Erotic Melancholia: Law, Literature, and Love

Publication Date

Spring 2002

Journal

Law and Literature

Abstract

The article explores the historical and conceptual significance of courts of love, emphasizing their role in addressing intimate relationships, desire, and gender dynamics. These courts, rooted in a tradition dating back to the Hellenistic era, established formalized rules and judgments that prioritized women's honor and the ethical-aesthetic governance of amorous relationships. By examining cases like Ursace's plea, the analysis highlights how these legal frameworks operated in a space where pain, suffering, and hope intertwined, offering a unique lens on the interplay between intimacy and the public sphere. The article argues for the enduring political and poetic value of these historical judgments, which challenged conventional legal doctrines by placing affect and desire at the heart of social and legal discourse.

Volume

14

Issue

1

First Page

103

Last Page

130

Publisher

Routledge

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1525/lal.2002.14.1.103

Disciplines

Estates and Trusts | Law

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS