Measure for Measure

by William Shakespeare

Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only

Written
c. 1603-1604
Form
Drama
Language
English
Length
Short · 250 ppunder 120 pages
Difficulty
Demanding3 of 5 for a first-year reader

We recommendMeasure for MeasureFolger Shakespeare Library (Simon and Schuster), 2005The legal and religious vocabulary is glossed clearly.

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The Duke of Vienna pretends to leave the city and hands power to the strict deputy Angelo, then stays behind disguised as a friar to watch. Angelo revives a dormant law and condemns Claudio to death for getting his fiancée pregnant. Claudio's sister Isabella, a novice nun, pleads for his life, and Angelo offers to spare him if she sleeps with him. The disguised Duke arranges a bed trick and a substituted corpse, then returns to expose Angelo, pardon nearly everyone, and propose to Isabella.

No reading guide yet

The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns Measure for Measure are verified against each program's published list.

What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.

Browse the 48 works that do have a guide →

Angelo, Isabella, Claudio, Vincentio, Mariana, Lucio, Vienna, bed trick, problem play, Shakspere, the Bard, the Bard of Avon