Measure for Measure abbreviated

Synopsis


The play opens with the Duke of Vienna publicly announcing that he is transferring the “deputation all the organs of our own power,” to Angelo as his deputy and that he has immediate plans to leave the city. He tells Angelo “to enforce the laws as to your soul seems good.” (Legitimacy, Act 1, Scene 1) But setting the scene, we also learn that for “getting Julietta with child” Angelo, acting quickly as the duke’s deputy, has had Claudio arrested and that “within these three days his head is to be chopped off,” and that “all houses in the suburbs of Vienna must be plucked down.” Claudio is just a regular guy whose fiancée is pregnant and just happens to have a good-looking sister, Isabel (or Isabella). (Resignation, Act 1, Scene 2) Angelo’s plan is to present a tough law-and-order front, and Claudio has been arrested to serve as an example. The duke, who has by his own admission enforced Vienna’s laws too leniently, is now “not to be found.” The duke has led all to believe that he “has traveled to Poland.” Feeling he has been too soft when it comes to enforcing the laws, the duke says to himself “’twas my fault to give the people scope.” As a side issue, some readers believe that Shakespeare inserted Vienna as a substitute for London.

However, the duke hasn’t left town at all. He meets secretly with Friar Thomas, planning to disguise himself as a “brother of your order” and to “visit both Angelo and the people.” (Disclosure, Act 1, Scene 3) Meanwhile, the imprisoned Claudio has asked his friend Lucio to convince his sister Isabel to visit Angelo and to encourage him to reconsider his arrest since “well she can persuade.” (Request, Act 1, Scene 4) Well-meaning Isabel is about to be accepted into the “sisterhood” as a nun. But nonetheless she agrees to Lucio’s request, saying “I’ll see what I can do.”

Meanwhile, Escalus, a Venetian judge, suggests to Angelo that he be moderate when enforcing the laws and to reconsider Claudio’s arrest. But Angelo holds firm, saying “Sir, he must die,” and calls for Claudio to “be executed by nine tomorrow morning.” Later, Isabel enters along with Lucio and begins her effort-to-save-her-brother conversation with Angelo. Angelo doesn’t budge. (Pleading, Act 2, Scene 2) Aside, Lucio advises Isabel to be more passionate and aggressive with her arguments, telling her “you are too cold.” Isabel steps it up. Her arguments are effective. Finally, Angelo says, “Why do you put these sayings on me?” She and Lucio exit. (Introspection, Act 2, Scene 2) Angelo lets us know, as you might suspect, that he has fallen for her, saying “my honor is at cross-purposes with my desire for her.”

The duke has now disguised himself as Friar Lodowick and in his disguise visits Juliet in prison, the two having a nice conversation. Isabel soon revisits Angelo and continues to make her case. Angelo tries to tell her that there is a way for her brother to live, but he is too subtle and she is slow to pick up on his plan: he wants her for himself in exchange for her brother’s life. In time she recognizes his depraved motive and says “sign me a present pardon for my brother or with an outstretched throat I’ll tell the world aloud what man thou art.” His response: “Who will believe you, Isabel?” (Confidence, Act 2, Scene 4) Isabel accepts his argument, but holds firm to her values, concluding her chastity is dearer than her brother’s life. (Acceptance, Act 2, Scene 4)

The duke, still disguised as a friar, now visits Claudio in prison and deftly counsels him not to fear death; Claudio finally saying, “I find I seek to die, and seeking death find life.” (Death, Act 3, Scene 1.1) Isabel enters and asks the prison’s provost for “a word or two with Claudio.” The disguised duke exits, but has plans to find a way to overhear their conversation. Isabel tells Claudio that he must die for the sake of her honor, and at first he agrees, but, thinking it over says “O Isabel, death is a fearful thing.” And later he says, “Sweet sister, let me live.” Angrily, she says, “Is‘t not a kind of incest to take life from thine own sister’s shame? I’ll pray for thy death.” (Death, Act 3, Scene 1.2) Claudio exits and the duke reenters. The disguised duke comes up with a play and tells her about it.

Several years earlier Angelo had a fiancée, Mariana, but he abandoned her when her dowry was lost at sea. The duke’s plan is to have Isabel agree to meet Angelo that night and that she is to tell him “that your stay with me may not be long, that the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place answer to convenience.” He tells her that if it works as planned “Mariana will go in your place.” Isabel likes the idea of Mariana standing in, so to speak, as her substitute with Angelo that night.

Later, Claudio’s friend Lucio gossips with the duke, thinking he is Friar Lodowick, telling him that the duke chases women, drinks too much, and that he is “a very superficial, ignorant, thoughtless fellow.” The duke-as-a-friar calmly says to Lucio “If ever the duke return, let me desire you to make your answer before him.” Lucio says, “I fear you not. I know what I know. But no more of this.” (Introspection, Act 3, Scene 2) He exits. The duke then further reveals his plan to deal with Angelo, and in the doing save Claudio.

Meanwhile, Isabel, having been introduced to Mariana by the duke, lets the duke-as Friar-Lodowick know that she has made certain arrangements with Angelo, and that Mariana has readily accepted her role in the grand plan. Mariana has told Isabel “Fear me not.” Meanwhile the duke-as-a-friar again visits the prison to see what he can do. The duke-friar and the provost hear a knock while talking, the provost saying “I hope it some pardon or reprieve for the most gentle Claudio.” It is not. Claudio is now scheduled to be executed at four in the morning. Shakespeare here creates the duke as being enormously sensitive and clever as he goes about a drawn out process to save Claudio’s life. Having hidden Claudio “in a secret hold,” the duke-as-a-friar tells Isabel when she arrives that Claudio’s “head is off, and sent to Angelo.” The head is of another prisoner. He diplomatically counsels her with what he believes continues to be the best way for her to deal with Angelo. He tells her that he has heard that “the duke will be here tomorrow.” Through letters he has told Angelo to meet him “at the consecrated fount a league below the city” and that they are to enter Vienna together. Friar Peter, a duke confidant, makes arrangements with various people, including Isabel and Mariana, to be near the duke when he returns to the city. The duke has put the pieces together. As act four ends, Friar Peter alerts Isabel that “The duke is entering.” (Remorse, Act 4, Scene 4)

As the duke warmly greets Angelo and Escalus, and the three of them enter Vienna, a kneeling Isabel cries out to the duke that Angelo is “an adulterous thief, a hypocrite, a virgin-violator.” The duke says “Away with her.” She tells him she is Claudio’s sister; the duke listens; Angelo claims she’s “strange” and has been “a suitor to me for her brother.” The duke says “fond wretch, thou know’st not what thou speak’st.” She mentions the name “Friar Lodowick” as she’s led off. The duke asks “Who knows that Lodowick?” Lucio chimes in saying “He spake against your Grace while you were away.” The duke says “Words against me?” Continuing the charade, when the duke asks about Lodowick, Friar Peter says “he’s sick, my lord, of a strange fever.”

At about this point, a veiled Mariana enters and tells her story. She removes her veil. Angelo acknowledges that “I know this woman.” The duke continues to support Angelo, but soon exits. Disguised as Friar Lodowick, the duke re-enters, this time with Isabel. The duke-as-a-friar supports both women, angering the men. Escalus says “Away with him to prison.” Lucio pulls at the friar’s hood, revealing the duke, and unsuccessfully tries to slip away, saying “this may prove worse than hanging.” The duke takes control of the moment and acts swiftly. Referring to Mariana, he tells Angelo to “marry her instantly.” He comforts Isabel, saying “your brother’s death, I know sits at your heart.” Angelo and Mariana re-enter and the duke says “an Angelo for Claudio, death for death, measure for measure.” Mariana cries out in protest. The duke says “My decision is final.” Isabel supports Mariana’s cause, saying “For Angelo, intents are merely thoughts.” The provost enters with a muffled Claudio, but soon “unmuffles” him. The duke pardons Claudio, proposes to Isabel, pardons Angelo and demands Lucio be whipped and hanged after he marries Kate Keepdown. Lucio responds, “Marrying Kate Keepdown is whipping and hanging.” The duke says, “Slandering a prince deserves it.” The Duke of Vienna and Isabel marry. (Joy, Act 5, Scene 1)


Principal Characters


Angelo
Angelo was appointed by the duke early in the play to be his deputy, the duke letting others know that he has been called away from the city, and that Angelo is to represent him while he’s gone. In truth, the duke believed that he had been too lax when enforcing Vienna’s laws, and was appointing Angelo, a conservative man, to tighten things up and bring people into line. Angelo lets bad judgment get the best of him.

Claudio
Claudio is Isabel’s brother and finds himself in real trouble early in the play, his fiancée, Juliet, being pregnant. He says “The stealth of our mutual entertainment is writ on Juliet.” In a show of strength, Angelo, as one of his first acts as the duke’s deputy, has Claudio imprisoned, condemning Claudio to death for his indiscretion.

Duke of Vienna
The duke of Vienna, masquerading for much of the play as Friar Lodowick, was presented by Shakespeare as a man ahead of his time. It’s been said that Shakespeare through this production created the duke to give guidance in 1604 to James I, England’s new king. Shakespeare creates the duke of Vienna as quite the class act.

Isabella
Early in the play we learn that Isabel, Claudio’s sister, is about to be admitted as a nun into “The sisterhood, the votarists of Saint Clare.” An imprisoned Claudio asks Lucio to have Isabel intercede on his behalf since “She hath skill in the art of reason and discourse, and well she can persuade.” She leads the effort to free her brother, the essence of the play.

Lucio
Lucio is a friend of Claudio’s, brought into the play to lighten things up, and he does. Shakespeare gives him great lines and timing, Lucio being an important foil to the others, keeping the play from otherwise becoming perhaps too heavy.

Mariana
Mariana was Angelo’s fiancée, Angelo having dropped her when her dowry was lost at sea in a shipwreck. The duke disguised as a friar enlists Mariana to work with Isabel to trick Angelo, which they do, a trick that becomes central to the play and its humor; a trick conceived by the disguised duke to free Claudio and expose Angelo for the scoundrel he is.

 A portrait of William Shakespeare