Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure is a play written by William Shakespeare in 1604 or 1605. This is one of the playwright's four problem plays, so-called because they cannot be easily classified as tragedy or comedy. The Duke of Vienna, having decided to re-implement the city's harsh laws against fornication - pretends to absent himself and appoints the stern Angelo as deputy, knowing Angelo will enforce the full rigor of the law. First to fall victim to the revitalized statute is Claudio, who has gotten his own betrothed with child. Claudio's sister Isabella pleads before Angelo, who is so overcome with lust for this novice Carmelite that he proposes to spare her brother in return for a nocturnal rendezvous. Among the comic characters are the rake Lucio and the pimp Pompey Bum. Lucio is similar to Parolles, the braggart character from Shakespeare's previous play All's Well That Ends Well, while the constable Elbow is a retread of the Dogberry character from Much Ado About Nothing; even some of Dogberry's individual gags are recycled. The main source of the play is George Whetstone's 1578 two-part closet drama "Promos and Cassandra." Whetstone took the story from Cinthio's Hecatommithi, and Shakespeare seems to have consulted the Cinthio story as well. The title may be related to the Bible, Matthew 7:2:\nFor in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

External link

\n*Measure for Measure - searchable e-text\n*Full text of play\n*Measvre, For Measure - HTML version of this title.\n*Measure For Measure - plain vanilla text from Project Gutenberg\nCategory:Shakespearean comedies