Excellent food for thought. I have never read this play before, so your summary really helped. If the Duke represents God, is there any lesson for people who don't believe in God?--as it regards the role of the duke.
Thanks for your comment. My hope in writing these essays on Shakespeare's plays is that people will discover something new that might make them think differently. I'm also glad to know that my summary of the play was helpful.
Theodicy (why does an omnipotent and good God permit evil to exist?) generally is answered by the impossibility of knowing God's mind. In the play, the Duke's unveiling manifests that he's a man, one whose power derives from his social position and not from God. We may not be able to know the mind of God (or may not believe in his existence), but we can know the mind of other men, and we can judge their reasoning.
What's interesting to me is that despite living in a Christian monarchy that didn't hesitate to imprison (and execute) those who questioned its all-encompassing authority, Shakespeare unflinchingly tackled subjects that might seem to be taboo. In this play, he demonstrates the issues that arise when justice is applied both impartially and subjectively. He draws attention to the importance of public confidence in the court and the state. The state has its power (the Duke), but the people aren't without power. The Duke relies on their confidence in his judgement. (I didn't mention in the summary that the Duke's rationale for putting Angelo in charge was that he'd heard that the people considered the Duke was being too lax. It concerned him.)
I find with Shakespeare that there's something for everyone to consider. Thanks for reading!
Yes Dionne, I very much enjoyed reading your summary. I usually don't enjoy reading fiction, so I've missed out on a lot of the classics, including Shakespeare. I have subscribed to your pub. now so that I can get more whenever you decide to publish.
Potter Stewart. A very interesting fellow. I am fond of another one of his quotes.
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.”
It should be a requirement at law schools to have this emblazoned in English, not Latin, on the ivy archways to their entrance.
Excellent food for thought. I have never read this play before, so your summary really helped. If the Duke represents God, is there any lesson for people who don't believe in God?--as it regards the role of the duke.
https://purplemessenger.substack.com/
Thanks for your comment. My hope in writing these essays on Shakespeare's plays is that people will discover something new that might make them think differently. I'm also glad to know that my summary of the play was helpful.
Theodicy (why does an omnipotent and good God permit evil to exist?) generally is answered by the impossibility of knowing God's mind. In the play, the Duke's unveiling manifests that he's a man, one whose power derives from his social position and not from God. We may not be able to know the mind of God (or may not believe in his existence), but we can know the mind of other men, and we can judge their reasoning.
What's interesting to me is that despite living in a Christian monarchy that didn't hesitate to imprison (and execute) those who questioned its all-encompassing authority, Shakespeare unflinchingly tackled subjects that might seem to be taboo. In this play, he demonstrates the issues that arise when justice is applied both impartially and subjectively. He draws attention to the importance of public confidence in the court and the state. The state has its power (the Duke), but the people aren't without power. The Duke relies on their confidence in his judgement. (I didn't mention in the summary that the Duke's rationale for putting Angelo in charge was that he'd heard that the people considered the Duke was being too lax. It concerned him.)
I find with Shakespeare that there's something for everyone to consider. Thanks for reading!
Yes Dionne, I very much enjoyed reading your summary. I usually don't enjoy reading fiction, so I've missed out on a lot of the classics, including Shakespeare. I have subscribed to your pub. now so that I can get more whenever you decide to publish.
Thank you!