That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth
In a keeping with the view that Shakespeare harbored a sympathetic attitude to Catholic ways of seeing, this essay argues that Macbeth is a study in the dangers of oversimplification and certainty. In contradistinction to how Spenser’s Redcrosse Knight escapes the Cave of Despaire, Macbeth...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/10/315 |
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doaj-2774c4285c844212a91ee14cfefb448e2020-11-24T21:47:41ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442018-10-0191031510.3390/rel9100315rel9100315That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and MacbethJohn E. Curran0English Department, Marquette University, 1217 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233, USAIn a keeping with the view that Shakespeare harbored a sympathetic attitude to Catholic ways of seeing, this essay argues that Macbeth is a study in the dangers of oversimplification and certainty. In contradistinction to how Spenser’s Redcrosse Knight escapes the Cave of Despaire, Macbeth would benefit greatly from probing, questioning, nuancing, and sifting through ambiguity. He needs to examine the particular attenuation of his own moral thinking, and needs to engage equivocation, in the forms of both amphibology and mental reservation.http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/10/315MacbethconsciencecasuistryequivocationProtestantismCatholicism |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
John E. Curran |
| spellingShingle |
John E. Curran That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth Religions Macbeth conscience casuistry equivocation Protestantism Catholicism |
| author_facet |
John E. Curran |
| author_sort |
John E. Curran |
| title |
That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth |
| title_short |
That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth |
| title_full |
That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth |
| title_fullStr |
That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth |
| title_full_unstemmed |
That Suggestion: Catholic Casuistry, Complexity, and Macbeth |
| title_sort |
that suggestion: catholic casuistry, complexity, and macbeth |
| publisher |
MDPI AG |
| series |
Religions |
| issn |
2077-1444 |
| publishDate |
2018-10-01 |
| description |
In a keeping with the view that Shakespeare harbored a sympathetic attitude to Catholic ways of seeing, this essay argues that Macbeth is a study in the dangers of oversimplification and certainty. In contradistinction to how Spenser’s Redcrosse Knight escapes the Cave of Despaire, Macbeth would benefit greatly from probing, questioning, nuancing, and sifting through ambiguity. He needs to examine the particular attenuation of his own moral thinking, and needs to engage equivocation, in the forms of both amphibology and mental reservation. |
| topic |
Macbeth conscience casuistry equivocation Protestantism Catholicism |
| url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/9/10/315 |
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AT johnecurran thatsuggestioncatholiccasuistrycomplexityandmacbeth |
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