William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is a complex and often unsettling exploration of justice, morality, power, and human frailty. Written around 1604 during the early reign of King James I, this play delves deep into the corruptible nature of authority, the imperfections of human judgment, and the ways in which power interacts with personal vice. While it is classified as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” because it doesn’t fit neatly into the traditional categories of comedy or tragedy, Measure for Measure resonates profoundly with contemporary audiences due to its stark exploration of justice and the dynamics of control. The characters that populate this play are deeply flawed, and the narrative that unfolds offers no easy answers, leaving audiences to grapple with the complicated moral questions it raises.

Summary of Measure for Measure

The play opens in Vienna, where Duke Vincentio decides to temporarily step down from his position and leaves his strict deputy, Angelo, in charge. The Duke claims he is going on a journey, but in reality, he remains in Vienna disguised as a friar to observe how Angelo governs. Vienna is depicted as a city steeped in moral corruption, with brothels and licentious behavior rampant. The Duke, however, has been too lenient in enforcing the law, which has allowed vice to flourish. He believes that Angelo, known for his rigid morality, will restore order through firm enforcement.

Once in power, Angelo begins enforcing Vienna’s strict but long-ignored laws with a cold and unyielding hand. His first major action is to sentence Claudio, a young nobleman, to death for impregnating his fiancée, Juliet, out of wedlock. Claudio’s sister, Isabella, who is about to enter a nunnery, pleads for her brother’s life. Angelo is captivated by her beauty and virtue, and his rigid moral code begins to crumble. He offers Isabella a cruel bargain: he will spare Claudio’s life if she agrees to sleep with him.

Isabella, horrified by Angelo’s proposition, refuses to sacrifice her virtue even for her brother’s life. However, she is torn and seeks counsel from the disguised Duke, who devises a plan to save both her honor and Claudio’s life. They arrange for Mariana, a woman who was once betrothed to Angelo but was rejected by him, to take Isabella’s place in a secret meeting with Angelo. Angelo sleeps with Mariana, believing her to be Isabella, but then reneges on his promise to spare Claudio.

The Duke intervenes, revealing his true identity, and Angelo is forced to marry Mariana as punishment for his hypocrisy. Claudio’s life is spared, and the Duke proposes to Isabella, though the play ends ambiguously, leaving her response unclear.

Analysis of Measure for Measure

The title of the play, Measure for Measure, is drawn from the Bible, specifically Matthew 7:2, which reads: “For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This verse underscores the play’s central themes of justice and retribution, suggesting that people will be judged by the same standards they use to judge others. Throughout the play, characters are subject to the consequences of their actions, often receiving punishment or reward that mirrors their behavior.

However, Shakespeare complicates the notion of justice by highlighting the imperfections of human judgment. Angelo, who initially seems to embody law and order, is revealed to be deeply flawed and hypocritical. His harsh enforcement of Vienna’s laws is not motivated by a pure desire for justice but rather by a need to assert control and repress his own desires. Once he is tempted by Isabella, his moral superiority collapses, exposing the dangers of absolute authority and rigid adherence to the law without compassion.

The Duke, by contrast, represents a more lenient form of justice, one that values mercy and forgiveness over strict punishment. However, the Duke is not without his flaws. His decision to remain in disguise throughout most of the play raises questions about his motives and the ethics of his actions. By manipulating events from behind the scenes, he places the other characters in difficult situations, forcing them to confront moral dilemmas without offering clear guidance. His marriage proposal to Isabella at the end of the play, though presented as a form of resolution, also raises questions about the balance of power between men and women, and whether Isabella’s virtue has been truly respected.

Character Analysis

1. Duke Vincentio: The Duke is one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic characters. At the beginning of the play, he abdicates his authority temporarily, leaving Angelo to restore law and order. His decision to observe the events in Vienna while disguised as a friar suggests a desire to understand the nature of justice and governance. However, his manipulation of events and his moral ambiguity make him a complex figure. His actions show an understanding of human frailty, as he opts for mercy in the end, forgiving both Claudio and Angelo. Still, his proposal to Isabella leaves an uneasy feeling as to whether his final actions are truly moral or self-serving.
2. Angelo: Angelo is portrayed as a puritanical figure, a man who appears to be without vice and who seeks to impose strict moral discipline on Vienna. However, he is revealed to be a hypocrite when he lusts after Isabella and offers her a corrupt bargain in exchange for Claudio’s life. Angelo represents the dangers of unchecked authority and the corrupting influence of power. His fall from grace highlights the complexity of human morality, as his strict enforcement of the law is shown to be a mask for his own weaknesses.
3. Isabella: Isabella is one of Shakespeare’s most virtuous characters, a woman devoted to her faith and determined to maintain her chastity. Throughout the play, she is faced with impossible choices, forced to navigate a world dominated by men who attempt to control her body and morality. Her refusal to sacrifice her virtue, even to save her brother, reflects her strong moral compass. However, her ultimate fate in the play—whether she accepts the Duke’s proposal or not—remains ambiguous, leaving audiences to question whether she can truly retain her autonomy in a patriarchal society.
4. Claudio: Claudio, though a central figure in the plot, is less developed than the other characters. His fate drives much of the action in the play, as he is sentenced to death for impregnating Juliet out of wedlock. Claudio represents the human cost of Angelo’s harsh enforcement of the law, as well as the hypocrisy of a society that punishes sexual transgressions but allows greater abuses of power to go unchecked. His relationship with Isabella is a key element of the play, as it forces her to confront the tension between familial loyalty and personal morality.
5. Lucio: Lucio is a comic character in the play, known for his irreverence and wit. However, his role is more than just comic relief. He serves as a critique of Vienna’s corrupt society and the flawed characters who populate it. Lucio is unabashed in his pursuit of pleasure and often speaks the truth that others are too afraid to voice. His interactions with the Duke (whom he unknowingly insults while the Duke is in disguise) highlight the gap between the appearance of authority and its reality.
6. Mariana: Mariana, though a minor character, plays a crucial role in the resolution of the play. Her love for Angelo, despite his rejection of her, provides the means by which the Duke is able to save Isabella’s virtue. Mariana’s willingness to participate in the bed trick raises questions about the role of women in the play and their agency in a world dominated by male authority.

Themes in Measure for Measure

1. Justice and Mercy: The central theme of the play is the tension between justice and mercy. Angelo’s strict enforcement of the law represents justice without mercy, while the Duke’s more lenient approach embodies mercy without strict adherence to the law. Throughout the play, characters are faced with moral dilemmas that force them to navigate the gray areas between these two extremes. The resolution of the play suggests that justice cannot exist without mercy, but it also raises questions about the nature of mercy and whether it is always just.
2. Power and Authority: Measure for Measure is a play about power and the ways in which it corrupts. Angelo’s rise to power reveals his hypocrisy and his inability to handle authority without succumbing to his own desires. The Duke, by contrast, uses his power to manipulate events from behind the scenes, raising questions about the ethics of his leadership. The play critiques the ways in which power is used to control others, particularly women, and suggests that no one is immune to its corrupting influence.
3. Sexuality and Morality: Sexuality is a central theme in Measure for Measure, as the play explores the tension between public morality and private desire. Claudio’s crime of fornication is treated as a capital offense, while Angelo’s private lust for Isabella exposes the hypocrisy of the society that condemns sexual transgression. The play questions the ways in which sexuality is policed and the double standards that exist in a patriarchal society. Isabella’s chastity is portrayed as a form of power, but it is also a source of vulnerability, as the men in the play attempt to control her body and her fate.
4. Hypocrisy: Hypocrisy is another major theme in Measure for Measure. Angelo’s fall from grace is the most obvious example, as his public persona of moral righteousness is revealed to be a facade. However, the play also suggests that hypocrisy is endemic in society, as characters like Lucio and the Duke expose the gap between appearance and reality. The play critiques the ways in which people hide their true natures behind a mask of virtue, and it raises questions about the nature of truth and deception.
5. Law and Order: The relationship between law and order is another key theme in the play. Angelo’s strict enforcement of Vienna’s laws is portrayed as both necessary and dangerous, as it restores order but also creates new forms of injustice. The play questions the effectiveness of laws that are applied without compassion and suggests that true justice requires a balance between strict enforcement and mercy. The Duke’s more lenient approach to governance is presented as an alternative, but it is also shown to be flawed, as it allows vice to flourish unchecked.

Conclusion

Measure for Measure is a play that defies easy categorization. It is a dark exploration of justice, power, and human frailty, filled with morally ambiguous characters and difficult questions. Shakespeare challenges his audience to confront the complexities of governance, morality, and personal responsibility. The play’s central characters, from the morally conflicted Isabella to the hypocritical Angelo and the enigmatic Duke, are all deeply flawed, reflecting the imperfect nature of humanity. As the title suggests, Measure for Measure invites its audience to consider the standards by which we judge others and ourselves, and to reflect on the ways in which justice, mercy, and power are intertwined in the messy reality of human life. The unresolved ending, particularly regarding Isabella’s fate, leaves the audience pondering the consequences of these interactions, making the play as relevant today as it was in Shakespeare’s time.