Rating: 
Summary: This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news
Review: (I must qualify my rating, this is 3 stars out of 5 on a Shakespearean scale, a scale on another level altogether.)
The Duke has taken it upon himself to depart from the public eye and grants his power to Angelo, who in needing to establish the rule of law slams down upon brothels and sexual impropiety, leading to the arrest and death sentence of Claudio. Claudio in desperation begs his sister Isabella, a sister in the order of St. Claire, lobby on his behalf. This initial conflict pits Angelo's absolute letter of the law mentality against Isabella's incredible piety. All the while the Duke, who feigned venturing to Poland, observes and manipulates the proceedings as a Friar, as he gets an upclose account of how the law and his citizenry behave.
Such is the basic story of Measure for Measure. And while there is, as with all Shakespeare, much about goverance, male/female relationships, hypocrisy and morality that resonates to this day, the play's proceeding and outcome leave "much to be desired." Some hangups are: The Duke's overzealous, almost obsessive involvement in and with everyone, the famous question of Isabella's final reply (or there lack of), the disappearance of Angelo, Claudio, Julietta, and Mariana from stage activity, and the sub-plot of Pompey, Lucio, Elbow, et al is dry.
Some themes are: state law vs. spiritual law, sexual mores, the "righteousness" of morality, hypocrisy and blackmail in government, the search for true fairness, and the sacrifice of the body vs. the sacrifice of the soul.
To conclude, a quote from the Duke, Act 3.2.216-220:
"There is scarce truth enough alive to make societies secure, but security enough to make fellow-ships accursed. Much upon this riddle runs the wisdom of the world. This news is old enough, yet it is every day's news."
Rating: 
Summary: A great edition to help with the language
Review: I am a senior in high school and have found the Pelican Shakespeare series to be very helpful in translating words used in Shakespearean times to modern English in footnotes. The introductions are also very helpful in understanding Shakespeare's intentions.MEASURE FOR MEASURE is a dark comedy in which Angelo, a virtuous man, takes over the kingdom of Vienna while the Duke secretly disguises himself as a friar and goes around the country to see what condition his country is in. Angelo is sick of all the immorality in the country, so he inforces an old law that prostitution is illegal. He destroys all of the homes that were used as brothels, and he imprisons Claudio because he had sex with his soon-to-be wife Juliet. Claudio is to be executed by beheading for his lechery, and he gets a friend to go tell his sister Isabel, who is soon to be a nun, to convince Angelo to free Claudio. When Angelo sees Isabel, he is overcome with lust and tells her that the only way she can free her brother is to sleep with him, which she refuses. The good thing is that there is a happy ending because no one dies. You'll end the play wondering how this can be a comedy, but it is actually quite good. It shows the weaknesses and strengths of human nature and the hypocrisy of government.
Rating:
Summary: A great edition to help with the language
Review: I am a senior in high school and have found the Pelican Shakespeare series to be very helpful in translating words used in Shakespearean times to modern English in footnotes. The introductions are also very helpful in understanding Shakespeare's intentions. MEASURE FOR MEASURE is a dark comedy in which Angelo, a virtuous man, takes over the kingdom of Vienna while the Duke secretly disguises himself as a friar and goes around the country to see what condition his country is in. Angelo is sick of all the immorality in the country, so he inforces an old law that prostitution is illegal. He destroys all of the homes that were used as brothels, and he imprisons Claudio because he had sex with his soon-to-be wife Juliet. Claudio is to be executed by beheading for his lechery, and he gets a friend to go tell his sister Isabel, who is soon to be a nun, to convince Angelo to free Claudio. When Angelo sees Isabel, he is overcome with lust and tells her that the only way she can free her brother is to sleep with him, which she refuses. The good thing is that there is a happy ending because no one dies. You'll end the play wondering how this can be a comedy, but it is actually quite good. It shows the weaknesses and strengths of human nature and the hypocrisy of government.
Rating:
Summary: a comedy?
Review: In this somewhat disturbing classic, we have characters in almost as much a dilemma as Hamlet himself. Claudio, a young man, has gotten his fiance pregnant before their wedding. Unfortunately for Claudio, the local Duke is out of town finding himself, and in his stead is Angelo - a stickler for the rules, although he's far from squeaky clean himself. The said rules in this case, although obscure, call for execution. Enter Isabella, Claudio's sister - a novice nun - to plead his case. Incredibly, Angelo starts to have some not-very-nice thoughts, and soon enough he's telling her he'll let Claudio go - if she spends the night with him! In modern times one might think this reprehensible but a no-brainer - most sisters aren't going to let their brothers die young if there's anything they can do about it even if they are convent bound. But consider that in Shakespeare's time Isabella's soul would have been very much at issue. So we have Isabella's soul and Claudio's life at stake, and there's still no word from the deadbeat Duke! Will something happen before time runs out? Angelo is one of Shakespeare's most interesting villains, knowing that he's setting himself up to go straight to hell but still not able to stop himself. Isabella has to deal with a problem that makes those of many other Shakespearean heroines seem like child's play. As for Claudio - his prison monologue, where he starts off trying to be brave for Isabella but ends up as frightened as anyone in his predicament would be when human nature kicks in - is as powerful a tour de force as Clarence's scene in Richard III. Not to be missed by Shakespeare fans.
Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare's most underrated
Review: In this somewhat disturbing classic, we have characters in almost as much a dilemma as Hamlet himself. Claudio, a young man, has gotten his fiance pregnant before their wedding. Unfortunately for Claudio, the local Duke is out of town finding himself, and in his stead is Angelo - a stickler for the rules, although he's far from squeaky clean himself. The said rules in this case, although obscure, call for execution. Enter Isabella, Claudio's sister - a novice nun - to plead his case. Incredibly, Angelo starts to have some not-very-nice thoughts, and soon enough he's telling her he'll let Claudio go - if she spends the night with him! In modern times one might think this reprehensible but a no-brainer - most sisters aren't going to let their brothers die young if there's anything they can do about it even if they are convent bound. But consider that in Shakespeare's time Isabella's soul would have been very much at issue. So we have Isabella's soul and Claudio's life at stake, and there's still no word from the deadbeat Duke! Will something happen before time runs out? Angelo is one of Shakespeare's most interesting villains, knowing that he's setting himself up to go straight to hell but still not able to stop himself. Isabella has to deal with a problem that makes those of many other Shakespearean heroines seem like child's play. As for Claudio - his prison monologue, where he starts off trying to be brave for Isabella but ends up as frightened as anyone in his predicament would be when human nature kicks in - is as powerful a tour de force as Clarence's scene in Richard III. Not to be missed by Shakespeare fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Base Look at Love, Honor, Morality, Reputation, and the Law!
Review: Measure for Measure is seldom read, and not often performed in the United States. Why? Although many of Shakespeare's plays deal bluntly with sexual issues, Measure for Measure does so in an unusually ugly and disgusting way for Shakespeare. This play is probably best suited for adults, as a result. I see Measure for Measure as closest to The Merchant of Venice in its themes. Of the two plays, I prefer Measure for Measure for its unremitting look at the arbitrariness of laws, public hypocrisy and private venality, support for virtue, and encouragement of tempering public justice with common sense and mercy. The play opens with Duke Vincentio turning over his authority to his deputy, Angelo. But while the duke says he is leaving for Poland, he in fact remains in Vienna posing as a friar. Angelo begins meting out justice according to the letter of the law. His first act is to condemn Claudio to death for impregnating Juliet. The two are willing to marry, but Angelo is not interested in finding a solution. In despair, Claudio gets word to his sister, the beautiful Isabella, that he is to be executed and prays that she will beg for mercy. Despite knowing that Isabella is a virgin novice who is about to take her vows, Angelo cruelly offers to release Claudio of Isabella will make herself sexually available to Angelo. The Duke works his influence behind the scenes to help create justice. Although this play is a "comedy" in Shakespearean terms, the tension throughout is much more like a tragedy. In fact, there are powerful scenes where Shakespeare draws on foolish servants of the law to make his points clear. These serve a similar role of lessening the darkness to that of the gravediggers in Hamlet. One of the things I like best about Measure for Measure is that the resolution is kept hidden better than in most of the comedies. As a result, the heavy and rising tension is only relieved right at the end. The relief you will feel at the end of act five will be very great, if you are like me. After you read this play, I suggest that you compare Isabella and Portia. Why did Shakespeare choose two such strong women to be placed at the center of establishing justice? Could it have anything to do with wanting to establish the rightness of the heart? If you think so, reflect that both Isabella and Portia are tough in demanding that what is right be done. After you finish thinking about those two characters, you may also enjoy comparing King Lear and Claudio. What was their fault? What was their salvation? Why? What point is Shakespeare making? Finally, think about Angelo. Is he the norm or the exception in society? What makes someone act like Angelo does here? What is a person naturally going to do in his situation? Look for fairness in all that you say and do!
Rating:
Summary: Base Look at Love, Honor, Morality, Reputation, and the Law!
Review: Measure for Measure is seldom read, and not often performed in the United States. Why? Although many of Shakespeare's plays deal bluntly with sexual issues, Measure for Measure does so in an unusually ugly and disgusting way for Shakespeare. This play is probably best suited for adults, as a result.
I see Measure for Measure as closest to The Merchant of Venice in its themes. Of the two plays, I prefer Measure for Measure for its unremitting look at the arbitrariness of laws, public hypocrisy and private venality, support for virtue, and encouragement of tempering public justice with common sense and mercy. The play opens with Duke Vincentio turning over his authority to his deputy, Angelo. But while the duke says he is leaving for Poland, he in fact remains in Vienna posing as a friar. Angelo begins meting out justice according to the letter of the law. His first act is to condemn Claudio to death for impregnating Juliet. The two are willing to marry, but Angelo is not interested in finding a solution. In despair, Claudio gets word to his sister, the beautiful Isabella, that he is to be executed and prays that she will beg for mercy. Despite knowing that Isabella is a virgin novice who is about to take her vows, Angelo cruelly offers to release Claudio of Isabella will make herself sexually available to Angelo. The Duke works his influence behind the scenes to help create justice. Although this play is a "comedy" in Shakespearean terms, the tension throughout is much more like a tragedy. In fact, there are powerful scenes where Shakespeare draws on foolish servants of the law to make his points clear. These serve a similar role of lessening the darkness to that of the gravediggers in Hamlet. One of the things I like best about Measure for Measure is that the resolution is kept hidden better than in most of the comedies. As a result, the heavy and rising tension is only relieved right at the end. The relief you will feel at the end of act five will be very great, if you are like me. After you read this play, I suggest that you compare Isabella and Portia. Why did Shakespeare choose two such strong women to be placed at the center of establishing justice? Could it have anything to do with wanting to establish the rightness of the heart? If you think so, reflect that both Isabella and Portia are tough in demanding that what is right be done. After you finish thinking about those two characters, you may also enjoy comparing King Lear and Claudio. What was their fault? What was their salvation? Why? What point is Shakespeare making? Finally, think about Angelo. Is he the norm or the exception in society? What makes someone act like Angelo does here? What is a person naturally going to do in his situation? Look for fairness in all that you say and do!
Rating:
Summary: A dark parable that teaches ethics in a disturbing way
Review: Shakespeare's way of handling all the relationships has always been his forte: King Lear is about a father and daughter, Hamlet is about father and son; Macbeth explores the husband wife relationship to the last intense snapping; and Othello comes at marriage from the other side of jealousy. Having said that, Measure for Measure is an exploration of that rarest of loves: between a brother and a sister. How deftly he shows the strains of a moral dilemma, without which the relationship couldnot have been examined--- makes it a modern marvel of dramaturgy and straight ethics
Rating:
Summary: Gielgud is great
Review: This audio cassette version of "Measure for Measure" is superb, especially the performance of Sir John Gielgud as Duke Vincentio. Although the original recording remastered here was made in 1961, the sound quality is excellent. A highly recommended version of this "dark comedy" by Shakespeare.
Rating:
Summary: wow.....
Review: this book was a little bit hard. i'm a sophomore, and read this for columbia summer program. characters, plot, issues of mercy, justice, morality....background... even biblical relationship... overall... i think it's worth reading ONLY when you fully understand the book.
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