Shakespearean Tragedy and the Common Law: The Art of PunishmentShakespearean Tragedy and the Common Law examines punishment in Shakespeare's tragedies from the perspective of English Renaissance common law cases and theory. William Shakespeare's work is grounded conceptually in the «artificial» reason of common law as embodied by the great jurist of the age, Sir Edward Coke. Coke's legal rationale is sufficiently distinct from our own to suggest that a reasonable spectator in Renaissance England would interpret key elements of Shakespeare's art differently than we do today. Punishment, the sine qua non of these plays, is treated via a spectrum of legal theories: retribution, restitution, deterrence, and reform. Dr. Hawley's close examination of all ten plays and some fifty cases reveals how law, art, and philosophy shape Shakespeare's tragic vision. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 21
Page 146
... Caesar becomes prob- lematic because each succumbs to the ambition so reviled by the Ro- man polity . Antony's self - promoting tactics are obvious , while Caesar appears all too willing to flirt with the prospect of absolute rule . A ...
... Caesar becomes prob- lematic because each succumbs to the ambition so reviled by the Ro- man polity . Antony's self - promoting tactics are obvious , while Caesar appears all too willing to flirt with the prospect of absolute rule . A ...
Page 148
... Caesar owes to the fact that no compelling cause exists for such violence . The quash- ing of Pompey's legacy ... Caesar's groin , hardly a noble thrust . Brutus's first thought after the murder is to disperse the conspirators amidst the ...
... Caesar owes to the fact that no compelling cause exists for such violence . The quash- ing of Pompey's legacy ... Caesar's groin , hardly a noble thrust . Brutus's first thought after the murder is to disperse the conspirators amidst the ...
Page 150
... Caesar's char- acter . Antony regains sympathy for Caesar , plants the seeds of mutiny against the conspirators , and with rhetorical legerdemain forces the mob to demand that he read the will confirming Caesar's benevo- lence . Every ...
... Caesar's char- acter . Antony regains sympathy for Caesar , plants the seeds of mutiny against the conspirators , and with rhetorical legerdemain forces the mob to demand that he read the will confirming Caesar's benevo- lence . Every ...
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Complicity and Tragic Retribution | 11 |
Macbeth and the Reasonableness Standard in Law | 23 |
Copyright | |
12 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
accusers action Antony appear audience becomes body Caesar calls cause characters charge civil claim Cleopatra Coke Coke's committed common law complicated concerning contract Coriolanus corporation court crime criminal critics Croke death defendant effect element Eliz England English English common law evidence exists finds force give given guilty Hamlet Hegel hero human Institutes intent interest involved issue Judges justice Kant kill king king's land Lear letter London lovers Macbeth madness matter means mens mental metaphysical military moral murder nature Othello play play's political position present principle punishment question reason refers regards relationship remains remarks Renaissance Reports requires response restitution retribution revenge role Roman Rome Romeo rule seems sense Shakespeare slander social society stage standard statutes suggests theatrical theory Timon tion Titus tragedy tragic treat trial understanding vols witnesses