Measure for Measure: Morality Under the Microscope

20/06/2025 28 min

Listen "Measure for Measure: Morality Under the Microscope"

Episode Synopsis

When a Duke secretly delegates power, hypocrisy and corruption are exposed. "Measure for Measure" is a thought-provoking "problem play" that grapples with themes of justice, mercy, sexual morality, and the abuse of authority. We unpack its challenging questions about human fallibility and governance.Works CitedArtsEmerson. "Everyday Quotes from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure." ArtsEmerson, artsemerson.org/news/everyday-quotes-from-shakespeares-measure-for-measure/.ArtsEmerson. "Measure for Measure and #MeToo." ArtsEmerson, 5 Oct. 2018, artsemerson.org/blog/measure-for-measure-and-metoo/.Baker, Sir John. English Law Under Two Elizabeths. Cambridge UP, [n.d.].Cash, Peter. "Measure for Measure." English Association Shakespeare Bookmarks Longer Commentaries, no. 3, English Association, 2014."Elizabethan sumptuary laws: Fashion policing in Shakespeare's England." Shakespeare's Globe, shakespearesglobe.com/discover/blogs-and-features/elizabethan-sumptuary-laws-fashion-policing-in-shakespeares-england/.Folger Shakespeare Library. "Interpreting Isabella and her silence in 'Measure for Measure'." Folger Shakespeare Library, folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/measure-for-measure/interp/.Funk, Jan. "The Duke of Dark Corners: Toward an Interpretation of Measure for Measure's Duke Vincento." 1982. Masters Theses & Specialist Projects, Paper 2378. digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/2378.Ghosh, Tannistho. "Game-playing in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure." London School of Journalism, Oct. 2002, lsj.org/literature/essays/measureformeasure.HandsOnGeek. "Why is Measure for Measure impopular?" Reddit, r/shakespeare, 8 Jan. 2022, reddit.com/r/shakespeare/comments/s2c67v/why_is_measure_for_measure_impopular/.Hassel, R. Chris. Shakespeare’s Religious Language: A Dictionary. Bloomsbury, 2005.leji_kedusBRONZE. "Female empowerment in Measure for Measure." Teen Ink, 25 Apr. 2023, teenink.com/opinion/social-issues/article/1172827/Female-empowerment-in-Measure-for-Measure/.Literary Devices. "Measure For Measure By Shakespeare: Study Guide & Analysis." Literary Devices, literarydevices.net/measure-for-measure/."Measure for Measure." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Measure_for_Measure.Palloo, Khushi. "Measure For Measure." Scribd, scribd.com/document/view/.Briggs, Andrew, and Paul Phillips. "How Shakespeare seasoned justice with mercy." Seen & Unseen, seenandunseen.com/blog/how-shakespeare-seasoned-justice-with-mercy/.Revision World. "Quotes (Measure for Measure)." Revision World, revisionworld.com/gcse/english-literature/measure-measure/quotes.Scotch College. Study Guide: William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. 2016.Shakespeare, William. Measure for Measure. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Folger Shakespeare Library, folger.edu/shakespeares-works/measure-for-measure/.Skånland, Marianne Haslev. "Sexual morality Measure for Measure." Marianne Haslev Skånlands hjemmeside, 2006, skanland.com/shakespeare/sexual-morality-measure-for-measure/."What are your thoughts on 'Measure for Measure'?" Reddit, r/shakespeare, 8 Jan. 2022, reddit.com/r/shakespeare/comments/s2c67v/what_are_your_thoughts_on_measure_for_measure/.