Once you have your thesis, consider most relevant contextual application:
Chain of Being (philosophy)
Elizabethan England/ No. Renaissance (history)
Shakespeare’s Background (Biography)
Shakespearean devices (literary)