Free Measure for Measure Essays: Social Injustice

557 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Leaders in shakespeare

Social Injustice in Measure for Measure

Social justice is a topic known all to well in today's society. Such issues as social heirarchial structure and unjust representatives of citizens of nations are issues in need of attention by those in power. Corruption, lies and greed by those in power however stand in the way of this form of justice from occurring, leaving many with little or no social status open to prejudice on race, religious and sexual grounds. William Shakespeare illustrates the ease in which power can corrupt in his play, Measure for Measure.

In Measure for Measure, a leader corrupts the legal system for his own benefit. Vienna is being lead by Angelo, a name reflecting 'bad angel', and the city has been outraged due to his corrupt ways. The play is based around the court case of Claudio and the injustice delivered to him by the corrupt leader for a crime that some would consider being trivial.

Claudio had made love to his fiancée prior to their marriage. At this time in Vienna, this was a crime punishable by death and Angelo was quick to pounce on this fact, sending Claudio to gaol and sentencing him to death. In studies of justice we have learnt that justice depends on the situation and this seems grossly unjust for a couple planning to be wed.

After Claudio is sentenced to death, Shakespeare creates an interesting turn of events showing just how corrupt leadership can be. Once Claudio's sister, Isabella, a novice nun approaches Angelo to dispute his decision and begs for mercy, he tells her that in order to save her brother, she will have to give up her virginity to him:

Angelo:

"Admit no other way to save his life-

As I subscribe not that, nor any other,

But in the loss of question- that you, his sister,

Finding yourself desired of such a person,

Whose credit with the judge, or own great place,

Could fetch your brother from the manacles

Of the all-binding law, and that there were

No earthly mean to save him, but that either

You must lay down the treasures of your body

To this supposed, or else to let him suffer:

What would you do?"

Isabella:

"As much for my brother as myself:

Show More
Related

  • Injustice In Australia Essay

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the world, in history and in present day, injustice has affected all of us. Whether it is racial, sexist, discriminatory, being left disadvantaged or worse, injustice surrounds us. Australia is a country that has been plagued by injustice since the day our British ancestors first set foot on Australian soil and claimed the land as theirs. We’ve killed off many of the Indigenous Aboriginal people, and also took Aboriginal children away from their families; this is known as the stolen generation. On the day Australia became a federation in 1901, the first Prime Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton, created the White Australia Policy. This only let people of white skin colour migrate to the country. Even though Australia was the first country to let women vote, women didn’t stand in Parliament until 1943 as many of us didn’t support female candidates, this was 40 years after they passed the law in Australian Parliament for women to stand in elections. After the events of World War Two, we have made an effort to make a stop to these issues here in Australia.

    Read More

  • Honor in Much Ado About Nothing

    672 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare shows the level and type of honor expected of women of the time through the character of Hero. Hero, the much sought after daughter of Leonato, the governor of Messina, is judged based on how well she respects her fathers wishes. She is only honored if her father is honored. Her only personal honor lies in her chastity. She is expected to remain a maiden until her wedding night, with the loss of her virginity bringing down both her honor and her worthiness as a wife. On their wedding day, when Claudio exposes her “dirty secret” he states:

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    2271 Words  | 5 Pages

    wither in their pride/ Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.” From

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1858 Words  | 4 Pages

    "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Free Will In Measure For Measure

    1220 Words  | 3 Pages

    This plays similarly into Shakespeare’s parallel and distortion of tragedy and comedy, but in more profound way. Not only does it question free will and fate—but reality verses mirage. Shakespeare often explores the idea of dream and vision against fact and truth and as yet explores this theme in Measure for Measure. “Wrench awe from fools and tie the wiser souls to thy false seeming! Blood, thou art blood: let's write good angel on the devil's horn,” Angelo curses against himself. The duality of the characters and of the city itself is present throughout the play, and multiple questions of reality and truth permeate the essence of Measure for Measure. Measure for Measure often depicts testing and choosing as an instance of determining fate: each character has one or two single moments in which to make a momentous choice, which then determines much of the development within themselves and the plot or their circumstances. While Measure for Measure is infused with a sense of inevitability, character flaws, downfall, and irreversible fate, all which mark a tragedy, it plays upon and sometimes even reverses these elements, reflecting more comedic elements. Each character seems to be spiraling toward doom and certain destruction—but then there is a moment in which the Duke, acting as a benevolent meddler, gives

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    586 Words  | 2 Pages

    says this to threaten Juliet as if to say if you do not do this then

    Read More

  • Measure for Measure Essay: The Growth of Angelo and Pompey

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Angelo's sin is blackmailing Claudio's sister, Isabella, with the death of her brother if she does not sleep with him, "...and that there were No earthly menas to save him, but that either You must lay down the treasures of your body" (2.4.95-97). Isabella and the disguised duke only know the sin. With no one to enforce the laws of morality on Angelo, he has the freedom to rape the helpless. The crime Angelo is going to commit is known and forethought by him. He does not come to the realization that this is wrong until he has no other choice, "hast though or word, or wit, or impudence, That yet can do thee office? If thou hast, Rely upon it till my tale be heard, And hold no longer out." (5.1.371-374). The selfishness has caught up with Angelo and he realizes the only way out is to repent, "I should be guiltier than my guiltiness...But let my trail be mine own confession. Immediate sentence then and sequent death Is all the grace I beg." (5.1.375, 5.1.380-382). People can argue that Angelo only did this to get off the hook. Is it repentanc...

    Read More

  • Isabella's Accusations in Measure for Measure by Shakespeare

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    This passage emphasizes the major theme of the play, justice. The whole passage is about Isabella trying to create justice. Angelo did something wrong, and therefore should be punished for it.

    Read More

  • Free Measure for Measure Essays: Mercy vs. Justice

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    Summary: Duke wants to restore the strictness of fornication/adultery laws. He sets up Angelo to do it, while he feigns that he will be away. Instead he remains to check up on Angelo and the town (Vienna). Angelo goes ahead and closes down Overdone's brothel and the others, and puts Claudio in jail, condemned to die the morrow, for impregnating Juliet.

    Read More

  • Romeo and Juliet: Fate or Bad choices?

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    Once in a while many people make bad decisions. Usually these decisions don’t cause them any harm in their futures, unlike Romeo Montague’s and Juliet Capulet’s decisions. In Verona, a city in Italy, two lovers fall in love. The catch is their families despise each other. Eventually Romeo get’s banished from Verona, and Juliet is forced to marry someone she doesn’t want to marry. Juliet takes a potion that knocks her out for 42 hours, and feigns her death, hoping she does not have to marry Count Paris. Romeo assumes Juliet is dead, and drinks a potion that kills him, and when Juliet wakes up and realizes that Romeo is dead, she stabs herself. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Romeo and Juliet, the main protagonists, Romeo and Juliet, make poor choices which eventually lead to their death at the end of the story.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    1138 Words  | 3 Pages

    In all of the best works of literature, each of a writer's characters has a purpose whether the role is small or big. Even if it goes unnoticed, the small characters usually play a key role to the story's plot development. These minor characters also add depth to the story's world and also help in the development of the major characters' personality. In William Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the minor characters of Friar Lawrence, the Nurse, and Tybalt are in many ways the most pivotal characters to the play's development.

    Read More

  • Morality in Measure for Measure by Shakespeare

    2108 Words  | 5 Pages

    Measure for Measure considers the need for statutes and laws to govern sexual appetites and ensure domestic tranquility. But it also focuses on the conflict between human actions and human moral values, especially as it is manifest in the issue of seeming and being. The Duke himself notes the difference between appearance and reality as he speaks about his deputy Angelo, who appears to be the perfect deputy and the disciplined (even puritanical) character. Noting Angelos character, the Duke also questions the integrity of his inner and outer worlds:

    Read More

  • Measure For Measure

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    The plot centers around the fate of Claudio, who is arrested by Lord Angelo, the temporary leader of Vienna. Angelo is left in charge by the Duke, who pretends to leave town but instead dresses as a friar to observe the goings-on in his absence. Angelo is strict, moralistic, and unwavering in his decision-making; he decides that there is too much freedom in Vienna and takes it upon himself to rid the city of brothels and unlawful sexual activity. Laws against these behaviors and institutions already exist, and Angelo simply decides to enforce them more strictly. Claudio is arrested for impregnating Juliet, his lover, before they were married. Although they were engaged and their sexual intercourse was consensual, Claudio is sentenced to death in order to serve as an example to the other Viennese citizens.

    Read More

  • William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

    450 Words  | 1 Pages

    The nurse, was to keen to act as a go between because she felt that

    Read More

  • Theme Of The Title Measure For Measure

    1275 Words  | 3 Pages

    The title of Measure for Measure is taken from the Bible: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged and the measure you give will be the measure you get.” This quotation from Christ 's Sermon on the Mount, stating generally that each individual will be judged as harshly as he has judged others, implies that mercy and human sympathy should temper justice. This passage comes from Matthew and is reinforced again in Mark. Shakespeare named this story so because of the way Angelo attempted to judge the people of Vienna, more particularly, Claudio. Angelo, though saved from death by the warming hand of Isabella, will soon receive the judgement he so evilly placed upon some of the citizens. Claudio was guilty of something, though was not in deservance of death and Angelo was seen as an evil dictator; Shakespeare identified this in the fact that he used the gospel to derive his story “Measure for Measure.” Shakespeare was not playing around when he named this play what he did, he was showing a clear understanding of the sermon on the mount, and paving the way for the reader to easily identify his motive of reinforcement of this sermon within his own

    Read More

More about Free Measure for Measure Essays: Social Injustice

Open Document