appetite vs. morality

[Laura Smith]

I think that in one line you have captured the essence of most of what this play is about for me. However I do not think that all the women are as moral as they appear. I am currently trying to choose who to play - Isabella or Marianna in a short acting piece for an exam, so I would appreciate your comments on either or both. I do not believe that Marianna shows high morality (tricking her 'husband' Angelo into bed), but then how moral is Isabella for agreeing to the trickery? Angello obviously deserved everything he got, but can anyone say the women were acting morally? <br><br>I would really appreciate any comments <br><br>Best wishes

[Unregistered]

that's exactly the problem with this play. did isabella go along with the trickery just because she thought that the duke was the friar? could she really not see the immorality of it? why is it okay for mariana to sleep with angelo? (can anyone better explain the difference between a true contract (what julieta and claudio had) and a precontract (what angelo and mariana had)?)<br> in regards to isabella or mariana, here's my take: isabella is a virtuous, idealistic young lady who sticks to her passionate beliefs and listens to who she thinks is her authority. mariana has been shamed by angelo, and when the "friar" tells her that she can sleep with angelo to rectify the situation, of course she is going to. she pines for him! in some ways, she really has done nothing wrong. the "friar" told her it was okay, so she figured it was okay. so, personally, i think that mariana would be a more interesting character to play.

[Unregistered]

I feel that you have highlighted the essence of the characters in Measure For Measure. None of the people are all moral, they have flaws as people in real life. Everyone has to sin, but to what exent is determined by the person. It aslo raises questions about our own and societies morality, what we accept and what we frown upon.

[Jo]

I believe that the play was about appetie vs. morality. the men's appetite vs. the women's morality. <br><br>Comments would be appreciated. Also help proving this for an essay would help.<br><br>Thanks

[Pushkin]

It would appear, Jo, that in your reading of 'Measure for Measure' you have overlooked female characters of appetite, such as Mistress Overdone, who has 'nine husbands, overdone by the last', and male characters of morality such as Escalus.
'Measure for Measure' is of course a play about appetite versus morality, but it is niave to think that the bard would be so cliched or, indeed, sexist as to go for such obvious sexual stereotypes, especially in his finest 'problem play'...

[amy12]

^^ makes a good point =)
and with the first query i think that isabella may be a better person because she has longer in the play and she has a more interesting storyline because you arent sure what her real character is because you would think that she would do anything to save her brother :S
and the contract difference is mainly that juliet was impregnated before the proper ceremony (ie the marriage so in our days they are like engaged) whereas the other couple were actually married
hope that made sense =)

[kelby_lake]

'Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall'

Isabella is a bit of a masochist- in that respect, she's like Angelo in that she prides herself on being pure and virtuous. However she prizes it above her brother's life. Isabella isn't even a fully ordained nun yet.