MAPACA

Mid-Atlantic Popular &
American Culture Association

Many twenty-first century television programs deal with issues of crime and punishment. Popular series such as Law and Order, NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, Bones, and the numerous spinoffs connected to some of these series portray the arduous work of police, FBI, and other law enforcement officials as they seek to find and apprehend persons who have committed heinous crimes that are described in graphic detail. The criminals seldom have any redeeming characteristics, in complete contrast to the righteous, brave, and attractive officers and agents who pursue and usually capture or kill the perpetrators. As they watch the events play out, the audiences for these shows are conditioned by the presentation of the characters and the crimes to have no doubt that the accused are guilty and deserve the punishments they receive, if not worse. By contrast, the presentation of accused criminals in Shakespeare’s theatrical productions, a similar form of public entertainment in his era, illustrate a more nuanced consideration of crime and punishment. Though the treatment of those guilty of crimes is generally not lenient – Iago, for example, is promised torture for his part in Desdemona’s death and the attempt on Cassio’s life – the attitudes toward accused criminals and the authorities in several plays differ in significant ways from those of most current televised dramas. Plays such as Measure for Measure, The Merchant of Venice, and King Lear, as well as others, emphasize mercy over strict justice and rehabilitation over retribution. Shakespeare’s subtler presentations of crime and punishment encourage audiences to reflect upon their own moral shortcomings rather than simply to revel in their moral superiority.