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Overview
Synopsis
The Duke of Vienna pretends to leave the city on a diplomatic mission. While he is away, he places Vienna in the care of his subordinate, Angelo, who decides to tighten the city's anti-fornication laws. A young nobleman, Claudio, has sex with his wife-to-be, Juliet, before they are married, and Angelo decides to execute him as punishment. Claudio's sister Isabella, a nun, tries to save him, but Angelo will only save Claudio if she agrees to sleep with Angelo, in exchange. At first, Isabella refuses -- much to her brother's horror. In fact, the Duke has not really left the city, and instead has disguised himself as a friar, in order to see what would happen to the city in his absence. As the friar, the Duke makes Angelo think that he has sex with Isabella, when really he has sex with Mariana,a woman to whom he was betrothed, but abandoned. Then, when Angelo asks for Claudio's head, the Duke provides the head of a lookalike prisoner in his place.
When the Duke decides to ‘return’ to the city, Isabella and Mariana both petition him to punish Angelo for his misconduct. Angelo tries to weasel out of things by blaming his actions on the friar, not knowing that the friar was, in fact, the Duke -- in disguise. The Duke reveals himself to be the friar, and Angelo is punished by being forced to marry Mariana. Likewise, Claudio's friend Lucio, for slandering the Duke and the friar, who were the same man, is forced to marry a whore. But will the Duke find happiness with Isabella?
Show Information
- Book
- William Shakespeare
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 5
- First Produced
- 1604
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Vienna
- Cast Size
- large
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
Measure For Measure is believed to have been written in either 1603 or 1604, with the earliest recorded performance taking place on 26th December 1604. It was not published until 1623 in the First Folio, the first collection of Shakespeare’s plays. The text has been adapted many times over the years to suit the tastes and morality of the era. For example, in 1699 a version appeared in which Claudio and Juliet, and Angelo and Mariana were already secretly married, thus removing the premarital
to read the context for Measure for Measure and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Duke Vincentio decides to leave Vienna and appoints Lord Angelo as his deputy to rule in his absence. He is concerned that Vienna has recently become lax in its moral behaviour and Angelo attempts to turn the city around with his strict enforcement of the laws against immorality. His stringent law enforcement results in imprisonment and a death sentence for Claudio, whose fiancé, Juliet, is pregnant with their child. Claudio’s friend, Lucio, delivers this news to Claudio’s sister,
to read the plot for Measure for Measure and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Anon' is an archaic English term meaning “soon” or “shortly.” It is often encountered in the dialogue of English Renaissance plays such as those by Shakespeare.
An archaic form of 'does,' commonly seen in Shakespearean and other Renaissance-era texts.
An old English form of 'have'; used in Shakespearean dialogue. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A poetic meter consisting of five iambs per line, widely used in English Renaissance drama by playwrights like Shakespeare.
Pertaining to the period of King James I’s reign, known for darker, more violent English drama than the Elizabethan era.
A servant or deceitful man, often used in Shakespearean plays as a term of insult or social rank. This archetype is common in comedic and villainous roles in English Renaissance drama, revealing class tensions and dramatic contrasts.
An archaic word meaning 'gladly' or 'willingly,' often used in English Renaissance texts to express preference or intent.
A dramatic form dealing with social issues in a realistic way, often associated with Ibsen and Shaw.
To destroy or demolish, often used in dramatic texts to describe ruin or downfall. It adds gravitas to climactic or tragic scenes.
A poetic word for 'face,' often used in classical theatre to describe appearance or emotion.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher