Mildly entertaining

"1 Não julgueis, para que não sejais julgados.
2 Porque com o juízo com que julgais, sereis julgados; e com a medida com que medis vos medirão a vós."
Mateus 7: 1-2

Uma das três "peças problema" de Shakespeare que não se encaixam nem na comédia nem na tragédia.
Shakespeare era um visionário ou a humanidade não muda nem avança? Escrita nos idos de 1600 "gira em torno dos conceitos de justiça e corrupção, equidade e abuso de poder..."

Update: Goodness what a timely read this turned out to be. Six days after I read this, Indonesia legally banned premarital sex. https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/asia/i...

Original review: Doesn't this government have anything else to do other than execute its citizens for having sex? Collecting taxes, arresting real criminals, hell - filling out reams of pointless paperwork, anything??

Read Nov 30, 2022

“Il tiranno si nutre di ciò che biasima.” (IV. II.)

L'inflessibile severità di un vicario caduto ipocritamente nello stesso “crimine” che si propone di punire; la testa ormai in bilico di un giovane condannato a morte per amore libero testimoniato dal ventre gravido della fidanzata; una lotta senza quartiere contro ruffiane e frequentatori di bordelli; l'onore di una novizia a rischio al fine di salvare la testa del fratello dalla scure del boia; la lungimirante astuzia e il buon senso di un capo di stato travestito da frate...
Sono questi i principali ingredienti di “Misura per misura”, assai divertente opera dei primi del XVII secolo con risvolti squisitamente da commedia, sebbene essa venga annoverata fra i drammi della vasta produzione shakespeariana. Avrebbe potuto benissimo recare anche il titolo “Tutto è bene quel che finisce bene”, rubandolo a un altro bel lavoro del Bardo, tanto viene spontaneo così commentare al termine di questo “dramma” ricco di gustosi guizzi e colpi di scena che contribuiscono a tenere piacevolmente deste l'attenzione e la curiosità di chi legge.
Giustizia per tutti e magnanima remissione dei peccati, anche per chi avrebbe meritato di essere giudicato (e giustiziato) sulla base dello stesso metro che riservava agli altri, inducono a plaudere all'autentico genio di Shakespeare che, attraverso l'ingegno di un personaggio come quello del Duca di Vienna, ribalta una situazione paradossale in cui, alla fin fine, tutti salvano qualcosa (chi la testa, chi l'onore) senza restare nel contempo nemmeno a mani vuote; persino chi era destinata al convento finisce per non farvi più ritorno rimorchiando inaspettatamente un marito (e che marito!) e i galeotti impenitenti trovano perdono e possibilità di vita nuova.
Non avrà certo il tenebroso ed enigmatico fascino di “Amleto” né quello romantico di “Romeo e Giulietta”, ma “Misura per misura” resta un piccolo capolavoro – e forse neanche tanto piccolo – dove, finalmente, non si disperdono copiose lacrime e dal profondo il cuore ringrazia perché, in verità, abbiamo tutti un disperato desiderio di umanità e buoni sentimenti.

“Chi vuole impugnare la spada del cielo,
dovrebb'essere non meno santo che severo;
fare di se stesso un esempio,
avere grazia per resistere e virtù per agire;
punire gli altri nella stessa misura
con cui valuta le proprie colpe.
Guai a lui, se i suoi colpi spietati uccidono
per delitti che egli stesso vagheggia!
[…]
Uomo, cosa non puoi nascondere
in te sotto apparenze angeliche?
Una buona reputazione costruita sul delitto
prospera nella prassi dei nostri tempi,
e la legge, tenue ragnatela, cattura i moscerini,
Ma i colpevoli di maggior peso la spaccano.”

[“Misura per misura”, III. I.]

It is true the famous saying, that next to God, Shakespeare probably created the most. There are so many concerns and issues which 'Measure for Measure' explores, without being a chore to read (let alone watching). Being a tragi-comedy, I did find it a rather strange and confusing read at first, although this is not why it is called a problem play.

It is a problem play, a term coined by FS Boas, because of all the moral, social and political issues that lie at its core. Surprisingly, most of them, if not all, are still being discussed today. Like, for example, should the private morality of public figures (Angelo's and the Duke Vincentio's) be of any interest to us? In current international affairs, a lot was 'revealed' about Berlusconi's private affairs that, for many, is deplorable. Should they serve as an example? Or should they do whatever they like so long as they keep the country running (and more importantly the taxes low)? Shakespeare was more subtle, he left the verdict entirely to his audience.

I think that 'Measure for Measure' is an outstanding play though, not just because of the issues it explores, but as I found it to be really entertaining. Of course, the malapropisms and the dramatic irony contribute a lot to this factor. However, I did find the aspect of seeming and being, "cucullus non facit monachum", to be absolutely brilliant. Shakespeare does not hesitate to make a moral example of Angelo, a seemingly exceedingly virtuous deputy of Vienna who is proven as liable to temptation as any other human being.

In fact, I could not help but to make a parallel between Angelo and Harvey Sacks, from Batman. "You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain", "Even so may Angelo/ In all his dressing, caracts, titles, forms/ Be an arch-villain". For those who have not seen 'The Dark Knight' or who have no clue about Batman, Dent was a seemingly incorruptible public official, esteemed by the public as Gotham's 'The White Knight', who 'went over to the dark side'. There was even an episode of Blackadder which used the head-swapping concept from this play for comic effect. The list of influences is endless.

Shakespeare single-handedly proved that other theatre theorists and playwrights, with all of their emphasis on the unities and verisimilitude, and even with all the controversy whether transvestite cross-dressing was ever justified on stage, to miss the whole point of what theatre was all about. In 'Measure for Measure' he also achieves a true balance between the pathetic and the sublime, and has given his consent to a new genre that will be the source of many writers yet to come. He never fails to entertain his audience, he understands that is one of the expectations of his spectators. I can say that I did find many instances in this play to be hilarious, in a remarkable sort of way. But he also gives them much more than just a few cheap titillations and a couple of laughs. If he did, his plays would have been forgotten in a week. He invests in 'Measure for Measure' a really profound moral and social insight, which still remains a key issue today.

That is why I admire Shakespeare, he is for me undoubtedly one of the world's earliest and best playwrights. I did find the setting of 'Measure for Measure' less interesting, than say, that of 'A Midsummer's Night Dream'. As far as tragedies go, 'Measure for Measure' does not even compare with 'Othello'. But as a problem play, it is one of the most beloved

Just another piece of homework for Contemporary British Theatre class. I watched one of the productions and it was a drama about justice and virtue. Also had an issue regarding the purity of humanity. I do appreciate different forms of art. :)

Measure for Measure (Oxford School Shakespeare) Measure for Measure is about Angelo, who is put temporarily in charge by the Duke of Vienna, and Claudio who has gotten his "wife" pregnant. Because the church banns were not published, Angelo has Claudio arrested and sentenced to Death for fornication. Claudio requests that his sister, who is a novice, come and plead for him. She does so and we see how much Angelo has let power go to his head. He seems to think that he is above the law.The play reminded me, in many ways, of the parable of the unforgiving servant in the Bible. I really liked thinking of the comparisons and really enjoyed this play.

Another play with disguises and substitution of characters. Shakespeare makes a point of squeezing every last ounce of drama out of his themes. This is an odd play. Shakespeare provides Isabella with two nicely written encounters with Angelo, in which issues of justice and mercy; morality and the law, sin and grace are raised, but then the wheels fall off the wagon. The Duke's actions are considered an early use of the "deus ex machina" ("god out of the machine" aka "the magic wand") in English literature. In this play, Shakespeare also seems to be using marriage as a punishment, rather than a reward as usual. None the less, the play is interesting in terms of raising issues which are still relevant today. And it's always nice to see a hypocrite get called out.

I loved Isabella’s character and how she handled everything thrown her way. You could tell she desperately wanted to save her brother but didn’t want to stoop to the corrupt official’s agreement. The themes of law, justice, mercy, forgiveness, hypocrisy and corruption were very well handled here and are still so relevant in this day and age. I didn’t really care about the side characters and whatever they were wittering on about in their scenes, but it was tolerable. The duke did prattle on for quite a bit at the end, but it was such an intriguing problem presented and run through, that I had to keep reading! A very thought-provoking play.

This review and others can originally be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2020/0...

Measure for Measure was hysterical! This is perhaps my favorite Shakespeare comedy that I have read thus far! The way the characters responded to one another and their use of language was a riot!

I have never heard sex described in the way that Pompey described it when applying it to Claudio's impregnation of Juliet, when he called it "groping for trouts in a peculiar river."

Marianne Williamson, a Democratic Presidential candidate for 2020 and 2024 would be perfect in the role of Isabella, when in Act II, Scene II, she referred to bribery with gifts as:

"Not with fond shekels of the tested gold, or stones, whose rates are either rich or poor as fancy values them; but with true prayers that shall be up at Heaven and enter there ere sunrise- prayers from preserved souls, from fasting maids, whose minds are dedicate to nothing temporal."

Other characters in this play include Angelo, who plays on the corrupt, authoritarian stereotype that is power hungry when he benefits from being power hungry, but can be bought by sex.

There are so many aspects to this play that are relevant to today. I highly believe that we should be reading more of Measure for Measure when looking for a Shakespeare comedy. I still felt that Hamlet, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar were stronger plays, but this was a good comedy that was certainly entertaining!

4.5 stars

sometimes i remember that shakespeare is a man.