EXPLORING THEMES OF JUSTICE IN SHAKESPEARE AND MODERN LEGAL DRAMAS

The present paper addresses the issue of justice as interpreted in the context of Shakespearean works and as it reflects through modern interpretation in contemporary legal drama. Shakespeare's plays like The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure, and Hamlet enlighten upon conflict between law and morality, element of agent in pursuit of justice, and the personal cost incurred to seek revenge. Besides, the paper analyses the way contemporary dramas about the law, such as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Good Wife, and 12 Angry Men, raise questions about racial prejudice, the difficulty of moral decision-making, and questions regarding the law itself. The research reveals the dynamic nature of justice by comparing Shakespearean justice with modern portrayals, where personal desires, societal norms, and moral considerations intersect, offering insights into how these themes continue to resonate across time periods. Keywords: Justice, Shakespeare, Legal Dramas, Morality, Moral dilemmas