Measure For Measure :: essays research papers

Shakespeares stripe for Measure can be seen as an early account of internal harassment. While the issue of womens rights had hardly been explored at the time the play was original performed, Measure for Measure touches on issues of sexualityuality, independence, and the objectification of women. Despite these serious issues, the play is considered a comedy, and the story it tells is filled with amusing characters as well as bighearted sociological questions.The plot centers around the fate of Claudio, who is arrested by Lord Angelo, the working(prenominal) leader of Vienna. Angelo is left in charge by the Duke, who pretends to leave town but instead dresses as a friar to observe the goings-on in his absence. Angelo is strict, moralistic, and unwavering in his decision-making he decides that there is too much emancipation in Vienna and takes it upon himself to rid the city of brothels and unlawful sexual activity. Laws against these behaviors and institutions already exist, a nd Angelo simply decides to enforce them more strictly. Claudio is arrested for impregnating Juliet, his lover, before they were marital. Although they were engaged and their sexual coition was consensual, Claudio is sentenced to death in order to serve as an example to the former(a) Viennese citizens.Isabella, Claudios sister, is about to enter a nunnery when her brother is arrested. She is unfailingly virtuous, religious, and chaste. When she hears of her brothers arrest, she goes to Angelo to ask him for mercy. He refuses, but suggests that there might be some route to change his mind. When he propositions her, saying that he allow let Claudio come through if she agrees to have sexual intercourse with him, she is shocked and immediately refuses. Her brother agrees at first but then changes his mind. Isabella is left to contemplate a real important decision.Isabella is, in a way, let off the hook when the Duke, dressed-up as a friar, intervenes. He tells her that Angelos fo rmer lover, Mariana, was engaged to be married to him, but he abandoned her when she lost her dowry in a shipwreck. The Duke forms a plan by which Isabella will agree to have sex with the Angelo, but then Mariana will go in her place. The next morning, Angelo will pardon Claudio and be forced to marry Mariana according to the law.Everything goes according to plan, miss that Angelo does not pardon Claudio, fearing revenge.