Society is also shown to be corrupt. Madame Overdone is the owner of a hot house. The existence of these exposes some of the moral flaws in society. Shakespeare shows how the hot houses can corrupt the weak nature of individuals such as Froth. Act 2, Scene 1 is where we are first shown that Claudio is not the first person to commit a sinful act. At the end of the scene however Froth does not face that same fate as Claudio as, through the help of Pompey, he is let of the hook with a warning by Escalus. Pompey: ‘Does your worship mean to held and splay all the youth of the city?’ Act 2, Scene 1, lines 227 & 228.
Isabella displays, to an extent, represents corruption on a religious level. When we are first introduced to Isabella we see of how she is just about to become a Nun. As an audience however we do not feel that she entirely accepts what this would entail, Isabella: ‘And have your nuns no farther privileges?’ Act 1, Scene 4, line 1. When asked by Lucio to help her brother Claudio, Isabella does not take much convincing at all. As a Nun Isabella would also have, presumably, deemed what Claudio and Juliet did as wrong, however she sets aside her beliefs in order to try and save her brother. Isabella tries to convince Angelo to look at the fault and not who committed it , Isabella: ‘I do beseech you, let it be his fault, And not my brother’ Act 2, Scene 2, lines 35 & 36. Pompey exposes how ridiculous the new law created by Angelo is.
Shakespeare also shows religious corruption through Angelo. The audience is led to presume that the play is set in a Catholic area. They might presume this because of a number of ideas such as Isabella wanting to become a nun. Therefore, presumably, the Duke would have ruled as a Catholic leader. When Angelo is given power though, he changes the way that the Duke has run Vienna and replaces it with Puritan rules.
This is not the only level of corruption performed by Angelo; Shakespeare also represents social corruption through him. As soon as Angelo takes on the power that has been granted to him by the Duke, Shakespeare portrays him as a harsh character with a high set of morals. For the punishment he has given Claudio it could be said that he is perceived by the audience as somewhat of a tyrant. When, however, he meets Isabella, a new side is revealed of him, a more human side. The more human side is shown to be a more sinful side. Angelo is attracted to Isabella because of her virtuousness.
Claudio can be used as an example of social corruption in the play. In the time that the play was set, to have sex outside of marriage was deemed as a sin. To indulge in your desires is far more of a Catholic idea than a Puritan one. Claudio commits this sin, but under the power of Angelo the sin becomes a crime and he has to pay the ultimate price for what he has done – his life. Despite the social corruption that this deed entails, the audience are given the impression that to have sex outside of marriage is not so unusual. Shakespeare represents this corruption as both comical and a tragedy. Mistress Overdone: ‘O. Well! What has he done?
Pompey: ‘A woman’
Mistress Overdone: ‘O. But what is his offence?’ Act 1, Scene 2, lines 80, 81 & 82.
After this comical relief provided by Shakespeare, the scene is darkened again as the audience is reminded once more of what Claudio is facing.
Corruption is a big part of the play Measure for Measure and as a result all of the characters in the play are involved, in some way, with corruption. Shakespeare has entwined it into all of their lives. This corruption is a social, religious or political level, and for some of the characters more than just one of them. We are immediately introduced to corruption and Shakespeare continues to expose it at the plot goes on. The main corruption of the play is that on of a social level and is committed by Claudio. As the characters discuss this more corruption is revealed, for example that of Froth and Mistress Overdone and as Isabella tries to eradicate the punishment further corruption is revealed, on both a social and religious scale. Shakespeare links the corruption to the theme of the play and either represents is as a tragedy or as comical. The events, as they go on, seem to create other causes for corruption and the audience are led to wonder what will happen next.
