Summary
Measure for Measure Plot Summary
- Module
- Drama and poetry pre-1900
- Institution
- OCR
An act to act summary of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, suitable for English Literature A-Level
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Plot SummaryAct 1:
Act 1, Scene 1 – DUKE HANDS POWER OVER:
• Opens in Duke’s palace in Vienna
• Duke announces he is leaving privately to Escalus and handing power to Angelo
• Escalus has no doubts of Angelo’s power
• When Angelo arrives and hears the news, he is unsure and asks to be tested more before he is
given this responsibility
• Duke insists, leaves and Angelo examines his new role
Act 1, Scene 2 – VIENNA; CLAUDIO IS SENTENCED:
• Mistress Overdone (a brothel keeper) appears and has the news that Lucio’s (a comic
bachelor) friend Claudio now faces the death penalty for getting his fiancée pregnant – Lucio
is shocked at the punishment for a minor crime
• Pompey who words for Overdone, arrives with news that brothels are banned
Act 1, Scene 3 – A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF CLAUDIO:
• The Provost leads Claudio through the streets of Vienna, a public display by Angelo’s order
• Lucio questions Claudio about his crime – he replies he is waiting for a bigger dowry to
marry Juliet, but could not wait till marriage to sleep together
• He says Angelo is using him to make a name for himself
• Lucio tells him to appeal to the Duke, but he cannot be found
• Claudio asks Lucio to visit Isabella, a novice and hope she will move Angelo using her body
– he agrees to do so
Act 1, Scene 4 – THE DUKE BLAMES AND DISGUISES HIMSELF:
• The Duke visits Friar Thomas and asks him to hide him in the monastery
• He explains that he is an introvert and has let Vienna become corrupt
• The Duke feels people would think he was a tyrant if he started punishing them given he
hasn’t for so long
• He intends to disguise himself and return to the city to see if putting Angelo in power has
improved anything
Act 2:
Act 2, Scene 1 – ANGELO SHOWS NO SYMPATHY:
• In courtroom – Escalus advises Angelo to be less strict and to put himself in Claudio’s shoes
• Angelo shows no sympathy and says he would expect the same punishment – he wants
Claudio executed by 9am the next morning
• Elbow enters with two prisoners – Froth and Pompey
• Elbow represents confusion, ridiculousness, and weakness in Vienna
5
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