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Measure for Measure Act 2 Analysis | Shakespeare Play by Play Season 1
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Measure for Measure Act 2 Analysis | Shakespeare Play by Play Season 1

Understanding the Conflict Between Private Belief and Public Standards

The Dilemma of Grading Essays

  • An English teacher expresses frustration when a student's brilliant essay fails to meet rubric requirements, highlighting a disconnect between personal belief in quality and public standards.
  • The teacher references Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," where characters debate whether laws should override personal desires for mercy.

Exploring Themes in "Measure for Measure"

  • The act raises questions about the power dynamics between law and mercy, questioning what authority is invoked when prioritizing legal fidelity over compassion.
  • Escalus argues for Claudio's pardon based on his virtuous character, but acknowledges that Angelo’s strict enforcement of law aims to re-establish state power.

Law vs. Mercy: A Complex Relationship

  • Angelo's choice to punish Claudio serves as an example to instill fear of the law, suggesting that anyone can be subject to its consequences regardless of their background.
  • Escalus highlights the inconsistency in human judgment versus rigid statutes, emphasizing that laws are enforced by people who may apply them differently.

The Role of Comic Relief in Serious Themes

Introduction of Comic Characters

  • The arrival of Elbow provides comic relief amidst serious discussions about justice and morality; he represents incompetence within authority.
  • Elbow’s mix-ups illustrate how everyone participates in Vienna’s social fabric, reinforcing interconnectedness despite individual desires to escape societal responsibilities.

Human Judgment Over Statutory Law

  • Escalus demonstrates leniency by pardoning Poppy and Froth, contrasting with Angelo's harshness; this reflects the subjective nature of moral judgment.

Isabella's Plea: Centering Virtue Amidst Despair

Isabella's Argument for Mercy

  • Isabella passionately pleads for her brother Claudio’s life, urging Angelo to separate sin from sinner; she emphasizes familial bonds over strict adherence to law.

Self-Centered Virtue?

  • Critics note Isabella’s focus on her own virtue during her plea, raising questions about her motivations amid her brother’s dire situation.

Support from Lucio

The Role of Law and Morality in Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure"

Isabella's Impassioned Argument

  • Isabella passionately argues against the law, claiming it is not her brother who is unmerciful but rather the legal system itself that condemns him.
  • She critiques human pride, emphasizing that those in authority often lack true understanding, comparing them to "an angry ape" whose actions can lead to divine sorrow.

Angelo's Internal Conflict

  • Despite Isabella's powerful rhetoric, she fails to sway Angelo; however, he reveals his inner turmoil after she leaves.
  • Angelo grapples with his feelings for Isabella, questioning whether he desires her for her virtues or simply because of his lustful inclinations.

Theological Undertones and Temptation

  • Angelo reflects on the nature of sin and virtue, pondering if loving Isabella could be a path to divine goodness.
  • This notion ties into Reformation theology debates about the role of saints and religious imagery in achieving redemption.

The Impact of Shame and Reputation

  • Juliet’s encounter with the Duke highlights how public shaming affects individuals differently; despite her consensual relationship with Claudio, she faces severe consequences.
  • The play suggests that shame does not effectively reform those involved in love; instead, it disproportionately impacts those genuinely committed to each other.

Coercion and Moral Dilemmas

  • In Act Four, Angelo continues to pressure Isabella into compromising situations under the guise of saving her brother.

The Moral Dilemma of Angelo in "Measure for Measure"

The Climax of Coercion

  • Angelo expresses his love directly, stating that Claudio will not die if Isabella gives him love. This moment highlights the stark reality of coercive relationships and the power dynamics at play.
  • Isabella confronts Angelo's hypocrisy, demanding a pardon or threatening to expose him publicly. Her declaration resonates with contemporary themes of accountability and the #MeToo movement.

The Loss of Identity

  • Angelo's journey reveals a significant transformation; he begins by outsourcing his morality to the law but ultimately loses his private restraint, which was once his defining trait.
  • By using public standards as a surrogate for personal morality, Angelo becomes unmoored from his identity. His attempt to enforce societal norms leads him to commit acts of sexual violence against Isabella.

Isolation and Resolution

Playlists: Measure for Measure
Video description

full playlist: Measure for Measure: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN5dwcNLc0f02RC8hqUcB3Brd2FbByyb Reading Act 2 through the theme of "Judgement". This will be a full analysis of every Act of Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure through different themes. Subscribe for future seasons of this Shakespeare Play by Play. Twitter: @Shakespearepbp Quotations from the play come from the Folgers edition: https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/measure-for-measure/ Logo Design by Christina Boszik. Thumbnail art by SWSD_N -- Find him on Instagram Works Consulted: Baines, Barbara J. “Assaying the Power of Chastity in Measure for Measure.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 30, no. 2, 1990, p. 283., doi:10.2307/450518. Bernthal, Craig A. “Staging Justice: James I and the Trial Scenes of Measure for Measure.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 32, no. 2, 1992, p. 247., doi:10.2307/450735. Bruhn, Karen. “‘If Power Change Purpose’: Authority, Leadership, and Religion in Measure for Measure.” Leadership and Elizabethan Culture, 2013, pp. 213–227., doi:10.1057/9781137340290_13. Diehl, Huston. “‘Infinite Space’: Representation and Reformation in Measure for Measure.” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 49, no. 4, 1998, p. 393., doi:10.2307/2902235. Knoppers, Laura Lunger. “(En)Gendering Shame: Measure for Measure and the Spectacles of Power.” English Literary Renaissance, vol. 23, no. 3, 1993, pp. 450–471., doi:10.1111/j.1475-6757.1993.tb01069.x. Leggatt, Alexander. “Substitution in ‘Measure for Measure.’” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 39, no. 3, 1988, p. 342., doi:10.2307/2870931. Magedanz, Stacy. “Public Justice and Private Mercy in Measure for Measure.” SEL Studies in English Literature 1500-1900, vol. 44, no. 2, 2004, pp. 317–332., doi:10.1353/sel.2004.0018. Majeske, Andrew. “Equity’s Absence: The Extremity of Claudio’s Prosecution and Barnardine’s Pardon in Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure.” Law & Literature, vol. 21, no. 2, 2009, pp. 169–184., doi:10.1525/lal.2009.21.2.169. Riefer, Marcia. “‘Instruments of Some More Mightier Member’: The Constriction of Female Power in Measure for Measure.” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 35, no. 2, 1984, p. 157., doi:10.2307/2869924. Shakespeare, William, et al. Measure for Measure. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020. More Playlists: Measure for Measure: https://youtu.be/vFrmIKSmof4 The Merchant of Venice: https://youtu.be/wHUh0hsAQ8g Midsummer Night's Dream: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN5dwcNLc0cVK_4m64u3C_UvBd4y5esJ For art: www.youtube.com/amorsciendi #shakespeare #shakespeareanalysis #measureformeasure