Leviathan · Chapter
Leviathan explained
The opening of Hobbes's Leviathan introduces the work's central concern: the matter, form, and power of a commonwealth, both ecclesiastical and civil.
What happens
The opening of Hobbes's Leviathan introduces the work's central concern: the matter, form, and power of a commonwealth, both ecclesiastical and civil. It sets the stage for a systematic inquiry into human nature, the social contract, and the necessity of a sovereign authority to prevent the war of all against all.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it reveals the sovereign's right to punish is not a gift from subj…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- State of Nature and Social Contract
The title and subtitle immediately invoke the need to understand the 'matter' of the commonwealth, implying a foundational state of nature that must be overcome through a social contract.
- Sovereignty and Absolute Power
The work's focus on the 'power of a commonwealth' and the dual authority of 'ecclesiastical and civil' points to the central theme of sovereignty and the absolute power required to maintain order.
Key passages
“Leviathan Or, The Matter, Form and Power of a Commonwealth, Ecclesiastical and Civil”
The book's full title announces its subject: the physical and structural components, the design, and the authority of a political body, covering both religious and secular governance.
This opening line establishes the scope and ambition of Hobbes's project.
