51 pages • 1 hour read
Measure For Measure
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Measure for Measure is a play written by William Shakespeare. It was first performed in 1604 and is considered one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” because of its ambiguous tone that shifts between tragedy and comedy. Shakespeare was a prolific poet and playwright during the Elizabethan and Jacobean era. While his earlier works were primarily comedies and histories, Measure for Measure was written during the period in which Shakespeare began to write many of his most well-known tragedies. While the first printed edition of Shakespeare’s works, the First Folio of 1623, classified Measure for Measure as a comedy, its dark subject matter and somber tone has much in common with tragedy as well. The play explores the concepts of justice, hypocrisy, and mercy, questioning how the law can be righteously enforced when humans are all tempted to sin.
This guide uses the version found in The Works of Shakespeare (The Globe Edition), published in 1866 and available online at Open Source Shakespeare.
Content Warning: Measure for Measure depicts sexual coercion, which this guide describes and discusses.
Plot Summary
Measure for Measure is set in the city of Vienna, ruled by Duke Unlock all 51 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By William Shakespeare
