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. |
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Page 29
... natural body . Subjects swore allegiance not to the king's political body but instead to his natural , mortal body : Whosoever are born under one natural ligeance and obedience due by the law of nature to one sovereign are natural ...
... natural body . Subjects swore allegiance not to the king's political body but instead to his natural , mortal body : Whosoever are born under one natural ligeance and obedience due by the law of nature to one sovereign are natural ...
Page 68
... nature " ( 1 Institutes 373 ) , though of course Lear in his blindness believes that it is Cordelia who offends nature . Much of the play is devoted to his painful enlight- enment regarding natural relationships . Lear is not alone in ...
... nature " ( 1 Institutes 373 ) , though of course Lear in his blindness believes that it is Cordelia who offends nature . Much of the play is devoted to his painful enlight- enment regarding natural relationships . Lear is not alone in ...
Page 205
... Natural law , 44 , 101 , 139 , 179 , 183 Natural liberty , 98 , 107 Natural reason , 24-25 , 28-29 , 63 , 96 Nature , 24 , 29 , 41 , 64 , 66 , 120 , 149 , 163 Nazi , 6 , 106 , 137-48 , 151 Negligence , 30 , 108 , 130 , 131 , 134 ...
... Natural law , 44 , 101 , 139 , 179 , 183 Natural liberty , 98 , 107 Natural reason , 24-25 , 28-29 , 63 , 96 Nature , 24 , 29 , 41 , 64 , 66 , 120 , 149 , 163 Nazi , 6 , 106 , 137-48 , 151 Negligence , 30 , 108 , 130 , 131 , 134 ...
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