Measure for Measure

October 2024

Reading as part of the Fall 2024 Shakespeare course — see general notes for more.

Contents

Precis of Measure for Measure

The Duke of Vienna (aka Friar Lodowick) plans to travel abroad, leaving young Angelo as regent, empowered to enforce laws that the Duke has allowed to go fallow. However, the Duke really plans to remain in Vienna, disguised as a Friar, to see how Angelo carries out his duties. Angelo immediately shuts down many of the houses of prostitution, and condemns Claudio, a man who has only erred in having sex after handfasting but before the banns were read, to be executed. This seems extreme and disturbs many: Escalus, a judge; the Provost, who runs the jail; and Lucio, a friend of Claudio and ne’r do well Viennese noble. Lucio seeks out Isabella, Claudio’s sister, who is in the process of joining a convent, to persuade Angelo to be merciful, after protests by Escalus and the Provost fail. Angelo speaks with Isabella, steadfastly refusing, until she asks him to look into his heart and see if has not had similar feelings that led Claudio to his current straits. Angelo wavers, and tells her to return tomorrow. In a soliloquy he reveals that is attracted to her virtue, and wishes to have sex with her. In a second interview he tells her he’ll free Claudio if she’ll sleep with him. She refuses, and he tells her if she does not relent he’ll torture Claudio to death.

However, the ‘Friar’ devises a plan. Isabella will accept an assignation with Angelo, but Marianna, Angelo’s rejected fiancé will go, disguised, and sleep with him. After Angelo’s acceptance of the assignation, he sends an order for Claudio’s immediate execution, which the ‘Friar’ is present for, and diverts. Instead, the Provost hides Claudio, and – after improvising a solution to another problem – sends Angelo the head of someone else, disguised to look like Claudio. The ‘Friar’ arranges for the Duke’s return to be announced, and for Isabella and Marianna to accuse Angelo. Angelo is unmasked, and a trial first convicts, and then provides mercy to everyone: Angelo will marry Marianna (after being condemned to death and then reprieved); Claudio is reprieved and will marry Juliet; Lucio is convicted to be whipped for his slander of the Duke, and then to marry Kate Keepdown; and the Duke proposes to Isabella (who says nothing).

The Play Itself, and Its Characters

The officials

Duke, AKA Friar. The ruler of Vienna, who, along with Escalus, has been somewhat lax in enforcing laws, particularly those regarding vice.
Escalus. A judge, well known to the Duke.
Provost. The jailer — well known to Escalus, and perhaps the Duke.
Antonio. A noble of Vienna, trusted by the Duke, thought to be very virtuous and upright.
Friar Thomas. The Duke’s friend and confident in the church.

Later:

Elbow. A constable prone to mis-speaking

Act 1.1: Setup: Angelo to become regent

1.1. Duke to depart, and leaves Angelo as his regent., Duke describes his plan to Escalus, who agrees that Angelo is the best choice. Angelo initially demurs, and wishes there be some test of his character; the Duke refuses and so Angelo takes on the commission.

The Miscreants, 1

Lucio. A wealthy, disipated noble. Friend to Claudio, patron of various brothels.
Bawd. Mistress of one or more brothels.
Pompey. The Bawd’s Clown. Possibly a Manager/Pimp for her brothels.
Claudio. Brother of Isabella, friend Lucio, fiancé of Juliet who has gotten her preganant before they are fully wedded.
Juliet. France of Claudio, pregnant too early.

Later:

Froth. A customer of Pompey and the Bawd… a John. Perhaps a tapster.

Act 1.*: Angelo ‘rules;’ Duke disguised; Isabella recruited

1.2. Angelo rules. Angelo has ordered the brothels torn down, and Claudio to be arrested and executed. Claudio, arrested and brought in, laments what he has done (1.2.123-127: “. “Our natures do pursue, / Like rats that raven down their proper bane,
/ A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die.“), and begs his friend Lucio to find his sister Isabela who is entering the cloister, and beg her to intercede for him. Claudio,
1.3. Duke disguised. The Duke tells Friar Thomas that he has deceived Angelo, and rather than traveling is going to stay an observe how Angelo applies justice. The Duke expresses regret that the has been so lax in ruling over his people (1.3.28-32: “For terror, not to use—in time the rod / More mocked than feared – so our decrees, / Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead, / And liberty plucks justice by the nose, / The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart / Goes all decorum.”), but feels it would be wrong for him suddenly to apply the law strictly (“1.3.38-41: “Sith ’twas my fault to give the people scope / ‘Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them“). He is going to stay in town, and asks Friar Thomas to give him a robe and instruct him how to behave.
1.4. Isabella recruited. Lucio visits Isabella in the convent and asks her to help. She is reluctant, but he persuades her. (Lucio. 1.4.85-87: “Our doubts are traitors / And makes us lose the good we oft might win / By fearing to attempt.“)

Act 2: Escalus advises mercy; Elbow arrives and Escaulus shows Mercy; Isabella pleads; Juliet is distraught; Angelo tries to extort Isabella

2.1. first part Escalus proposes that they be merciful towards Claudio. Angelo and Claudio debate the nature of justice and mercy; Angelo is not convinced to spare Claudio. Escalus is disappointed. (Escalus, 2.1.41-42: “Well heaven forgive him and forgive us all / Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall.”)
2.1. second part, Elbow — “I do lean upon justice” – the constable arrives, bringing in Froth and Pompey. He often says the opposite of what he means, just as Bottom did in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Elbow presents Froth and Pompey to Angelo, and describes their crimes, and the Pompey goes on and on and Angelo decides to leave it to Escalus, hoping they’ll be whipped. Escalus proceeds with the interview, and it concludes with him letting them both go with warnings. This scene has much ‘lower-class’ wordplay that is difficult to follow.
2.2. Isabella’s plea. The provost speaks to Angelo, hoping for a reprieve for Claudio. Angelo angrily refuses. Next Isabella arrives, and argues for sparing Claudio: condemn the sin but not the sinner… and later, how would Angelo fare if Christ acted like him when doling out judgement: 135-137: “Oh, it is excellent / to have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous /to use it like a giant.” Lucio coaches Isabella to behave in a more beseaching manner. But Angelo does not change his course, though at the end — after Isabella urges him to look within his heart and see if he would be tempted to commit the same sin as Claudio — he appears to be willing to think about it, and tells her to return tomorrow. Isabella says she will bribe him, but not with gold or other valuables, but with “true prayers… from preserved souls.”
2.3. The Duke arrives at prison disguised as Friar. Talks to Juliet, consuling her; Juliet learns that Claudio is to die tomorrow, and is overcome with horror.
2.4. Angelo is tempted and tries to extort Isabella by telling her that he will free Claudio if she sleeps with him. At first she believes he is testing her; but finally he convinces her he is serious, and she refuses, believing Claudio would rather she preserve her honor: Lawful mercy is no kin to foul redemption.

Acts 3: The ‘Friar’ devises a plan to make things right

3.1. The Duke (in the guise of the Fiar) urges Claudio to accept death. Claudio: I have hope to live, but am prepared to die. Isabella visits Claudio, and describes Angelo’s attempt to extort her, and is horrified with Claudio thinks she should go through with it: Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice? The ‘Friar’ tells Claudio that Angelo was not really trying to corrupt his sister, just testing her, and so he should prepare to die; then he privately tells Isabella that there is a way to set everything right, and explains that Claudio was supposed to marry Marianna (until the dowery fell through), and that if Isabella will pretend that she will be Angelo that night, Marianna will pretend to be her: “by this is your brother saved, your honor untainted, the poor Marianna advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled.“
3.2. The constable, Elbow, has arrested Pompey and describes his crimes to the ‘Friar’. Lucio arrives and refuses to pay bail for Pompey; he also slanders the Duke, and the ‘Friar’ defends the Duke and warns Lucio that he will get in trouble for it. Lucio exits and Escalus and others arrive with Mistress Overdone, the bawd. She tells the ‘Friar’ that Lucio had a child by Kate Keepdown, but that he has nothing to do with it. Mistress Overdone is taken off to jail, and the ‘Friar’ tells Escalus that he has spoken to Claudio, and the Claudio has repented and is prepared to die. Escalus again indicates that he thinks this is too harsh.

Act 4: The plan is put into action, with a little improv

4.1. Isabella reports to the Friar that she has made an assignation with Angelo for that night. Marianna agrees to sleep with Angelo in disguise.
4.2. The ‘Friar’ waits at the prison for Angelo to send Claudio’s pardon. Instead, Angelo sends instructions for Claudio’s immediate execution. The ‘Friar’ intervenes, and convinces the provost to hide Claudio in another cell, and send the head to a to-be-excuted prisoner to Angelo, saying that they look alike.
4.3. The to-be-executed prisoner decides he is not ready to die yet, so they find another head to send to Angelo. Isabella arrives and the ‘Friar’ tells her that Claudio has been executed, but that she will have her chance to have revenge on Angelo.
4.4. Angelo learns that the Duke is returning. Alone he expresses his anguish that he has raped Isabella and executed Claudio.
4.5. The ‘Friar’ makes plans with a real Friar for the Duke’s return to the city.
4.6. Isabella and Marianna discuss what they will do when the Duke returns.

Act 5:

5.1. The Duke arrives, and Isabella accuses Angelo of violating her chastity. Angelo denies it, and Isabella is arrested. Then Marianna claims Angelo as her husband, and Angelo denies it until the ‘Friar’ reveals himself as the Duke. Angelo confesses everything, is sentenced to marry Marianna, and the to be executed for Claudio’s death. Marianna begs for Angelo’s life, and persuades Isabella to join her in spite of Claudio’s death. The Duke refuses, until the two prisoners are brought in, and one is revealed to be Claudio. Now everything is tied up: Angelo’s death sentence is revoked and he marries Marianna; Lucio is sentenced to marry Kate Keepdown; Claudio is reprieved, and will marry Juliet; and the Duke offers his hand in marriage to Isabella.

Quotes I Like

Claudio, 1.2.123-127
“As surfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
Like rats that raven down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil, and when we drink, we die.“

Lucio. 1.4.85-87:
Our doubts are traitors
And makes us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.

Escalus, 2.1.41-42:
Well heaven forgive him and forgive us all
Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall.

Isabella, 2.2.135-137:
Oh, it is excellent
to have a giant’s strength, but it is tyrannous
to use it like a giant.

Isabella—2.2.146-51
… man, proud man,
Dressed in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he’s most assured,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As makes the angels weep …

Angelo—2.2.217-18
O cunning enemy that, to catch a saint,
With saints dost bait thy hook.

Duke 5.1.466-468
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure;
Like doth quit like, and measure still for measure