Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare (Story)

 

Measure for Measure

by William Shakespeare

(Story) 

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare is a tale set in the city of Vienna, a place beset by moral decay. The Duke, Vincentio, decides to temporarily relinquish his power, leaving his deputy, Angelo, in charge. He pretends to leave the city but stays disguised as a friar to observe what happens in his absence.

Angelo, known for his strict morality, soon enforces old laws against sexual immorality, resulting in the arrest of a young man named Claudio for impregnating his fiancée, Juliet, before marriage. Angelo sentences Claudio to death to make an example of him.

Isabella, Claudio's sister, a novice nun, pleads with Angelo for her brother's life. Angelo, struck by her beauty and purity, offers her a grim bargain: he will spare Claudio if Isabella sacrifices her virginity to him. Isabella, horrified, refuses and threatens to expose Angelo's hypocrisy. But Angelo, confident in his power, dismisses her threats.

Distraught, Isabella seeks help from the disguised Duke, who devises a plan to save Claudio and expose Angelo. The plan involves Mariana, a woman once betrothed to Angelo, whom he abandoned when her dowry was lost. The Duke arranges a bed trick, where Mariana takes Isabella's place in the dark, fulfilling Angelo’s demands without him knowing.

Believing his scheme has succeeded, Angelo orders Claudio’s execution anyway, fearing exposure. However, the Duke, still in disguise, intervenes and prevents the execution, substituting another prisoner’s head in Claudio’s place.

Eventually, the Duke returns to Vienna in his true identity, holding court. Isabella accuses Angelo, who denies the charges, but the Duke gradually reveals the truth. Angelo, faced with his deeds, expects death but is instead sentenced to marry Mariana. The Duke proposes to Isabella, offering her a chance to leave the convent, though her response is left ambiguous in the text.

In the end, justice is served in a complex blend of mercy and punishment, highlighting the play’s exploration of morality, power, and the fine line between justice and corruption.