The World of Arts:

Measure for measure; all about morality

Gwen Herat

Shakespeare’s puritan ideas come high in Measure For Measure written in 1604 based in Vienna. Adapted from an unacted drama, Promos and Cassandra, the play is a tragi-comedy.

Synopsis - Evaluating the city’s ignored laws against immorality and resolving to correct its impediments, Vincentio the Duke, proclaims his departure to Poland.

In reality, he never departs but remain in Vienna to watch over his deputy, the several Angelo’s reactions in his absence. Angelo moves fast into action and the first thing he does is to imprison Claudio for getting his betrothed Juliet pregnant. In Vienna, it is an offence that carries the death penalty and he makes sure that he be put to death.

Claudio’s sister Isabella who is about to enter the religious order, meets up with Angelo and pleads for her brother’s life. Angelo instructs Isabella to return the next day to give his verdict.

When she returns, Angelo makes improper suggestions and invites her to be his mistress in order to spare her brother’s life. The pious Isabella shocked and horrified and flees to meet her brother and repeats what Angelo expects from her to set him free.

To her utter dismay, Claudio entrants her to agree. Forsaken and miserable, she confesses her predicament to the friar (Duke). He too suggests she gives way to his demands but assure her that he would switch Mariana in her place.

Mariana is Angelo’s lover whom he abandoned. She agrees to take Isabella’s place at night.

Mariana who is still in love with Angelo and sees no danger in the switch-over.

Duke: ‘Welcome, how agreed?
Isabella: She’ll take the enterprise upon he, father;
Duke: It is not my consent but entity too
Isabella: Little have you to say
When you part from him, but soft and low
Remember how my brother?
Mariana: Fear me not
Duke: Now, gentle daughter, fear you not at all.
He is your husband on a pre-contract
To bring you thus together
‘tis no sin
Si’th that the justice of your title to him
Doth flourish the deceit. Come let us go
Our corn’s reap, for yet our tilth’s to sow...
Act. IV Scene 1

Arrogantly, Angelo has ordered Claudio be put to death but is prevented by the Duke’Priar and Provost. The duke returns as himself.
Duke: ‘My very worthy cousin, fairly met.
Angus; Escalus: Happy returns for your Royal grace
Duke: Many and hearty thanksgivings to you both
‘We have made inquiry of you and we hear such goodness of your justice
That our soul cannot but yield you forth to public thanks’...
Act V scene 1

In a violent scene, Angelo is reprimanded by the Duke and he agrees to marry Mariana and is pardoned. Angelo’s marriage is followed by Juliet who is ready to wed Claudio. The Duke opens his heart to Isabella but in the play, their union is vague and left to the imagination of the reader.

In Performance In Measure For Measure, the Duke of Vienna and his Deputy can be interpreted in many ways which makes dramatics easy access to turn and twist the play to suit their convenience.

The trend still continues with everyone being honest to the plot and not deviating from what Shakespeare wrote. In spite of the Bard’s puritan ideas, the play is a delight for the stage. In one absurd revival, the Duke was portrayed as a vulgar sham.

After the customary raw and free versions the text was revived at drury Lane in 1738 with James Quin as the Duke.

The great historic star, Sarah Siddons who has acted in all of Shakespeare plays came off brilliantly using all her passionate, emotional integrity between 1783 and 1811.

After many stage debuts in all Shakespeare’s leading characters, Siddons once quipped ‘Shakespeare would have married me if he were born during my era’

John Phillips was the Duke opposite Siddons when she gave a highly emotional act to Isabella. This was followed by many other versions around the world until 1922 when Stratford hosted the play. Yet another one debated in a gloriously different version directed by Tyronne Gutharie in 1933 for the Vic/Wales.

Another Hollywood Thespian, Charles Laughton played Angelo. This too was followed by various versions on international stage and most of them were very powerful and evocative, especially the one mounted by the New York Shakespeare Festival in 1993 with Blair Underwood as Claudio in Central Park.

Among the illustrious characters in Measure For Measure are;

Duke of Vienna: Who chooses to wander in disguise. Declares his love for Isabella though we cannot be sure whether she would accept him.

Isabella: A testing character that can be potently affecting. A pious woman who pleads for the life of her brother, Claudio. Isabella out-matches Portio of Merchant of Venice.

Angelo: The puritan who fails in his quest for revenge. This role is brilliantly acted by Charles Laughton of Hollywood.

Mariana: Romantically involved with Angelo

Claudio: Comes out sharply in his fear of death. Sister Isabella saves him.

Juliet: Why on earth Juliet? Shakespeare uses the unblemished, immortal name of Juliet (from Romeo and Juliet) to name Claudio’s unlucky lover. He takes her hand under compulsion.

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