William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure - Themes

 

William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure - Themes 

Introduction: A "Problem Play" for Modern Times

Welcome, scholars, to the inaugural issue of The Insight Newsletter. This edition is dedicated to one of the Bard's most complex and critically challenging works: Measure for Measure. Often categorised as a "problem play" for its uneasy blend of comic structure and dark, morally ambiguous themes, this work offers a rich tapestry for analysis. Set in a morally corrupt Vienna, the narrative follows Duke Vincentio's decision to depart, leaving the puritanical Angelo in charge. What unfolds is a gripping exploration of justice versus mercy, the abuse of power, the constraints of patriarchy, and the very nature of human frailty. This guide will provide a detailed analysis of the play's central themes, drawing upon contemporary critical scholarship to equip you for your own research and studies.

The Author - William Shakespeare 

To fully appreciate Measure for Measure, one must first situate it within its historical and literary context. Written in the early 17th century during the reign of James I, the play reflects the specific anxieties and preoccupations of the Jacobean era.

• The Jacobean Political Climate: James I's reign was marked by political instability and religious tension, notably the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This climate of suspicion and the debate over the nature and limits of royal authority directly inform the play's central crisis. The Duke's experiment with power mirrors contemporary debates about the role of the monarch and the application of justice.

• Moral and Religious Concerns: The influence of Puritanism was growing, advocating for strict moral reform and a more rigorous adherence to Christian values. Angelo's severe enforcement of long-dormant laws against sexual immorality is a direct reflection of this societal push for public virtue, allowing Shakespeare to interrogate the potential for hypocrisy and tyranny within such rigid moral codes.

• The "Problem Play" and Tragicomedy: Measure for Measure is a prime example of this subgenre. It defies easy classification, blending elements of comedy (the bed-trick, marital resolutions) with the serious, often tragic, dilemmas of tragedy. This generic ambiguity is central to its enduring power, forcing the audience to grapple with uncomfortable questions without offering neat, comedic solutions.

Major Themes - A Detailed Critical Analysis

Major Themes in Measure for Measure | Analysis of Justice, Power, and Gender

Justice, Mercy, and the Abuse of Power

This is the play's most prominent thematic cluster. Shakespeare constructs a intricate debate on the relationship between unwavering justice and compassionate mercy.

• The Failure of Strict Justice: Angelo's rigid application of the law is exposed as inherently flawed and hypocritical. His condemnation of Claudio for fornication, while he himself attempts to coerce Isabella into the same act, reveals that legalistic justice, when detached from mercy and self-awareness, becomes a tool for oppression. As Raiben G. Joshi's review notes, the play raises profound questions about "whether morality can be legislated and enforced."

• Mercy as a Higher Virtue: Isabella becomes the primary advocate for mercy, famously pleading with Angelo: "Why, all the souls that were were forfeit once... How would you be, / If He, which is the top of judgment, should / But judge you as you are?" (2.2.73-79). Her argument elevates mercy as a divine quality that should temper human judgment.

• The Duke's Orchestrated Mercy: The resolution, however, is not a simple triumph of mercy. As Andrew Moore's Machiavellian analysis suggests, the Duke's use of mercy is highly strategic. By engineering a public spectacle where characters beg for mercy (Isabella for Angelo, Mariana for Angelo), he consolidates his own power. The plea for mercy becomes an implicit surrender of the people's will to the sovereign's extra-legal authority, legitimising his quasi-divine power. Moore argues that in Shakespeare’s Vienna, "order can only be restored once the delinquent people beg to be governed."

Gender, Patriarchy, and Female Agency

Feminist Critique Measure for Measure | Gender and Patriarchy Shakespeare | Isabella Character Analysis

Carmen María Fernández Rodríguez’s feminist reading provides a crucial lens through which to view the play's gender dynamics. The play scrutinises a patriarchal system that simultaneously idealises and commodifies women.

• Isabella: Rhetoric and Constraint: Isabella is a complex figure of female intellect and virtue operating within a male-dominated world. Her rhetorical skill in debating Angelo is formidable, challenging his authority and appealing to a shared humanity. However, as Fernández Rodríguez argues, this "female rhetoric fluency does not correspond with sexual agency." Her powerful speech is ultimately devalued in the public sphere; she is slandered and her reputation injured, demonstrating that "men always have the last say."

• The Bed-Trick and Female Solidarity: The bed-trick, where Mariana substitutes for Isabella, is a contentious plot device. While it can be seen as a form of female solidarity (as noted by Clare Marie Walls, quoted by Fernández Rodríguez), it also underscores women's status as objects of exchange within a homosocial economy. As Luce Irigaray’s theory suggests, women function as "commodities" that pass between men to facilitate their bonds.

• The Silenced Ending: The Duke's sudden marriage proposal to Isabella and her subsequent silence is one of the most debated moments in Shakespeare. Does she accept? Her lack of a verbal response can be interpreted as a final act of patriarchal absorption, where her will is subsumed by the sovereign's. Fernández Rodríguez concludes that while women "manage to relate authority to mercy," they ultimately confirm "patriarchal insufficiency and weakness" without truly defeating it.

Machiavellian Politics and Theatrical Spectacle

Machiavellian Duke Vincentio | Political Realism Shakespeare | Measure for Measure Spectacle of Power

Andrew Moore’s article compellingly links the play to Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, specifically the story of Cesare Borgia and his deputy, Remirro de Orco.

• The Duke as Machiavellian Prince: Duke Vincentio’s strategy mirrors Cesare Borgia's. He appoints a strict deputy (Angelo) to impose order and clean up the city's vice, knowing this will make the deputy unpopular. Later, by publicly deposing Angelo and showing "mercy," the Duke appears as a benevolent saviour, consolidating his own power and legitimacy. This is not about true Christian grace but about realpolitik.

• The Spectacle of Power: The final act is a masterfully staged political spectacle. The Duke's return, his disguise revealed, his seeming omniscience, and the "resurrection" of Claudio are all theatrical devices designed to stupefy and subdue the populace. Moore describes this as a demonstration of the Duke's "power to baffle and confound the will of his subjects." Angelo himself acknowledges this godlike power: "I perceive your grace, like power divine, / Hath looked upon my passes" (5.1.369-371).

• Religion as a Political Tool: Moore, drawing on Machiavellian thought, suggests the Duke instrumentalises religion. His friar disguise grants him access to secrets and confessions, making him appear all-knowing. This "Machiavellian Christianity" is used not for spiritual salvation but for earthly control and political consolidation.

Morality, Sin, and Human Frailty

Human Frailty Shakespeare | Morality and Sin Measure for Measure | Problem Play Morality

The play relentlessly exposes the universality of human weakness, challenging any notion of moral absolutism.

• "Frailty, thy name is woman"... and Man: While Hamlet's line is famous, Measure for Measure demonstrates that frailty is a universal human condition. Angelo, the pillar of morality, falls prey to his own desires. Claudio, facing death, begs his sister to sacrifice her chastity. Even the Duke admits to having allowed the city's moral decay. Isabella herself acknowledges female frailty as a product of male influence: "Women, help heaven! Men their creation mar / In profiting by them" (2.4.126-127).

• The Inescapability of Desire: From the top of society to the bottom, characters are driven by sexual desire. This natural human instinct is portrayed as a force that cannot be simply legislated away, as Pompey the bawd comically yet astutely points out. The play suggests that a government which fails to account for fundamental human nature is doomed to failure and hypocrisy.

Literary Techniques & Dramatic Structure

Literary Techniques Measure for Measure | Shakespeare Dramatic Structure | Symbolism and Irony

Shakespeare's genius is evident not only in his themes but in the sophisticated techniques he employs to convey them.

• Dramatic Irony: The audience is consistently aware of information that key characters lack—most notably, the Duke's disguise and the bed-trick. This irony creates tension and allows us to critically judge the actions and speeches of characters like Angelo and the Duke in his official capacity.

• Soliloquy and Aside: These devices provide a window into the characters' inner conflicts and hidden natures. Angelo's soliloquies after meeting Isabella (Act 2, Scene 2) reveal his shocking self-awareness as he grapples with his newfound desire, showcasing the corruption of a supposedly pure mind.

• Symbolism and Imagery:

• The Body and Disease: Vienna is frequently described as diseased or corrupted, symbolising its moral decay. The body politic is sick, and the play explores various, often brutal, "cures."

• Darkness and Secrecy: Much of the play takes place in shadows, prisons, and disguised encounters, reflecting the hidden sins and secret manipulations that drive the plot.

• Language and Rhetoric: The play is a battleground of persuasive speech. Isabella's eloquent pleas for mercy contrast sharply with Angelo's rigid, legalistic language and Lucio's vulgar, prose-based wit. The power and limitations of rhetoric are a central concern.

Famous Excerpts 

Measure for Measure Key Quotes | Famous Shakespeare Soliloquy Analysis

• Angelo's Soliloquy on Desire (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 162-187)

• Excerpt: "What's this? What's this? Is this her fault or mine? / The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? ... O fie, fie, fie! / What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo?"

• Analysis: This is a crucial moment of anagnorisis (recognition). Angelo, the strict judge, is horrified to discover his own capacity for sin. The soliloquy deconstructs his public persona and reveals the internal chaos sparked by repressed desire, perfectly illustrating the theme of universal human frailty.

• Isabella's Plea for Mercy (Act 2, Scene 2, Lines 58-79)

• Excerpt: "No ceremony that to great ones 'longs... / But man, proud man, / Drest in a little brief authority... / Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven / As makes the angels weep."

• Analysis: A masterclass in rhetorical persuasion. Isabella argues that earthly authority is meaningless without the divine quality of mercy. Her speech is not just a personal plea but a profound philosophical challenge to the very foundation of Angelo's power.

Conclusion

Measure for Measure refuses to offer easy answers. Its conclusion, with marriages that feel more like political settlements and a central character left silent, is deliberately unsettling. The play holds a mirror up to society, forcing us to confront the complex interplay between law and mercy, public virtue and private desire, and the seductive yet dangerous nature of absolute power. For the Cambridge scholar, it remains an inexhaustible source of academic inquiry, a "problem play" that continues to challenge and fascinate in equal measure.

Keywords for Research:
Measure for Measure analysis
Shakespeare problem play
Justice and mercy themes
Feminist critique Shakespeare
Machiavellian politics in literature
Duke Vincentio character study