NCHS AP English Language

Question 1 Pequod's hierarchy-Jessica Huff

The Great Chain of Being is a medieval concept that arranges the universe based upon an order of hierarchy, controlling everything- elements to divinity. If anything in the Great Chain of Being changes order, everything will be thrown off and result in chaos. In descending order, the Great Chain of Being is as follows: Divinity (i.e. God, Angels, Spirits), Humans (i.e. King, lords, merchants, commoners, peasants, slaves), Animals (i.e. wild beasts, domesticated, birds, fish, insects, snake), Plants (i.e. oak tree, grasses, yew tree), and Elements (i.e. gold, lead, dirt). This entire chain makes up a macrocosm, while each link, such as humans, makes up a microcosm. The Pequod is a microcosm that is comparable to humanity in the Great Chain of Being. In descending order, this is the hierarchy of the Pequod: Ahab (the king), first shipmates which include Starbuck, Stubb and Flask (lords), the harpooners which include Queequeg, Tashego, and Daggoo (businessmen or merchants), the experienced crew (common people), inexperienced crew including Ishmael (peasants), and the servants (slaves). Just as every other organization, the Pequod has a distinct order of hierarchy that must be followed to keep order and avoid chaos and disaster.
-Jessica Huff

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 1:50 PM