本文探討了莎士比亞在多大程度上可以被認為體現了現代性的精神，尤其關注現代對自由的概念以及莎士比亞對這一觀念的態度。基於Michel Foucault和Stephen Greenblatt的著作，本文主張，現代自由可以理解為一種「界限態度」（limit-attitude），即對諸如「人性」這一術語所代表的界限並非否認，而是透過對其進行深刻關注，從而使跨越界限的可能性得以顯現。在這種觀點下，界限具有一種本體論地位，但這種地位是純粹偶然的。因此，界限並非絕對，也無需無條件地服從。這種現代視角並不否認界限，但常常—至少在美學領域—傾向於渴望否定界限。我認為，莎士比亞比他的現代詮釋者（如Greenblatt所暗示的）更看重且願意順服人類的界限。

This paper offers a perspective on the extent to which Shakespeare may be said to embody the ethos of modernity. It focuses, in particular, on the modern conceptualization of freedom and upon Shakespeare’s attitude towards this idea. Based on the writings of Michel Foucault and Stephen Greenblatt, I argue that modern freedom is best conceptualized as a limit-attitude in which limits, such as those associated with the term "human nature" are not denied, but are intensely focused upon in order that possibilities for transgression may emerge. On this view, limits have an ontological status, but it is a status which is purely contingent. Limits are not, therefore, absolute, and need not be submitted to. This modern view is not a denial of limits, but it, frequently, at least in the realm of aesthetics, veers into a longing for such a denial. I argue that Shakespeare sees more value in human limits than his modern interpreters, such as Greenblatt, have implied.