No Subject

[The wee man]

You know your stuff dude

[G]

"One might also ask if the level of learning and discourse manifested in Measure for Measure is consistent with anything that might emerge from a rural village where there were no books or lights to read by."<br><br>What does this mean?

[David]

Measure for measure is one of the greatest plays ever written. Its depth and power of action and character always test the reader's acumen, and no critical appreciation has yet fathomed the text. Along with The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure presents Shakespeare's philosophy of law, but not as a conventional philosopher would produce an argument to defend a proposition. Shakespeare's treatment of ideas is always concrete rather than abstract, which causes misunderstanding for those who would discern the thesis behind the dramatic action. Thus, the issue of whether law transcends human agency or is an expression of mortal purposes and ulterior motives is illuminated by Shakespeare not as a professor would propound a univocal theory, but rather as an artist might illustrate the complexity and tensions that afflict law in practice. A philosopher like Marx or Hegel might contend that law is contradictory, but Shakespeare's interest lies not so much in demonstrating the truth of such an abstraction, but in searching into the secret intersection of law and the human spirit, shedding light at once on law, government and on ourselves. At every point, Shakespeare probes beneath the surface to expose the duplicities of his characters, their self-deceptions and the blindness that characterizes even the best. For example, Duke Vincentio, well acquainted with the faults of Angelo, appoints him to administer Vienna in his absence. Although he remains behind the scenes to rescue his subjects from their follies, Lucio's suggestion that the Duke is not a saint would seem to contain a large grain of truth. And it is hard to ignore the theological problematic symbolized here. Irony after irony pass before the audience with such rapidity that many viewings or readings are necessary to catch all the subtleties. For example, Isabella's shift from champion of chastity to pleader for license and back again deserves close scrutiny, not only for what it tells us about her, but for the insight it affords into human character in general and our relation to virtue.<br><br>The play summons us to consider the significance of language, and the uses of language in promoting love, lust and the rule of law. Does Angelo fall in love with Isabella? If so, on what basis? How do her words affect him and why? <br><br>On the deepest level, the play searches into the very meaning of love and touches upon the forbidden theme of incest. Students wishing to gain a greater understanding might want to read Otto Rank's masterpiece, The Incest Theme in Literature and Legend, recently translated in 1992.<br><br>One might also ask if the level of learning and discourse manifested in Measure for Measure is consistent with anything that might emerge from a rural village where there were no books or lights to read by.