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 77
Page 27
... king . Thus , the principle of royal absolutism found diminished respect in the English legal sys- tem well prior to James's accession . The second , more far - reaching debate centered on the king's ability to prosecute alleged crimes ...
... king . Thus , the principle of royal absolutism found diminished respect in the English legal sys- tem well prior to James's accession . The second , more far - reaching debate centered on the king's ability to prosecute alleged crimes ...
Page 29
... king's two bodies . Coke expanded the power of the legal profession where the king's political body was concerned . On the other hand , he would severely prosecute an alleged crime of treason , as he did in Raleigh's case , which jeopar ...
... king's two bodies . Coke expanded the power of the legal profession where the king's political body was concerned . On the other hand , he would severely prosecute an alleged crime of treason , as he did in Raleigh's case , which jeopar ...
Page 56
... king's life rendered a defendant absolutely liable for the deed . I do not mean to suggest that mental illness was ... King Lear on the Jacobean stage show madness to have been as vexing a legal issue then as it is today . One of the ...
... king's life rendered a defendant absolutely liable for the deed . I do not mean to suggest that mental illness was ... King Lear on the Jacobean stage show madness to have been as vexing a legal issue then as it is today . One of the ...
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