Justice In Shakespeare's Measure For Measure, By Duke Vencentio

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While justice is the standard of morality, which establishes what is right and what is wrong, the Law is the organization of rules that govern society, to help uphold that standard of morality. In order to create laws, society as a whole must determine what is just and appoint persons to create laws in addition to having someone to interpret the law when people break it so as to serve them punishment to fit the crime. In William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, not only do the citizens of Vienna break the law constantly, but also, those who are supposed to carry out the law, Duke Vincentio and Angelo, are incapable of interpreting the law fairly and abuse their power for selfish gains. The role of law and justice depend on those who are in …show more content…

Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death: you know the course is common. If any thing fall to you upon this, more than a thanks and good fortune, by the saint whom I process, I will plead against it in my life.” Not only did the Duke ask the provost to go against Angelo’s wishes, despite Angelo being the ultimate authority while the Duke is “away,” and delay Claudio’s death, but he even suggested that he use someone else’s head as a stand-in for Claudio and to hide his trickery he suggested that the head be shaved as to disguise it. To manipulate not only the living but the dead as well, are acts that wouldn’t be committed by someone who is Just, but someone who craves control and justice and controlling others are not the same. The Duke knew that his request could potentially put the provost at risk; he even referred to it as “a dangerous courtesy.” Risking an innocent citizen’s life for someone who did break the law, no matter how petty the crime or how harsh the punishment, only seems as a selfish

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