Summary
Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, a scene-by-scene summary
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a scene-by-scene summary of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
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Measure for Measure Study Guide
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Measure for Measure 1Measure for Measure
characters
Isabella
o sister to Claudio, a novice
Mariana
o betrothed to Angelo
Juliet
o beloved of Claudio, pregnant with his child
Francisca
o a nun
Mistress Overdone
o manager of a thriving Viennese brothel
Vincentio
o The Duke, also appears disguised as Friar Lodowick
Angelo
o the Deputy, rules in the Duke's absence
Escalus
o an ancient lord
Claudio
o a young gentleman, brother to Isabella
Pompey Bum
o a pimp who acquires customers for Mistress Overdone
Lucio
o a "fantastic", a foppish young nobleman
Two gentlemen
o friends to Lucio
The Provost
o runs the prison
Thomas and Peter
o two friars
Elbow
o a simple constable
Froth
o a foolish gentleman of fourscore pound a year
Abhorson
o an executioner
Barnardine
o a dissolute prisoner
a Justice
o friend of Escalus
Varrius
o (silent role), a friend of the Duke
, Measure for Measure 2
quick plot overview
The Duke of Vienna leaves the city on a diplomatic mission and leaves Judge Angelo in charge. Signor
Claudio is arrested for getting Juliet pregnant. His friend Lucio discovers this. Judge Angelo rules that
all brothels in the suburbs of Vienna must close. It turns out that Claudio and Juliet got married, but
did not complete all the strict legal technicalities meaning they technically aren’t married, but Judge
Angelo rules that fornication is punishable by death. Lucio goes to Claudio’s sister Isabella, a nun,
and asks her to help. Isabella asks Angelo for mercy, and he offers her a deal: if she gives up her
virginity to him, he will let Claudio free. She refuses and threatens to tell everyone about this deal,
but he tells her nobody will believe her. It turns out the Duke has not left the city but stayed in
disguise to see how the city fares without him in charge. He organises a trick where Angelo has sex
with his betrothed, someone he refuses to marry since her dowry is lost, whilst thinking she is
Isabella. When Angelo still asks for Claudio’s head, he makes sure that the head of a pirate who has
just died of fever is sent to him again. He then ‘returns’, Isabella and Mariana, Angelo’s betrothed,
publicly petition him, the Duke reveals he used to be in disguise, forces Angelo to marry Mariana,
who will then inherit all of Angelo’s stuff as a better dowry after Angelo is executed. She saves
Angelo’s life, Claudio is revealed to be alive, the Duke proposes marriage to Isabella who does not
reply. Lucio is forced to marry a prostitute whom he has impregnated and abandoned after shit-
talking about the Duke to the Duke in disguise.
about
The play’s first recorded performance was in 1604. It is often called one of Shakespeare’s problem
plays as the First Folio publication lists it as a comedy, but the tone defies those expectations. The
play draws from 2 sources: ‘The story of Epitia’, a story from Hecatommithi which also contains the
source for Othello, and the two-part closet drama Promos and Cassandra. The title is based on
Matthew 7.2, where Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount says ‘For in the same way you judge others,
you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you’.
actual play
Act 1 Scene 1
The Duke has Angelo fetched. He says that whilst he is gone, Angelo will be in power with Escalus as
his secondary. Angelo at first refuses, asking the Duke to test his character first. The Duke, however,
insists and leaves. Angelo and Escalus go offstage to talk about what they will do now that they are
in power.
Act 1 Scene 2
Lucio and two gentlemen are joking about the war between Hungary and Vienna. They don’t want
there to be peace. Mistress Overdone arrives, telling them that Claudio has just been arrested and
carried to prison, where, in 3 days, he will be executed. Lucio asks of Mistress Overdone is sure of it,
and she reveals that Claudio got Juliet pregnant. Lucio and the two gentlemen go to learn more
about the situation. Pompey arrives, informing Mistress Overdone that all the brothels in the
suburbs of Vienna must be closed. Mistress Overdone worries about this, but Pompey says that they
will always have customers. They see Signor Claudio coming, led by the provost on his way to prison,
and leave.
It is revealed that Claudio is arrested by special request of Angelo. Lucio arrives and Claudio tells him
that he has married Juliet, but that they decided to keep it a secret for a little while since her family
did not approve. But now she’s pregnant and the Duke has disappeared, so Claudio cannot appeal to
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