Bloody constraint : war and chivalry in Shakespeare

In Bloody Constraint, Meron addresses the basic humanitarian and ethical values that are so important for international law and war crimes prosecutions in our era. Using the approach of the law and literature school, Meron considers international legal humanitarian issues related to war through analysis of literature, particularly Shakespeare's attitude to war and Homer's attitude towards chivalry and codes of conduct of war. While discussing such issues as treatment of prisoners, women, mercy, honour, negotiations, and settlement, and responsibility in works of literature, he also considers international legal issues that have relevance today.