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 65
... remains aware of his surroundings . He merely ranks its effect below that of his emo- tional suffering : " [ This ] tempest in my mind / Doth from my senses take all feeling else , / Save what beats there - filial ingratitude ! " ( 3.4 ...
... remains aware of his surroundings . He merely ranks its effect below that of his emo- tional suffering : " [ This ] tempest in my mind / Doth from my senses take all feeling else , / Save what beats there - filial ingratitude ! " ( 3.4 ...
Page 105
... remains unreflective about death and never questions or alters the hypotheticals leading to his destruction , unlike Hamlet or Macbeth . His hatred of theatrical shows only makes his performance all the more arresting . Because Rome and ...
... remains unreflective about death and never questions or alters the hypotheticals leading to his destruction , unlike Hamlet or Macbeth . His hatred of theatrical shows only makes his performance all the more arresting . Because Rome and ...
Page 169
... remains will be devoured by birds of prey . In near - benedictory tones unusual in a Shakespearean denouement , Marcus asks that Rome forgive these punishments for the sake of unity : " O , let me teach you how to knit again / This ...
... remains will be devoured by birds of prey . In near - benedictory tones unusual in a Shakespearean denouement , Marcus asks that Rome forgive these punishments for the sake of unity : " O , let me teach you how to knit again / This ...
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