The key theme shown throughout the play 'Measure for measure' is the fight between justice and mercy, and whether justice would be served through strictly following the law or by showing mercy. When the Duke left Vienna, he wanted more justice in his city. He wanted someone who could enforce the laws, but didn't want to do it himself as he thought the city would dislike him. The duke wanted the laws enforced, and chose Angelo to carry out this task. Under the Venetian law, Claudio was to be killed for his crime. This is the type of justice the duke asked Angelo to carry out. The duke felt he had shown too much mercy to his people, and that they had begun to disrespect the law.

Shakespeare represents these ideas of the Duke by using a metaphor when he is talking to the friar at the monastery. He says "And liberty plucks Justice by the nose, the baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart goes all decorum". This metaphor clearly shows that the duke fel

In this play Shakespeare also focuses on gender roles, and the injustice women face through their objectification. In sections of the play women are referred to by parts of their body, which shows the lack of respect that was shown to women in that society.

In the play 'Measure for Measure' Shakespeare brings up the concept of the outer and inner self, the idea that seeming and being are totally different. Shakespeare introduces the notion that external interpretations of justice may not have been constructed with an understanding of human nature, and internal desires in mind. He therefore suggests that by its nature 'justice' is a highly complex and subjective concept. The congruence between outer actions and inner values is one of the overriding themes of the play, especially as it is manifest in the issue of seeming and being.

t his city was disregarding the law, and explains that this is the reason he put Angelo in the position of stand in duke.

This quote emphasises the state of the city, and how the citizens were acting under the current lack of enforcement that the Duke was showing towards the law. The baby is symbolising the citizens of the city turning against the law and authority (the nurse) and in turn changing the roles that they are supposed to play in the society. This positions the audi

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Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)