Welcome to the Dark Side of Comedy: Measure for Measure

Welcome! You are about to dive into one of William Shakespeare’s most fascinating and "thorny" plays. While Measure for Measure is officially categorized as a Comedy in your Edexcel syllabus, don't expect it to be all sunshine and weddings like A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It is often called a "Problem Play" because it deals with very serious, dark themes like death, sexual morality, and corruption.

In these notes, we will break down the play in a way that helps you tackle your Component 1: Drama exam with confidence. Whether you love Shakespeare or find the language a bit like a foreign country, we’ll make sure you have the tools to succeed.

What is the Play Actually About?

Imagine a city where the laws are super strict, but nobody has followed them for years. Suddenly, the leader (the Duke) leaves and puts a "perfect" man (Angelo) in charge. Angelo decides to start executing people for having sex outside of marriage. When a young woman (Isabella) comes to beg for her brother’s life, the "perfect" Angelo tells her he will save her brother—but only if she sleeps with him. Yikes. That is the "problem" at the heart of this comedy.

The "Problem Play" and the Comedy Genre (AO2)

In the Edexcel exam, you need to show you understand Dramatic Form. Since this is in the Comedy section, you should look for how it follows and breaks the "rules" of comedy.

  • The Ending: Traditional comedies end in multiple marriages. Measure for Measure does this, but the marriages feel forced or uncomfortable. The Duke basically "claims" Isabella at the end, and she doesn’t even get a line to say yes!
  • The Tone: Usually, comedies are lighthearted. Here, the threat of death hangs over every scene.
  • The Subplot: Like all good Shakespearean comedies, there is a "low-life" subplot involving characters like Lucio and Pompey. They provide comic relief and mirror the serious themes of the main plot by showing the messy, human side of Vienna.

Quick Review: Why is it a comedy? It ends in marriages (sort of) and has funny "low" characters, but it’s "dark" because it deals with heavy moral dilemmas.

Key Characters to Know

The Duke (Vincentio)

The Duke is a bit of a puppet master. He pretends to leave but stays in the city disguised as a Friar to spy on everyone. Is he a wise ruler testing his people, or a manipulative man who enjoys playing God?
Exam Tip: Think about his soliloquies (speaking alone on stage). They reveal his plans to the audience, creating dramatic irony—we know he’s the Duke, but the other characters don’t!

Angelo

His name suggests he is "angelic," but he is the play's antagonist. He represents Puritanical values—extreme, cold, and rigid. His downfall shows that those who judge others most harshly often have the most to hide.

Isabella

A novice (a woman training to be a nun). She is caught in a terrible "binary" (a choice between two opposites): save her soul by staying a virgin, or save her brother’s life by sinning. She is famous for her fierce, intellectual language.

Big Themes: The "Meat" of Your Essay

Justice vs. Mercy

The title Measure for Measure comes from the Bible: "with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." The play asks: Should we follow the letter of the law strictly (Justice), or should we be kind and understanding (Mercy)?

Power and Corruption

Shakespeare explores how power can change a person. Angelo starts off as a "man of stricture" but becomes a predator the moment he gets a taste of authority. This relates to the context of King James I, who was the patron of Shakespeare’s acting company and was very interested in the "Divine Right of Kings" and how to be a good ruler.

Appearance vs. Reality

Characters are constantly pretending to be something they aren't. The Duke pretends to be a Friar; Angelo pretends to be a saint; Mariana (Angelo's ex-fiancée) pretends to be Isabella in the famous "bed trick".
Analogy: It’s like a masquerade ball where everyone is wearing a mask, and the play is about the masks being ripped off.

Context: Why Does It Matter? (AO3)

To get top marks, you need to show you understand the world Shakespeare lived in.

  • The Court of King James I: The play was performed for the King in 1604. James wrote books about how to be a King, and the Duke’s behavior in the play might be a "mirror" or a critique of how James ruled.
  • Vienna as a Mirror for London: Even though the play is set in Vienna, the audience would have recognized the "stews" (brothels) and the crime as being just like London. Setting it elsewhere allowed Shakespeare to talk about sensitive political issues without getting in trouble!
  • Religion: England was a Protestant country, but many Catholic ideas remained. Isabella’s desire to be a nun and the Duke’s disguise as a Friar would have been very interesting (and controversial) to the original audience.

Key Takeaway: Context isn't just "history facts"—it's about how those facts help us understand the meanings of the play.

Using Critical Interpretations (AO5)

For Component 1 Section A, you must engage with different interpretations. Your Critical Anthology (Comedy) is your best friend here! You don't need to memorize quotes, but you should be able to discuss different ways of looking at the play.

  • The Feminist Reading: Focuses on Isabella. Is she a hero for standing up for her body, or is the play "punishing" her by forcing her into marriage at the end?
  • The Political Reading: Sees the Duke as a "subtle tyrant" who uses surveillance (spying) to control his people.
  • The Religious Reading: Sees the Duke as a God-like figure who brings about "providential" (divinely planned) justice and teaches the characters about forgiveness.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Don't just retell the story: The examiner knows the plot! Spend your time analyzing how Shakespeare uses language (AO2) and why it matters (AO3).
  • Don't ignore the "low" characters: Lucio and Pompey are important! They show that the law can't simply "wipe out" human nature.
  • Don't forget it's a play: Use dramatic terms like asides, staging, and dramatic irony. Imagine it being performed on a stage, not just read in a book.

Exam Success Strategy

When you get your question in the exam, take 5 minutes to plan. Ask yourself:

  1. Which characters or scenes best illustrate this theme?
  2. How does the form of "Comedy" (or "Problem Play") help Shakespeare get his point across?
  3. What would a critic from the Anthology say about this?
  4. How did the context of 1604 shape this scene?

Remember: There is no one "right" answer in English Literature. As long as you support your ideas with evidence from the text and the Anthology, your personal response is what the examiners want to see!