William Shakespeare includes a duke who is the highest authority figure in many of his plays. In The Comedy of Errors and The Merchant of Venice, both Dukes hold complete control – or, at least, what they perceive as complete control – over their respective regions. Shakespeare uses these two characters to show how “authority” is often an illusion and that, ultimately, everyone, including the Dukes, is powerless before the law. Although the Dukes enforce and ostensibly create the law, they are still subject to its strict rules. Shakespeare presents the legal system as static and fundamental to society: a duke who neglected to enforce the law “would greatly impeach the justice of his state,” causing pandemonium (Merchant III, 3, 29). Although the Dukes often disagree with it – for moral, social and legal reasons – “they cannot deny the course of the law” (Merchant III, 3, 26). To this end, Shakespeare shows his audience that even the most authoritative figures are not above the law. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Solinus, the Duke of Ephesus, spends most of the Comedy of Errors reluctant to enforce the law. After Aegeon tells the story of his life, Solinus swells with pity, declaring: Now trust me, if it were not against our laws - What princes, if they would, they could not undo - Against my crown, my oath, my dignity, my soul should sue as your defender (Comedy I, 1, 142-145). Even though Solinus desperately wants to forgive Aegeon, he cannot risk breaking the law and setting a precedent for future Syracusans who travel to Ephesus. From a moral point of view, Solinus knows that freeing Aegeon is the right action, which is why punishing the old man is so difficult for the Duke. Solinus shows his strong ethics when he allows Aegeon to live until sunset, allowing for the possibility of someone paying his ransom at the last minute. Going further, when Solinus accompanies Aegeon to the place of execution, he shouts to his people: “Once again proclaim it publicly, / If any friend will pay the sum for him, / He will not die; we cherish him so much" (Comedy V, 1, 131-133). Shakespeare makes it clear that Solinus does not want to proceed with the execution – so clear, in fact, that it is undoubtedly his defining characteristic – illustrating the idea that even if a duke detests a law on a moral level, he must still enforce it. It. The Duke of Venice also grapples with the concept of morality when enforcing his laws. Instead of fighting internally to enforce the law, however, the Duke of Venice projects his ethical standards onto other people. After Shylock asks for a pound of Antonio's flesh, the Duke says, "How will you hope for mercy, if you get none?" (Merchant IV, 1, 88). In turn, Shylock points out the Duke's hypocrisy, saying, "Ye have among you many purchased slaves, / Which, like your asses, your dogs, and your mules, / Used in abject and servile parts / Because you bought them ". (Merchant IV, 1, 90-93). Shylock's criticism goes beyond this episode: the Duke applies the law without complaint when it is in his favor, but once one of his friends is in danger, he begins to extol morality. This suggests that the Duke is not so much interested in morality as he is in protecting the people he associates with. The first half of Act IV, scene one – where it seems inevitable that Shylock will kill Antonio – demonstrates the Duke's impotence in the face of the law. Only the fact that the Duke, a known anti-Semite, asks Shylock for mercy proves how much he isdesperate to help Antonio. Social status also affects both dukes' application of the law. In Act V, scene 1 of the Comedy, Solino will not even consider Adriana's claim that the Abbess has committed a crime. Solinus relies on his preconceived notions about the abbesses, that they are religious women, and therefore entirely incapable of doing harm, judging by Adriana's statement. He declares: «She is a virtuous and reverend woman./It cannot be that she has harmed you» (Comedy V, 1, 135-136). Immediately afterwards, Solinus reveals his predilection for Antipholus of Ephesus, telling Adriana: «For some time their husbands served me in my wars, and I engaged you with the word of a prince, when you made him master of your bed, to make him everything possible. grace and well I might. (Comedy V, 1, 162-165) Solinus eventually forgives Egeon, but not until it is revealed that Egeon is Ephesus' father Antipholus. More importantly, the Antiphons of Ephesus offer to pay Egon's ransom. Even without the kindness of Solinus - which, once again, highlights his affinity for the Antiphons of Ephesus and his social prejudices - Aegeon would have been freed with his son's money. In this regard Solino is not breaking the law, he is simply helping a friend. The Duke of Venice uses similar logic when meting out Shylock's punishment for attempting to kill Antonio. Although the state of Venice is entitled to half of Shylock's estate, the Duke shows mercy and willingly reduces the sentence to a smaller fine. This favor, however, is probably more beneficial to Antonio than to Shylock. The Duke essentially allows Antonio to choose Shylock's punishment. After Antonio insists that Shylock “become presently a Christian” and “record a gift/Here to his son Lorenzo and his daughter,” the Duke immediately agrees, saying, “He will do this, else I will forgo/The pardon which I belatedly uttered here ” (Merchant IV, 1, 382-385; Merchant IV, 1, 386-387). This shows how the Duke, as long as he respects the law, will show preferential treatment to his friends. This further highlights his helplessness and lack of knowledge of the law. Going further, Shakespeare suggests that the two dukes are quite poor at carrying out their duties. Although Solinus claims to be “not partial to violating our laws,” he allows Egeon to live for the rest of the day (Comedy I, 1, 3-4). This circumnavigation of the law is compounded by the fact that Egeon does not object to his death sentence. In fact, he seems comforted by the inevitability of death, saying: “Proceed, Solinus, to cause me to fall, / And with the fate of death end my troubles and everything” (Comedy I, 1, 1-2). Solinus easily reveals his aversion to the law, and his motivation for delaying the execution is entirely internal. Let subjective opinion prevail over what should otherwise be an objective decision. The Duke of Venice is more than simply inadequate at carrying out his duties: he is completely inept. The Duke has only a vague understanding of the law, although he enforces it. After trying and failing to appeal to Shylock's humanity, the Duke agrees and reluctantly admits defeat, ready to say goodbye to Antonio. Portia's cunning is the only reason Antonio is spared from Shylock's knife. He manages to keep the contract while still 1, preserving Antonio's life - a feat the Duke could not accomplish - by saying: "Prepare to cut the flesh. / She is not blood, nor does she cut you any less or more / But only a pound of flesh” (Merchant IV, 1, 322-324). This also reinforces the idea that the Duke's authority is an illusion..