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 31
Page 8
... position in its most aus- tere form , a position assumed by most English Renaissance tragedians as well as by more of us today than we might imagine . Hegel cannot be said to be a symmetrically opposing voice to Kant . Both share a ...
... position in its most aus- tere form , a position assumed by most English Renaissance tragedians as well as by more of us today than we might imagine . Hegel cannot be said to be a symmetrically opposing voice to Kant . Both share a ...
Page 89
... position when he turns against Creon , who argues somewhat convincingly that in order to maintain the security of the state a traitor's corpse ought to remain unsolemnized . Both positions carry weight in Greek law , though the play ...
... position when he turns against Creon , who argues somewhat convincingly that in order to maintain the security of the state a traitor's corpse ought to remain unsolemnized . Both positions carry weight in Greek law , though the play ...
Page 156
... position is the Augustinian one of embracing biblical agape , wherein we hate the criminal deed while respecting the individual worth of the offender : This need not contradict the first principle of caring for all persons because we ...
... position is the Augustinian one of embracing biblical agape , wherein we hate the criminal deed while respecting the individual worth of the offender : This need not contradict the first principle of caring for all persons because we ...
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