Measure for Measure
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Measure for Measure, like a number of Shakespeare's plays, is an exploration of the use and abuse of power. Closely tied to the issue of power is morality, and in particular, sexual morality. Yet, even while issues of sexual conduct do a great deal to forward the plot, it may not be safe to say that Measure for Measure is a romantic comedy. Throughout the play, there is always the looming specter of death, which renders it, more or less, a tragicomedy or dark comedy. Claudio must die by Angelo's decree for simply anticipating, with fornication, the legalization of his marriage to Juliet. Ostensibly, only his sister, Isabella, can save his life by committing the crime, with Angelo, that her brother is accused of. Ultimately, it is not this relationship that saves her brother, but the one she forms with the disguised Duke. It is also this relationship that best reflects the message of the play.It may be more accurate to say that relationship between Isabella and the Duke is the medium through which Shakespeare is able to impart a number of messages. The title of the play, stemming from the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 7 of Matthew, suggests an overall theme of: "judge not lest ye be judged." Through the outcome of their association with each other, the Duke and Isabella are able to impart this moral more clearly than any combination of other characters. Good or bad, everybody seems to get what they deserve, and this is only possible through the cooperation of Is
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entirely on a lie. She can only consider the Duke as a man of God, who is helping to save her brother out of sympathy, friendship, and a sense of duty. Obviously, the Duke has ulterior motives; he is testing Isabella as well a Angelo. Of course, it is unlikely that finding a wife is even part of his reason for going into disguise, but it is definitely a factor in his continuation of it beyond what is necessary for testing Angelo.
In fact, after eavesdropping on Isabella's conversation with her imprisoned brother the Duke knows almost everything he went undercover to learn. The Duke gleans that the morality laws are much too strict, and Angelo is a hypocrite who is certainly not ready for an autonomous leadership role (3.1). (The reason it is safe to assume that the Duke finds his own laws to be too strict is that he seems to have no qualms about saving Claudio, or putting Mariana and Angelo together.) The Duke does not seem to be a particularly sadistic person, so there is no reason to further punish Claudio for his offense. Therefore, the most logical reason for the Duke to remain in disguise, and for Claudio to remain in prison, is so that the Duke can test Isabella's qualities of judgement and forgiveness.
On the sur
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1579
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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