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  • Chapter 9 - The Comediography of Law

  • from Part III - Transgressions
  • Edited by Peter Goodrich, Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University), Anna Jayne Kimmel, George Washington University, Washington DC, Bernadette Meyler, Stanford University, California
  • Book:
    Performing Law
    Published online:
    27 February 2026
    Print publication:
    14 May 2026, pp 193-212
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  • Summary

    Quintilian suggests that law be learned in significant part a comicis, from the usages, customs and comedies of everyday life. Starting out from the theatrical and foundational form of a legal dialogue between sovereign and philosopher on pedagogy, the body, letters and images, this chapter examines the fabrication of common law in terms of what the barrister Blount coined as comediography (comœdiographus). In whirl and jig, lawyers and playwrights of comedies share a trajectory from conflict to resolution, disruption to decision, that provides a harmonious conclusion for the audience if not necessarily the actors.