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Measure For Measure
Measure for Measure is often described as a problem comedy because the themes and tones that are presented in the play do not share the same
optimistic themes and tones of Shakespeare's previous comedies. The familiar formula that classifies Measure for Measure as a comedy are
mistaken identity (the "bed trick"), disguise, the Duke disguises himself as a Friar to keep tabs on Angelo, Lucio as comedic relief, and the
resolution of the play with the multiple marriages of Juliet and Claudio, Angelo and Mariana, and Lucio and Kate Keepdown. AlthoughMeasure
for Measure fills the criteria for comedy, it is set apart because of themes of judgement and justice, marriage and sex, and religion and mortality.
The cynical tone that Shakespeare presents...show more content...
While the Duke is in a position of authority, he has not been using his authority to enforce the laws prohibiting his citizens from engaging in
prostitution and having sex out of wedlock. The Duke is aware of this when he points out: "We have strict statutes and most biting laws,/ The
needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds/ Which for this fourteen years we have let slip" (1.3.19–21). In Measure for Measure, sex outside of
marriage is punishable by death, yet at the end of the play the punishment is marriage for at least two of the pairings. Compared to
Shakespeare's other comedies, marriage is not a form of punishment but rather a goal for the couples to "satisfy their mutual yearning for each
other, and their communities demand for clear kinship structures...to "legitimate" members of a new generation" (Maus 2040). For Claudio and
Juliet, their union becomes official when the Duke orders them to be married. As for Angelo and Lucio, marriage is a punishment. Angelo is
ordered to marry Mariana by the Duke after the "bed trick" of Mariana posing as Isabella is revealed to Angelo and that since he was already
betrothed to Mariana, the marriage is consummated. As for Lucio, he has to marry Kate Keepdown, a prostitute who he shares a child with. For
him he explicitly says "marrying a punk [prostitute] is pressing to death/ whipping or hanging" (5.1. 515–516). Since the view of marriage and sex
is pessimistic
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Measure For Measure

  • 1. Measure For Measure Measure for Measure is often described as a problem comedy because the themes and tones that are presented in the play do not share the same optimistic themes and tones of Shakespeare's previous comedies. The familiar formula that classifies Measure for Measure as a comedy are mistaken identity (the "bed trick"), disguise, the Duke disguises himself as a Friar to keep tabs on Angelo, Lucio as comedic relief, and the resolution of the play with the multiple marriages of Juliet and Claudio, Angelo and Mariana, and Lucio and Kate Keepdown. AlthoughMeasure for Measure fills the criteria for comedy, it is set apart because of themes of judgement and justice, marriage and sex, and religion and mortality. The cynical tone that Shakespeare presents...show more content... While the Duke is in a position of authority, he has not been using his authority to enforce the laws prohibiting his citizens from engaging in prostitution and having sex out of wedlock. The Duke is aware of this when he points out: "We have strict statutes and most biting laws,/ The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds/ Which for this fourteen years we have let slip" (1.3.19–21). In Measure for Measure, sex outside of marriage is punishable by death, yet at the end of the play the punishment is marriage for at least two of the pairings. Compared to Shakespeare's other comedies, marriage is not a form of punishment but rather a goal for the couples to "satisfy their mutual yearning for each other, and their communities demand for clear kinship structures...to "legitimate" members of a new generation" (Maus 2040). For Claudio and Juliet, their union becomes official when the Duke orders them to be married. As for Angelo and Lucio, marriage is a punishment. Angelo is ordered to marry Mariana by the Duke after the "bed trick" of Mariana posing as Isabella is revealed to Angelo and that since he was already betrothed to Mariana, the marriage is consummated. As for Lucio, he has to marry Kate Keepdown, a prostitute who he shares a child with. For him he explicitly says "marrying a punk [prostitute] is pressing to death/ whipping or hanging" (5.1. 515–516). Since the view of marriage and sex is pessimistic Get more content on HelpWriting.net