Measure for Measure

Review ebook Measure for Measure

Shakespeare was pushing the boundaries with Measure for Measure.
A royal proclamation under Elizabeth 1st in 1559 strictly prohibited stage plays from dealing with matters of religion or current public issues of governance.
In the early years of the 1600’s London was in a dilemma. The translation of the King James Version Bible had just begun yet lawlessness run rampant in London. Within sight of Shakespeare’s own Globe Theater were houses of prostitution.
Mr.Shakespeare had an idea for a play bu Shakespeare was pushing the boundaries with Measure for Measure.
A royal proclamation under Elizabeth 1st in 1559 strictly prohibited stage plays from dealing with matters of religion or current public issues of governance.
In the early years of the 1600’s London was in a dilemma. The translation of the King James Version Bible had just begun yet lawlessness run rampant in London. Within sight of Shakespeare’s own Globe Theater were houses of prostitution.
Mr.Shakespeare had an idea for a play but that ol proclamation was a problem. So to keep himself out of trouble he simply changed the setting of this play from London to Vienna.
There were no English proclamations about stage plays concerning Vienna Vice.

Within this story the majority of Vienna’s residents have little or no respect for the law. Especially those laws concerning fornication. One reason for this is the Duke of Vienna’s unwillingness to enforce these laws. He doesn’t want citizens to think of him as an overbearing ruler. But the Duke does realize his citizens of sin need reining in. So he devises a plan: He informs those in authority under him that he must leave Vienna on a diplomatic mission. Then he instructs them that in his absence they are to enforce the city laws. Instead of actually leaving the city the Duke disguises himself under the cloak of friar in order to watch the interim authorities in action. Shakespeare did a great job here writing enough character hypocrisy to shock the reader and at other times using a very humorous dialogue.
By the plays conclusion the Duke is forced to man up, revealing himself from under disguise and issuing biblical justice.

So yes,Shakespeare knew very well that patrons attending this play had to pass by brothels in order to get there. William Shakespeare was a rebel.

Matthew 7 New King James Version 1)“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2) For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3) And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”

page 92
the Duke transfers power to Angelo
“So fare you well. To th’hopeful execution do I leave you
Of your commissions.
Your scope is as mine own
So to enforce or qualify the laws as to your soul seems good.”

page 93
Lucio speaking with other Gentleman of the transfer of power and it’s hypocrisy,
even Shakespeare picks on pirates
Lucio:”Thou conclud’st like the sanctimonious pirate that went to sea with the ten commandments, but scraped one out of the table.”
1 Gentleman:”Thou shalt not steal?”
“There’s not a soldier of us all that, in the thanksgiving before meat, do relish the petition well that prays for peace.”

page 95/96
Mistress Overdone and Gentleman
Mistress Overdone: “Well, well; there’s one yonder arrested and carried to prison was worth five thousand of you all.”
Gentleman 1: ‘Claudio to prison? Tis not so.”
Mistress Overdone:’I saw him arrested, saw him carried away, and, which is more, within these three days his head to be chopped off !”
“I am sure of it: and it is for getting Madam Julietta with child.”

page 125/126
narration
Angelo speaks his thoughts on his lust for Isabella
“What’s this? What’s this? Is this her fault, or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most, ha?
Not she: nor doth she tempt: but it is I.”
“Dost thou desire her foully, for those things that make her good? Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin…”
“Never could the strumpet with all her double vigour, art and nature, once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid subdues me quite.”

page 135/136
Angelo blackmailing Isabella(novitiate training Nun), Claudio’s sister
Angelo; “Plainly conceive, I love you.”
Isabella: “My brother did love Juliet and you tell me that he shall die for’t.”
Angelo; “He shall not, if you give me love.”
‘Believe me on mine honour, my words express my purpose.”
Isabella: “Ha! Little honour to be much believed …”
“I will proclaim thee, Angelo, look for’t. Sign me a present pardon for my brother, or with an outstretched throat I’ll tell the world aloud what man thou art.”
Angelo: “Who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoiled name, th’austereness of my life, My vouch against you, and my place i’th’state …”
“Lay by all nicety and prolixious blushes by yielding up thy body to my will, or else he must not only die the death but thy unkindness shall his death draw out …”

page 147
“Nay, if there be no remedy for it we shall have all the world drink brown and white bastard.”
This comment was really of no significance, I just wanted to know what Shakespeare meant.
I did have some idea due to I sometimes buy a Fat Bastard brand of wine for guest, because I like the name. I don’t drink wine.
Shakespeare simply meant a brown or white sweet wine … He liked the name as well.

page 196
The Duke of Vienna, no longer disguised as a friar, begins his claim for justice.
“The very mercy of the law cries out … An Angelo for Claudio, death for death … and measure still for measure.”
“We do condemn thee to the very block where Claudio stooped to death,” …more