LAW PUNDIT Sunday, January 18, 2004 1/18/2004 03:00:00 PM [Home]
The Law and Michael Jackson
The Law and Michael Jackson
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel,
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."
- William Shakespeare, Act II. Scene VII. As You Like It. Craig, W.J., ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare.
Via Classical Values and the aptly titled "Penetrating Legal Issues" we are directed to the host of issues surrounding the Michael Jackson case, a case which shows clearly that the Renaissance stage of William Shakespeare is now a modern circus tent.
Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence - for better or worse - is largely irrelevant. This is a public figure, who by his very nature and experience, will always seek the public limelight, whatever it costs.
Be aware (beware?) that we have substituted the adversary arena of the law for the battle of the gladiators in the Roman ampitheathers. The following quote is from wordsources.info on "Arena and Roman amphitheater circus productions":
"To the Roman mobs, caught in an economic tangle they could not comprehend and were unable to break, the circus was the only substitute for their troubles. The great amphitheaters became the ordinary man's temple, home, place of assembly, and ideal. As the games were ostensibly pious ceremonies given in honor of the gods, they gratified any possible religious sensitivities. At least for a few hours by being in the Circus Maximus, they were able to inhabit an edifice even more magnificent than the Golden Palace of Nero instead of having to stay in their miserable, overcrowded tenements.
When they were at the circus, Romans were able to meet with other freemen, feel a sense of unity as they sat with their factions cheering a certain chariot team, and imposing their wishes on the emperor himself for, as the Romans themselves said, 'In the circus alone are the people rulers.' The Romans worshiped courage and all Romans liked to picture themselves as rough, tough fighters. In Rome, the 'little guys' could identify themselves with a successful gladiator as modern fight fans identify themselves with a famous prize fighter or sports people are fiercely loyal to various sports' personalities or teams today."
Et tu Brutus?
Permalink : Andis Kaulins : 1/18/2004 03:00:00 PM
The Law and Michael Jackson
The Law and Michael Jackson
.
All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel,
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."
- William Shakespeare, Act II. Scene VII. As You Like It. Craig, W.J., ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare.
Via Classical Values and the aptly titled "Penetrating Legal Issues" we are directed to the host of issues surrounding the Michael Jackson case, a case which shows clearly that the Renaissance stage of William Shakespeare is now a modern circus tent.
Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence - for better or worse - is largely irrelevant. This is a public figure, who by his very nature and experience, will always seek the public limelight, whatever it costs.
Be aware (beware?) that we have substituted the adversary arena of the law for the battle of the gladiators in the Roman ampitheathers. The following quote is from wordsources.info on "Arena and Roman amphitheater circus productions":
"To the Roman mobs, caught in an economic tangle they could not comprehend and were unable to break, the circus was the only substitute for their troubles. The great amphitheaters became the ordinary man's temple, home, place of assembly, and ideal. As the games were ostensibly pious ceremonies given in honor of the gods, they gratified any possible religious sensitivities. At least for a few hours by being in the Circus Maximus, they were able to inhabit an edifice even more magnificent than the Golden Palace of Nero instead of having to stay in their miserable, overcrowded tenements.
When they were at the circus, Romans were able to meet with other freemen, feel a sense of unity as they sat with their factions cheering a certain chariot team, and imposing their wishes on the emperor himself for, as the Romans themselves said, 'In the circus alone are the people rulers.' The Romans worshiped courage and all Romans liked to picture themselves as rough, tough fighters. In Rome, the 'little guys' could identify themselves with a successful gladiator as modern fight fans identify themselves with a famous prize fighter or sports people are fiercely loyal to various sports' personalities or teams today."
Et tu Brutus?
Permalink : Andis Kaulins : 1/18/2004 03:00:00 PM
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