Coriolanus: Punishment of the Civil Body | II. Slander Law
II. Slander Law
Punishment for slander has softened considerably over time, while the definition of the act itself has broadened in scope. Blackstone refers to the tyrant Dionysus ordering a subject executed for slander merely because he recounted a dream in which the ruler was slain. The Corpus Juris Civilis is almost as harsh: "When any one publicly abuses another in a loud voice, or writes a poem for the purpose of insulting him, or rendering him infamous, he shall be beaten with a rod until he dies" (1: 70). We define slander today as a personal tort based on false and defamatory declarations which may or may not have caused demonstrable harm. Slander is the oral version of libel, which is actionable language appearing in print. In some cases, words are prima facie slanderous; that is, action lies when the charge imputes criminality, horrible illness, or great immorality to another, notably when it results in loss of trade. Common law cases contain some...
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