Measure for Measure Study Questions
-
What kind of person is the Duke? Why does he leave Vienna, and
put
Angelo in charge?
-
The play's title originates with words spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on
the Mount (Matthew 7.2; Luke 6.38). Have a look at these
passages--do
they affect your reading of the play, or your understanding of
particular
characters?
-
We've read a number of comedies by Shakespeare that include dark
themes.
Do the dark themes in this play make it difficult for you to read this
play as a comedy?
-
How does this play amplify the theme of justice vs. mercy that we first
encountered in The Merchant of Venice?
-
How does the play affect your understanding of the nature of political
power? Does it say anything about the relationship between
politics
and the theater?
-
How does the play depict the relationship between politics and religion?
-
Compare the play's depiction of sexuality to that in other plays we
have
read.
Bibliography
(You must be on the Longwood network to access these files.)
Astington,
John H. "'Fault' in Shakespeare." Shakespeare Quarterly 36
(1985): 330-334.
Dickinson,
John W. "Renaissance Equity and Measure
for Measure." Shakespeare
Quarterly 13 (1962): 287-297.
Internet Resources
Measure for Measure at the Internet
Shakespeare Project (College of the Holy Cross)