Measure for Measure

The date and context of Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure was probably written in 1604, a year after King James I (who was also King James VI of Scotland) had come to the throne of England. (See also Social/political context: The Stuart monarchy.)

Shakespeare sets the play in Vienna, which he imagines as a city-state (which it never was in reality). However, in many ways it also seems to depict English society, attitudes and beliefs of Shakespeare’s time, which the audience would recognise.

It is also important to realise that people of Shakespeare’s own age (he was born in 1564) in his audience were the first generation of Englishmen and women who had been brought up hearing the Bible in English.

More on the Bible in English: Until the mid-sixteenth century, the Bible was read in churches in Latin, a language which only educated people would know. After that time, because of religious and political changes, it was read in English – and because church attendance was compulsory by law, everyone would hear in English the extracts from the Bible which were designated to be read each week.

The significance of the title

The title of the play is drawn from the New Testament of the Bible, from Matthew 7:1-2; in the version of the words that would have been familiar to Shakespeare:

In other words, we have to be careful how we judge and condemn others, since we are all subject to the judgement of God. To remind us of the quotation, there are many references to ‘weighing’ and ‘measuring’, as well as to judging, within the text.

The main issues in the play

• Shakespeare examines the problem of a contrast between earthly justice, where laxity by the authorities can lead to more crime, and heavenly justice, which is always tempered with mercy.

He also considers the role of a ruler – a significant but also tricky issue to deal with under a King such as James, who believed in the ‘divine right of Kings’ (see also Religious/philosophical context: Divine right of kings) – and the nature of authority.

More on power: ‘Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ remarked Lord Acton in the nineteenth century: but more than two hundred years before, Shakespeare examined the issue in this play, and in others such as Macbeth and King Lear.

• Shakespeare also examines human nature: what is it that makes us human? In an age when people saw themselves as having a unique position in creation – the only creatures that had both souls and bodies (see also Themes and significant ideas: Setting Measure for Measure within a Christian world view) - Shakespeare examines the dangers of extremes. Both Isabella and Angelo see themselves as more virtuous then those around them, while Pompey and Mistress Overdone indulge unrestrained physical appetites.

Why it is sometimes called a ‘Problem Play’?

• The issues discussed in the play (described above) are all problematic.
• What should we make of a Duke who:
  • apparently with good intentions, disguises himself to spy on his people?
  • has allowed corruption to spread in the state and then gets someone else to deal with it? (See also Characterisation: The Duke).
• By the end of the play no solution is suggested to the difficulty of how strictly to enforce the law.
• There are problems of structure in the play, such as the introduction of an entirely new aspect of Angelo’s background half-way through the play, when we first hear about Mariana (see also Structure).

Aims of this guide

• To help you appreciate why the play is still very relevant today
• To help you to understand what Shakespeare’s audience would know very well before they came to see the play, including the ideas prevalent at the time which might affect the way they thought about the drama they had come to watch.