Morality in Measure for Measure

Morality in Measure for Measure Shakespeare's play, Measure for Measure, focuses on human morality. The play also explores the question of what kind of sexual conduct is socially acceptable, and what is not. The play depicts various attitudes toward prostitution, promiscuity, and premarital sex. But it also suggests that human law and perhaps human morality is quite arbitrary and relative. Measure for Measure considers the need for statutes and laws to govern sexual appetites and ensure domestic tranquillity. But it also focuses on the conflict between human actions and human moral values, especially as it is manifest in the issue of seeming and being. The Duke himself notes the difference between appearance and reality as he speaks about his deputy Angelo, who appears to be the perfect deputy and the disciplined (even puritanical) character. Noting Angelo's character, the Duke also questions the integrity of his inner and outer worlds: Lord Angelo is precise; Stands at a guard with envy; scarce confesses That his blood flows, or that his appetite Is more to bread than stone: hence shall we see, If power change purpose, what our seemers be. Angelo ultimately proves to be a seemer, one whose statements of virtue and self-control do not match his behaviour. But to call him a hypocrite misses the mark: he is as surprised at his lust as anyone else, at least at its onset,

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss Shakespeare's Presentation of Isabella in 'Measure for Measure'.

Discuss Shakespeare's Presentation of Isabella in 'Measure for Measure' Isabella, a nun and sister of Claudio, plays a key role in Measure for Measure. All of the major events that occur in the plot are in some way linked to her. For example she is instrumental in saving Claudio's life when he is found to have made Juliet pregnant, this leads to her involvement with the other major characters. I chose to write my essay on her as in preliminary work I found her a very interesting and influential character. She seems to bring a lot to the play in the sense that she is really the only female lead character, and she seems to be the most morally upright and genuine individual in the play. The first time Shakespeare introduces her is in the convent in Act 1 Scene 4, that she is about to enter, probably for the rest of her life. This initially shows us that her faith is very strong, as she has pledged her life to God and the church. She also displays how devout she is when talking to the head nun; she asks, "have you nuns' no further privileges?" this is Isabella asking for the rules to be stricter. You can see right from the outset that Shakespeare presents her a very strong and single-minded character. Her character is shown to be very loyal to her brother, Claudio. She initially doubts her power to change Angelo's mind about the execution, but Lucio skilfully persuades her by

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  • Subject: English
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Measure For Measure - Character List.

Measure For Measure Character List: Vincentio, The Duke: The ruler of Vienna, he decides at the beginning of the play to pretend to leave town, and pass his power along to Angelo, a man who is very strict. The Duke stays in Vienna, disguised as a friar, to observe the goings-on. He is a man who knows that human nature is weak and can be corrupted, and accepts this to some extent. He knows that being a ruler requires that a person be fair and not punish people for their faults when they are faults that the ruler has too. Angelo: The Duke's deputy, he comes to power suddenly and unexpectedly when the Duke leaves Vienna in his power. It seems to be some kind of test for the cold, seemingly perfect Angelo, who soon discovers that he too is capable of being tempted, and of falling to this temptation. Although he is aware that he should resist sin, he gives in with abandon. Escalus: Another in government service to the Duke. Escalus pledges to uphold the law and support whomever leads Vienna, though he disagrees with Angelo's punishment of Claudio especially. He is a generally good man who seeks to support the state, while at the same time ensuring that the state acts fairly. Claudio: A young gentleman who gets into trouble when he gets his fiancée, Juliet, pregnant before their wedding. Angelo imprisons him and sentences him to death; no one agrees that this

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Measure for Measure By William Shakespeare - Explain the significance of the title.

Measure for Measure By William Shakespeare GCSE Coursework 2003 Explain the significance of the title. The first thing to note is that 'Measure for Measure', unlike some of the comedies, has a highly significant title, a phrase which not only sums up the basic theme of the play, but is brought out and emphasized in the last act, when the Duke condemns Angelo: "An Angelo for Claudio; death for death. Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure; Like doth quit like, and Measure still for Measure" ( V.i.l.406-409 ). To me, the title 'Measure for Measure' suggests balance. It is all about duality, and the theory that there are two sides to everything, to every story. Everything has an opposite. Good versus bad, right versus wrong, law and order versus vice and inequity. All the characters and themes throughout the play carry this duality. 'Measure for Measure' takes it title from the Gospel according to Matthew: "with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:2), a passage from the Sermon on the Mount, one of Christ's most famous sermons. Many of the people in Shakespearian times were religious and read the Bible and so were likely to know of this sermon. Among other things, this sermon shows the importance of the difference between outer sacredness and inner corruption. Like the play, the Sermon on the Mount stresses the world of thoughts,

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  • Subject: English
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"The last act of Measure for Measure raises more questions than it solves, is this a satisfactory conclusion to the play?"

"The last act of Measure for Measure raises more questions than it solves, is this a satisfactory conclusion to the play?" (discuss) Measure for Measure is one of Shakespeare's unclassifiable plays. It was written in 1603 and is one of his most enigmatic and unfathomable works. It is normally referred to as a problem play and, up until the 20th century it was seen as one of Shakespeare's worst works, due to the fact that many were uncertain as to the character's motives. However within the last century, it has undergone a revival and many believe it to be one of his greatest works. The play contains a wonderful mix of serious and intense drama interspersed perfectly with moments of flippancy. To give an example, in one of the most serious scenes in which Isabella is pleading for her brother's life, Lucio is standing in the background, throwing her encouraging remarks. II.2 line 130 "thou'rt i'th'right girl, more o'that" It is this mix that so marks the play out from pure comedies such as Midsummer Night's Dream in which there is hardly a sombre word, and Hamlet, in which humour scarcely plays. The climax of the play is in the last act in which the balance of levity and gravity is carefully maintained. The last act solves many of the dilemmas brought up in the course of the play, however it does also create some quandaries to which the solutions are left to our

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  • Subject: English
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Discuss Shakespeare's Presentation of Isabella in Act 5 of the Play.

Discuss Shakespeare's Presentation of Isabella in Act 5 of the Play Isabella is one of the most important characters in Measure for Measure, along with Angelo and the Duke. Before Act 5 we have a good idea as to her character, we know that she remains by her principles and is not easily influenced by people, even close family. She wanted the rules at the convent to be stricter, which shows her very apparent free will, and determination to do things right. She has already stood up to Angelo when he propositioned her to sleep with him in return for Claudio's life, and when she relayed this information to Claudio she stood up to even him. All of this shows us just how much Isabella values her morals and religion, she is being extremely intransigent. At the beginning of Act 5 Isabella is to participate in the plan put forth by the Duke, she is not to accuse Angelo and if the Duke acts harshly to her then it is all part of the plan. She is not very pleased at this, in Act 4, Scene 6 she says "To speak so indirectly I am so loth", this basically means that she hates the idea of not accusing Angelo in person. I would say that she play a very major part in the Act, most main characters do in fact, except maybe Claudio who says nothing. She exposes Angelo for the murder, liar and adulterer that he is, and when no one believes her she speaks very passionately about how he broke his

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  • Subject: English
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How Does Shakespeare Create Dramatic Interest in Act1 Scene2 Of Measure for Measure

Chris Wilson. How Does Shakespeare Create Dramatic Interest in Act1 Scene2 Of Measure for Measure Shakespeare uses Act1 scene2 to inform the audience of the plot, introduce new characters and also add some comic relief. This scene shifts from joking about prostitution and politics, to comment on the Deputy Governor's (Angelo's) new regime. Claudio, a young gentleman of some status has been arrested at this point, but we don't really know the circumstances of his arrest, and Shakespeare uses this scene to inform us of some of the details and the punishment duration; which are that he has committed the offence of sex before marriage and he must be beheaded. "Claudio to prison? Tis not so,' 'Nay, but I know' tis so...within these three days his head is to be chopped off." Shakespeare uses this quote to show Mistress Overdone, the owner of a brothel, informing Lucio and two Gentlemen, of Claudio's arrest and his death sentence. This is an example of how Shakespeare informs the audience of the previous actions of the characters. The news of Angelo's plans to enforce the laws more strictly is treated by the lower echelons of society with despair, as indicated by this quote from Mistress Overdone, Pompey: "All houses in the suburbs must be pulled down' Madam Overdone: 'And what shall become of those in the city?'... 'Why here's a change indeed and what

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Modern Eye Views Isabella

Andrea Justice November 11, 2002 Survey of Shakespeare The Modern Eye Views Isabella Isabella is a character that modern audiences would have a hard time connecting to. Though her role in Measure for Measure is critical, a modern audience may wonder that she is simply a weak, selfish woman. Isabella strives to present herself as a godly woman but in the end can only be seen as a self righteous pawn used to further the Duke's plans. Isabella believes she is a virtuous woman. She is not only about to enter a convent in which she will be restricted for interaction with men she obviously has no issue with. Isabella longs to uphold Christian morality and religion. At the time this play was written the virtues that Isabella possessed seemed ideal. A virtuous woman was to uphold the rules of decency, remain a virgin, either remain a maid or become a wife. Modern audiences might read these virtues as prudishness or even possibly see her religion as a crutch, a loss of her own personality in exchange for a life of celibacy and protection from the outside world. Isabella wants to avoid the pressure that the world would require of her. She would be expected to get married, have children, run a household, and submit her will to that of her husband, who may or may not be a virtuous person himself. If she once had any property it would become the property of her husband as soon as

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How does Shakespeare portray Women throughout the play "Measure for Measure"? In what different ways might the audience respond to this?

How does Shakespeare portray Women throughout the play "Measure for Measure"? In what different ways might the audience respond to this? By Suzanne Coxhill "Measure for Measure" is in some ways a modern play in the issues it deals with. Women's issues are explored throughout the play in many different ways. Sexuality and the independence of women are seen through both the eyes of men and women in this play. Women are portrayed with many strengths and weaknesses in "Measure for Measure". The job roles portrayed in this play as prostitutes, nuns and housewives make our responses to these women alter. Women got married very young and often died in childbirth, thus family life being all they knew. Isabella is seen as a very strong character who is not afraid to voice her own opinions about things. Mistress overdone brings much of the humour to the play with her small role that she plays. She runs a brothel and therefore with Angelo's plans to abolish fornication in Vienna, her career is under threat. Mariana is seen as a more submissive character. When asked to sleep with Angelo, which is seen as a bad by the eyes of others, she obliges for fear that she will be seen as a bad person if she does not. However, she does not see it as wrong that she should sleep with Angelo as the couple were once betrothed to be married and she is desperately in love with him. Because Mariana is

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How does Shakespeare represent corruption on a political, social and religious level in the play?

How does Shakespeare represent corruption on a political, social and religious level in the play? Shakespeare represents corruption in a number of aspects in the play Measure for Measure. The play itself tends to revolve around corruption, and Shakespeare portrays the setting, Vienna, as being rife with it. As the play continues Shakespeare reveals how his play is riddled with corruption of all forms. All of the characters of the play are involved, in some way or another, with corruption. The audience is first introduced to the Duke, Escalus and then Angelo. Shakespeare gives no reason to believe that the audience is being deceived in anyway, but as the play continues we find out that the purpose for the Duke giving Angelo power was not as we first thought. We at first believed that the Duke merely thought Angelo was the best man for the job but we then find out in Act 1, Scene 3 that the Duke is testing Angelo. Duke: 'Hence shall we see if power change purpose, what our seemers be' lines 53 & 54. The Duke is displaying corruption on a political level. The duke also creates religious corruption in that in order to test Angelo he plans to disguise himself as a religious figure - a Friar. 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

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  • Subject: English
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