Shakespeare A to Z | Measure for Measure
In the past Measure for Measure was viewed as a difficult and unpleasant play. The characters’ motives are often unclear, and it can be difficult to evaluate their actions. In the introduction to a 1951 edition of the play, scholar Hardin Craig called it “one of Shakespeare’s worst plays.” Many modern readers, however, regard it as one of his finest achievements, and it has become popular with audiences as well. The play’s title refers to its main theme: the idea that a crime should always be matched by an appropriate punishment. The text explores the ideas of justice,...
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