Exploring Morality in Measure for Measure Essay -- Measure for Measure

Exploring Morality in Measure for Measure In Measure for Measure, Shakespeare is cap open to examine the concept of right and wrong through the char forgeers of Mistress Overdone and Mariana. Throughout the play, by using characters that most people would find morally reprehensible, Shakespeare is able to give the audience a different view of these people and, hopefully, show his audience that people arent always what they appear to be. Through the character of Mistress Overdone, Shakespeare is able to bring a jovial side to the oldest job known to man -- prostitution. Through the character of Mariana, Shakespeare allows the audience to decide if dickens wrongs do, in fact, make a right. While the concepts of right and wrong are given a twist in this play, Shakespeare, in the end, allows his audience to decide for themselves what is right and what is wrong. At the beginning of act one, scene two, Shakespeare uses the bawd, Mistress Overdone, to convey to the audience that Angelo is enforcing the fornication laws of Vienna. While this seems like the more moral, and more right, action to take, Shakespeare puts a twist on what the audience would usually view as a clear cut case. In lines 79 - 81, Mistress Overdone explains to the audience the effects of these new policies. So, while it seems right to chuck out these businesses down, the audience now is shown that prostitution is this ladys livelihood and her way for making money. However, who is to decide if the moral benefits of eliminating the public display of prostitution is in the best interest of the metropolis? By posing this question, Shakespeare forces the audience to consider both sides of the issue to, in the end, make some decision. In England, during that time... ... While, of course, this play does not say that Shakespeare was in choose of prostitution, it does force his audience to see these people as individuals and not objects. Likewise, by introducing the description of Mariana, Shakes peare challenges the idea of something always being right or wrong. Through the two characters, Shakespeare is able to have his audience challenge their ideas of right and wrong and force them into justifying these decisions. Sources Cited and ConsultedKnight, G. Wilson. Shakespeare and Morality. London Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1967. Leech, Clifford. The Meaning of Measure for Measure. Shakespeare Survey 3 (1950) 69-71. Shakespeare, William. Measure for Measure. The Arden Shakespeare. Ed. J.W. Lever. London Routledge, 1995. Thomas, Vivian. The Moral humanity of Shakespeares Problem Plays. London Croom Helm, 1987.