Measure for Measure

Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure, first performed on December 26, 1604, is sometimes called a dark comedy, but it really doesn’t fit any easy categorization. The story revolves around the question of true morality, and involves intricate plot twists and secret identities.

The Duke of Vienna is a wise leader but is not effective in maintaining order, so he pretends to go away on business but disguises himself as a friar in order to spy on the town while he is thought to be away. He puts the town in charge of Angelo, a strict legalistic man who quickly arrests Claudio on charges of fornication for getting his fiancé pregnant before they were able to marry. Even though Claudio intends to marry her, Angelo sentences him to death.

Isabella, a chaste nun and Claudio’s sister, begs Angelo to pardon Claudio. Angelo agrees to pardon Claudio on the condition that Isabella sleep with him. She refuses and tells Claudio, who begs her to save his life by giving up her chastity. Isabella is furious with Claudio and leaves him to die.

However, the Duke, disguised as a friar, tells Isabella that there is another way. He tells her to agree to Angelo’s terms but send a different woman in her place. The woman, Mariana, was engaged to Angelo five years earlier, but he broke off the engagement because her dowry was lost at sea. Angelo sleeps with Mariana thinking it is Isabella. In the morning, however, he goes back on his word and orders that Claudio be executed and his head sent to him.

The Duke has the jailor exchange Claudio with a condemned pirate, and sends his head to Angelo instead. Isabella is overcome with grief at her brother’s supposed death and threatens to take her case to the Duke when he returns. Angelo laughs because he is convinced the Duke will believe him over some crazy woman.

When the Duke returns, Isabella pleads her case before him, but he pretends to side with the Duke. Angelo is put in charge of the investigation, so he brings in witnesses to discredited Isabella and she is thrown into prison. Angelo also sends for the friar, the disguised Duke, who charged Angelo with making disparaging remarks about the Duke. When the friar is brought in Angelo accuses the friar of speaking against the Duke and calls the jailor to imprison him. However, the Duke takes off his disguise and everyone becomes aware of Angelo’s hypocrisy.

Angelo is sent to be executed and Isabella is released. Mariana pleads for Angelo’s pardon, and the Duke agrees only if he marries Mariana. The Duke eventually brings in Claudio to Isabella’s astonishment. After everyone is forgiven, the Duke proposes to Isabella and they agree to marry.

While the plot is somewhat unrealistic, it clearly points out the hypocrisy of those who claim public virtue while acting the opposite in private. The tension between chastity and loyalty is also brought into play but not developed. The concept of mercy is more central to the story, as everyone ends up pardoned and wrongs made right.


The following quote is from Lucio, Claudio’s friend, as he pleads with Isabella to go and do what she can to save her brother. She is reluctant to act, so he says:

Our doubts are traitors
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.


When faced with difficult decisions, it is helpful to remember these words, since our action may be what is needed to right a wrong, or to prevent a great evil from occurring. All that evil needs to succeed is for good men, and women, to do nothing. But if we act, then we can have a part in stemming the tide of evil in our world.