Measure for Measure
A play about power, corruption, and justice. Duke Vincentio appoints Angelo to govern Vienna in his absence, but Angelo's strict laws lead to miscarriages of justice and personal struggles for the characters. Isabella seeks justice for her brother's wrongful imprisonment, while Claudio faces execution for his illicit love affair. The play raises questions about the balance of power and the nature of justice.
By William Shakespeare · First published 1603 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance · 17 chapters · 43,455 words
First lines
An apartment in the Duke's palace.
Enter Duke, Escalus, Lords and Attendants.
What this Textopian page supports
Measure for Measure is listed on Textopian as a play by William Shakespeare, dated 1603 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: William Shakespeare
- Date: 1603 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Tragedy, Political
- Length: 43,455 words
- Structure: 17 chapters, 1,003 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Measure for Measure?
- How does this play by William Shakespeare fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Measure For Measure by Charles Lamb
- Malfeasance by Gilbert Parker
- The Law Of The Land by Fred M. White
- Retribution by Charles Kingsley
- The Value Of Law by Charles Kingsley
- The Justice And His Accuser by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Drama — As a work of Shakespeare, the play falls under drama for its suspenseful plot and character development.
- Comedy — The play is considered a comedy due to its structure and comedic plot, which includes unusual situations and misunderstanding.
- Romance — Romantic relationships and its ensuing complications are central to the plot.
- Tragedy — The play has elements of tragedy, including moral dilemmas and dark themes.
Tags
justice · morality · power · corruption · hypocrisy · law · sexuality · forgiveness · redemption · authority · deception · society
Contents
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE I
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE II
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE III
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE IV
- SCENE V
- SCENE VI