The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 17.0949  Wednesday, 25 October 2006

From: 		Sam Small <
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Date: 		Tuesday, 24 Oct 2006 16:58:10 +0100
Subject: 17.0938 The Demise of the Coward
Comment: 	Re: SHK 17.0938 The Demise of the Coward

There were three strange replies to my quest to discover the modern 
coward. To John Kennedy I would say that Hardy might be interested in 
the search. Edmund Taft seems facetiously cowardly and Bob Lapides 
confuses inaction and lack of conviction with cowardice.  In any case 
supporting the grossly corrupt Green industry is a matter of opinion and 
not of courage.  Inversely those people who would refuse to fight in a 
war actually display courage in the face of certain derision.

What I was looking for was the Shakespearean coward.  That rotten fellow 
who sees that a good thing should be done by him but is not prepared to 
take the personal risk in doing it.  The reason he does not do it is 
because he trembles with fear at the harm that may come to him. 
Certainly in Shakespeare it would be permissible for this fellow to be 
attacked at will. Someone beyond the pale.  If today we admire courage - 
why don't we dislike cowardice?

SAM SMALL

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