Measure for Measure Summary

Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare in which Duke Vincentio disguises himself as a friar in order to observe how his officials runs the city in his absence.

  • Duke Vincentio of Vienna pretends to leave the city. He disguises himself as a friar to see how Angelo, an appointed official, runs the city.

  • Angelo abuses his power and imprisons Claudio and Juliet, a young couple, for fornication. Angelo demands that Claudio's sister have sex with him to secure her brother's release, but she refuses.

  • The Duke stages his supposed return to Vienna, denounces Angelo, and frees Claudio and Juliet.

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In the city of Vienna, the specter of political and moral decay deeply troubles Duke Vincentio. Aware that his own leniency has contributed to these problems by allowing laws to fall into disuse, the Duke hatches a plan to restore the city's moral compass. Rather than implementing reforms himself, fearing they might be too severe for the citizens to accept willingly, he entrusts governance to a deputy.

Relinquishing Power

To discreetly address the city's issues, Duke Vincentio opts to appoint a deputy governor while feigning a journey abroad. Angelo, a highly esteemed and discerning city official, is chosen to assume this role. Alongside him, the Duke appoints the venerable Escalus as second in command. Although the Duke pretends to leave for Poland, he remains in Vienna, adopting the guise of a friar to covertly observe Angelo's enforcement of the laws.

Angelo's Stringent Justice

Angelo's initial act is to incarcerate Claudio, a young nobleman whose engagement with Juliet led to her pregnancy. Under an ancient law that Angelo reinstates, Claudio's transgression is punishable by death. Publicly disgraced, Claudio is marched through the streets before being imprisoned. Desperate, he implores his friend Lucio to seek his sister Isabella, who is a novice at a convent, urging her to plead with Angelo for his life. Meanwhile, Escalus, who held Claudio’s father in high esteem, also appeals for clemency, but Angelo remains unswayed.

The Duke's Disguised Intervention

The Duke, cloaked as a friar, visits Juliet and learns that her relationship with Claudio was genuine and founded on mutual love. The couple had intended to marry, but legal complications over Juliet's dowry had stalled their plans. This revelation absolves Claudio of any malicious intent, painting a picture of star-crossed lovers caught in an unfortunate situation.

Isabella's Dilemma

Isabella approaches Angelo with her brother’s plea, her arguments initially falling on deaf ears despite Lucio’s guidance. However, Angelo is struck by Isabella's beauty, and his admiration soon morphs into a dangerous obsession. By their second encounter, Angelo propositions Isabella, offering Claudio's freedom in exchange for her surrender to his desires. Appalled by his proposal, Isabella threatens to expose him, but Angelo, unfazed, dares her to act, doubting anyone will believe her word against his.

The Friar's Plot

Desperate for a solution, Isabella confides in the Duke, still in his friar disguise. He reveals a plan involving Mariana, Angelo's former fiancée. Their engagement had ended when Mariana lost her dowry at sea, prompting Angelo to abandon her under pretenses of dishonor. The Duke suggests Isabella arrange a meeting with Angelo, only to have Mariana take her place, thus preserving Isabella’s chastity while securing leverage over Angelo through Mariana.

The Double Deception

The plan unfolds smoothly, with Mariana substituting for Isabella at the secret meeting with Angelo. Yet, Angelo's cowardice prevails, and he orders Claudio's execution to avoid any potential scandal. The Duke intervenes yet again, persuading the prison provost to simulate Claudio’s death using the head of a prisoner who had died of natural causes, thereby buying time for the truth to emerge.

Public Reckoning

As the execution date nears, Vienna stirs with anticipation. Among the gathered is Lucio, who encounters the disguised Duke and speaks ill of him, unaware of his true identity. Lucio claims the Duke indulges in vices similar to any common man, unaware that his gossip only amuses the Duke, who deflects the remarks with feigned objection.

The Duke’s Return

To provoke Isabella into publicly accusing Angelo, the Duke allows her to believe that Claudio has been executed. He then sends communications to Angelo, announcing his imminent return and inviting any complaints against the...

(This entire section contains 803 words.)

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deputy to be aired publicly. Angelo, anxious at the prospect, organizes a grand reception for the Duke's return.

Unveiling the Truth

As planned, Isabella and Mariana confront Angelo at the city gates, cloaked in veils. Isabella denounces him as a violator, while Mariana demands acknowledgment as his wife. The Duke, feigning outrage at these accusations against his deputy, orders the women's arrest and suggests capturing the elusive friar associated with them.

The Duke's Revelation

Returning to his palace, the Duke quickly resumes his friar's disguise. Appearing before the crowd, he criticizes the administration, prompting Escalus and Lucio to demand his arrest. Lucio, seeking bravado, unmasks the Duke, only to reveal Duke Vincentio himself. The crowd is left astounded by the unexpected revelation.

Justice and Forgiveness

Confronted with his crimes, Angelo resigns himself to death, yet the Duke demands he marry Mariana first, ensuring she gains his wealth as recompense. Surprisingly, both Mariana and Isabella plead for Angelo’s pardon, and the Duke, moved by their appeals, consents. Lucio, however, faces imprisonment, while Claudio is liberated and wed to Juliet. In a final twist, the Duke proposes to Isabella, offering her a future beyond the convent walls.

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