Shakespeare Stories - Measure for Measure (with CD)

Author: Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The title of the play "Measure for Measure" is derived from Matthew 7:1 of the Bible: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." As the name suggests, the play carries a strong sense of humanity and public welfare, involving various concepts such as morality, lust, death, the abuse of public power, and the portrayal of human nature in times of crisis. In 16th-century Europe, it was common for beautiful women to be forced to sacrifice themselves to save their family members, which also forms one of the basic structures of the play. "Purity" and "sin" both between human nature and the law, neither demanding that everyone be perfect nor blindly forgiving sinners. One retribution will naturally follow another. In the early 20th century, some critics argued that the play should no longer be viewed through a naturalistic lens but rather as an allegory promoting Christian values. Scholars who disagree categorize the play as a "tragicomedy," "problem play," or "dark comedy," among other classifications.