Measure for Measure: A Play of Incontinence

Abstract

After a century of misunderstanding and of controversy over the meaning of Measure for Measure, scholars have, within the last twenty or thirty years, come to some measure of agreement. Following a series of excellent studies such as those by W. W. Lawrence, R. W. Chambers, and W. M. T. Dodds,' most critics now agree that the play is, besides being a comedy, a study of the relative merits of Greek justice and Christian mercy and that it is mercy which is shown to be the more heavenly. Measure for Measure is generally conceded to be a comedy because Shakespeare tried to combine romantic conventions with a serious problem in political philosophy. There are still a few unsolved problems, however, the most important being concerned with character interpretation. Fortunately, the virtuous Isabella has finally been exonerated from the charge of prudishness. But the Duke and Angelo still pose problems. The Duke, I think, must be regarded from two points of view: personally, he represents the virtue of temperance; and politically, his function is to demonstrate the validity of the Christian doctrine that mercy is greater than retributive justice. Much of the dissatisfaction with him stems from the fact that he was chosen to initiate the two romantic conventions which Shakespeare added to his source material: the bed trick and the Duke's game of cat and mouse with Angelo, Isabella, and Lucio. He has