There are many issues that have been tackled in the Shakespeare’s work, Measure for Measure. The work contains several themes. There also exist some elements of irony, morality, and also matters of justice. All these elements were used by Shakespeare to ensure that the audience receives the message he had for them effectively. The way or the manner in which they have been used are unique to itself. Shakespeare employs several unique style in his work. Some of the styles are going to be analyzed in this paper. This document, therefore, seeks to address the issues of morality, and mercy and justice have been used in the book. It also aims to address the ironic terms in the work. All these are aimed to further understanding of the book.
The title that has been used for the book, Measure for Measure is an allusion to the common saying, an eye for an eye and the tooth for tooth. When the writer now brings in the issue of the mercy for measure, he was now alluding to mercy. This is what was said in the bible that let those without any sin cast the first stone. In summary, the events surrounding the book suggests that Duke wants to restore the laws that guided the people against the issues of fornication or merely the adultery laws. Being a very witty person, he uses Angelo to make his wish happen. At the same time, he lies that he will be away on a journey. In real sense, he never went away. He remained to check on the way in which Angelo was doing the job. He was also monitoring the activities of the residents of Vienna. Just like he was told, Angelo closes down one of the biggest brothels and some smaller ones. He puts Claudio to die the following day because he had impregnated Juliet.
The first instance that mercy is expressed in the book is a case where Isabela, Claudio’s sister goes to Angelo to plead for mercy on his behalf. She plays her cards well and in the end, Angelo ends up seducing her. She is used in exchange for Claudio. The Duke overhears all their conversation. After doing all that, Angelo still calls for the head of Claudio. There is some element of dramatic irony in this place. Angelo is not aware of the fact that while all that Duke had been acting the Friar and therefore he is well acquainted with what has been going on. When Angelo calls for the Claudio, the Duke returns. He asks anyone who has anything against Angelo to speak. Isabella does. In the meantime, the Duke disappears and comes back as Friar. He is however revealed to the Duke. The whole event gets exposed. Angelo must marry Mariana as had been planned. Claudio is revealed as being alive, and the Duke pardons him. This is an element of mercy. Therefore, the theme of forgiveness is depicted so well in this category. The morality here is seen in the fact that mercy wins over the justice. There is however a strong sense in which justice was done. The Duke has been here symbolically to show that the elements if justice. There is mercy but also with elements of truth in the work.
The events that have occurred in the above scene looks like it was a play within a play. The Duke has played his part. He acted as if he was ignorant of the ongoing in the palace during the moments he was around. Isabella acted the part of a woman who was wronged. She did this part with a lot of dramatic skill. Nobody realized her intent. All these happening were planned and pre-arranged by Duke. The events now unfold in his eyes. The end results of all these programs are that they are acted out in the public. The Duke wanted justice to the people as well as exposure on his deputy, Angelo. It was also an element of the measure for measure.
Shakespeare used Isabella to show the theme of appearance in relation to the assembled party. She helps the reader understand the fact that anybody can appear to be good outside yet they are really different people inside. Very corrupt indeed. The same way Angelo was. Another theme evident is also that of justice. Angelo will have to judge the guilt he had caused himself. It is however clear that Angelo has become no more just. He is apparently a different person. He is caught when he tries to silence justice. Angelo is however dumbfounded when he realizes that the women whom he takes for granted are playing important parts that they were sent to represent. This fact will dawn on everybody at a later stage though.
Another thing that however seems unreal in the play is the Angelo’s repentance. The statement that he makes that he ought to die for the wrongs he had done however comes too abrupt. Nobody expected it happen so soon. It is ironical that Angelo who has never thought that rules that apply to the common men like Claudio should also apply to him. Being the person that the readers have interacted with in the play, it does not seem real that he also wants the same punishment that he had given Claudio to apply to him. It is just extreme when you look at his character.
Another shocking instance in the play Measure for Measure is the fact that Duke is still acting like a Prospero. He wants the people to see him as the savior for the oppressed. One would wonder why he had to change to work as Friar so that the people could identify with him as their savior. He had the powers and therefore he would still have used to achieve the mission he had for the people. He abused the disguise only because he wanted the people to trust and honor him. It is argued that the intention he had might have been the same while he was in disguise and also out of it. He manipulated the people shamelessly. These happened when he was in disguise.
Another abuse that Duke makes is the misuse of the privilege of knowledge. After using Isabella to plot the action, he again informs here that here brother is dead. He tells her of this problem in the public or the crowd. She mourns there. He did this to make himself look more heroic and just. These traits of him would be learned of when Isabella will realize that eventually he saved the brother. All these however were the duties of the Duke. It was his role to ensure that there was justice for each and every member of the society. He is a very scheming. The public performance of accusations, repentance and grief, reveals the extent of power that is held by Duke. The events make him look more just, beneficent to the people and crucial. He is depicted to have single-handedly ensured that there is justice for each and every member of the society.
In the event that Duke attempts to sentence Claudio, he goes against his firm policy of moderation that he always stood for. A number of events unfold in the story. Duke proposes to Isabella. He does this because he thinks that he had helped her and her family. As it had been mentioned earlier, Duke was simply materialistic. He uses the opportunity that had to propose to Isabella. He knew very well that she was very vulnerable at the moment. She had no option. The audience is, therefore, left wondering whether Isabella who all along had been a very strict character would fall for the Duke, a character he had never even showed interest in. The morals in her must now prevail.
Shakespeare used the scenes like the one described above to depict the character of Duke. Duke appears in this essay as being egotistical. He uses his position to show how he cares for the people. He organized a series of events like taking the Claudio to prison. All these were aimed at winning a wife for himself and also to show that he is very powerful. The play however has a happy ending. It is not however a thoroughly satisfying play. It is because of the morals and the motivations of Duke.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, W., Greenblatt, S., Cohen, W., Howard, J. E., Maus, K. E., &Gurr, A. (1997). The Norton Shakespeare: based on the Oxford edition (p. 135). WW Norton.
