The “Great Chain of Being” and the “Fall of Lucifer” Doctor Faustus The “Great Chain of Being” and the “Fall of Lucifer”

“The Great Chain of Being” Aristotle’s hierarchical view of nature and the universe was co-opted by theologians during the Middle Ages, and remained influential throughout the Renaissance. This image of the “Great Chain of Being” from 1579 depicts a divinely inspired hierarchy in which all forms of life are ranked between heaven and hell. Source: “100 Years of Carnegie,” http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/history/carnegie/aristotle/chainofbeing.html

Every existing thing in the universe had its “place” in a divinely planned order. An object’s “place” depended on the relative proportion of “spirit” and “matter” it contained – the less “spirit” and the more “matter,” the lower it stood in the order. God was atop of the order while inanimate objects, such as metals, stones and the four elements (earth, water, air and fire). Then came animals, humans and then angels. Within each of these large groups, there were other hierarchies. An example is gold was the highest amongst metals, where lead was at the bottom. (Alchemy was based on the belief that lead could be changed to gold through an infusion of “spirit.” Source: “Renaissance,” http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/ren.html

When things were properly ordered, “reason ruled the emotions,” just as the king ruled his subjects, the parent ruled the child, and the sun governed the planets. When disorder was present, it was reflected throughout the order. For example, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. How does Macbeth demonstrate ‘pathetic fallacy’? Hamlet? All objects have their precise place and function in the universe, and to depart from one’s proper place is to betray one’s nature. I.e. Human beings were placed in between the “beasts” and the angels. To act against human nature by not allowing reason to rule the emotions was to descend to the level of the beasts. To attempt to go above one’s proper place, as Eve did when she was tempted by Satan, was to court disaster.

In Faustus “Simultaneously displaying the grand spirit of human aspiration and the more questionable hunger for superhuman powers, Faustus seems in the play to be both exalted and punished. Marlowe's drama, in fact, has often been seen as the embodiment of Renaissance ambiguity in this regard, suggesting both its fear of and its fascination with pushing beyond human limitations.” Source: “Great Chain of Being,” http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/ren.html

The “Fall of Lucifer” Lucifer is often identified with “Satan.” Lucifer in heaven, before his rebellion, was a high and dignified angel (archangel), next in honour to God’s son. Lucifer was envious of Christ, and his heart was filled with hatred. He felt he was not receiving the gratitude and praise from God he deserved. He stated he would never bow down to Christ, and Lucifer and his sympathizers were striving to reform the government of God. Lucifer refused to renounce his wicked design, and denounced God’s loyal angels as slaves. The “War in Heaven” resulted in Lucifer, and his sympathizers, to be banished from heaven for their rebellion. It is often considered that fallen angels are those who have committed one of the “Seven Deadly Sins.”