Elizabethan Era

Is Social Class The Only Thing That Matters?

What truly matters in life? Is it the amount of money, land, women, friends, cars, or houses a man owns? Could it be possibly be the amount of knowledge an individual has? The answer to this question would vary depending on the group of people you ask. The first social classes were originally created back when your family's name would depend on what your ancestors did for a living. If you dreamed of being something else or moving up the social ladder, you were considered mad or a fool. It would be thought as a miracle or some sort of witchcraft if someone from a lower class was able elevate themselves to a higher social life. Social class from back during the Elizabethan Age definitely played an enormous role in William Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. As the main antagonist, Iago, becomes envious of the protagonist, Othello, for being a higher rank, he hatches up a devious, cunning plan to raise up the social rank.

As Webster's dictionary explains a social class is , “people having the same social or economic status” (webster-dictionary.org) (1). During the Elizabethan Era, there were 6 board official social classes, the Monarchy, Nobility, Gentry, Merchant, Yeomanry, and Laborers. For the normal everyday people, the highest rank they could possibly accomplish is Nobility. “This class is the lords and ladies of the land. A person becomes a member of nobility by birth, or by a grant from the queen or king. Noble titles were hereditary, passing from father to oldest son. It took a crime such as treason for a nobleman to lose his title,” (thelostcolony.org). People belonging to the Nobility class would be the richest people under the Queen. Since they own land, they could sell it or rent it out to people that grew crops, herded livestock, or provided services, giving them the title “holders”. Then in return, the holders would charge taxes for living on their land and/or require portions of...