Student Question

What are the dramatic effects in Measure for Measure?

Expert Answers

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It depends on what you mean by dramatic effect--it's a sound effect that can simply mean that someone is at the door. However, if it contributes to any of the above themes--say, someone needs to disguise himself because there's someone at the door, you could make the argument that they add to the dramatic effect.

Also, remember that Shakespeare rarely wrote stage directions other than entrances and exits. Most stage directions were added by editors later. Shakespeare may have implied stage directions (a character saying something like, "Hark, who is that at the door?") But he would have never written (There is a knock at the door.)

Hope this helps.

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