Measure for Measure - William Shakespeare

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21 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful

damob123

One of Shakespheres best 15/08/2007

User recommends the product

Advantages Great plot
Disadvantages None

Another A-Level English Book! Measure for Measure was written in 1603 or 1604. The play was first published in 1623 in the First Folio. The earliest recorded performance of Measure for Measure took place on "St. Steven's night", December 26, 1604. During the Restoration, Measure was one of many Shakespearean plays adapted to the tastes of a new audience. Sir William Davenant inserted Benedick and Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing into his adaptation, called The Law Against Lovers. Samuel Pepys saw the hybrid play on 18 February 1662; he describes it in his Diary as "a good play, and well ... more
28 of 28 Ciao users found the following review helpful

VerySpecialOne

Questions, questions, questions 14/03/2006

User recommends the product

Advantages Intriguing characters, underlying themes?
Disadvantages Difficult to read, can be confusing

PLOT SYNOPSIS This is a brief overview to a very complicated play. I have also purposely not given away the ending of the play. Set in Vienna (a change from the usual setting of Verona), we meet the Duke, who has failed to enforce the laws of the state, and as a result Vienna has become a sordid city with prostitution and loose morals being very prominent. One day for no apparent reason (the no apparent reason - happens quite a lot in this play! Some questions don't have answers! Thats why the play is so thought provoking.) the Duke decides to leave Vienna, and hand power over to Angelo, his ... more
21 of 21 Ciao users found the following review helpful

Discerna

My Measure on Measure for Measure 28/04/2003

User recommends the product

Advantages Thought-provoking with plenty of humour
Disadvantages I doesn't say what happens next at the end

In the 400 years since this play was written, many people more qualified than myself have ventured their opinions on it. In the new millennium, there are some who would argue it has lost its relevance, but I am not amongst that number. Besides, it’s a play that’s full of fun. See what you think …. PLOT SUMMARY (with some minor details deliberately withheld) In the opening scene of Act I we see the main character of the play, the Duke of Vienna, making arrangements for a period of absence. His deputy, Angelo, is to be fully empowered to act on his behalf. The Duke appears unsure of the decision ... more
10 of 10 Ciao users found the following review helpful

Amadahn

'Fie, these filthy vices' 06/03/2001

User recommends the product

Advantages Excellent characterisations, copious sex
Disadvantages Very odd final speech, flawed structure & plot

SEX! Disgusting, sordid sex! That’s what this play is about; the revolting and fetid gloopiness of the sexual act and all related activities. Well, to be honest, that’s not ALL that it’s about, but it is certainly one of the predominant themes. But before we delve deeper into this stinking morass of filth and depravity, a quick plot summary… Quick plot summary: The Duke of Vienna asks his deputy, Angelo, to take charge of the city while he goes on holiday. Angelo, who’s a bit of a prude, decides to dredge up an ancient law against immoral sexual behaviour that has ... more
7 of 7 Ciao users found the following review helpful

Rik12345

Measure for Measure 04/06/2007

User recommends the product

Advantages Plot really capture the complexity of humanity
Disadvantages Obscure language and text format doesn't show off the intricacies of the play

Measure for Measure could perhaps best be described as a problem play. Indeed, many critics have seen it as such, and for this reason, it remains one of Shakespeare's relatively obscure works to those outside of literary circles. Measure for Measure is a tale of contrasts, exploring the differences between disguise and reality, justice and mercy, morality and normality amongst other themes. The text, as is typical of the works of Shakespeare, is far from straightforward and it is useful to use some form of companion in order to comprehend the full meaning, particularly if one is not well ... more
3 of 4 Ciao users found the following review helpful

cheung

Shakespeare's Problem Play 12/12/2002

User recommends the product

Advantages Shakespeare's most interesting play
Disadvantages Left questioning character's motives

Critics has classed this as a "Problem Play", why? Well let me explain why. Here we have a Duke (Vincentio) of Vienna, who leaves and disguises himself as a Friar to spy on people. The Duke leaves Angelo (a stern man) in charge. Vienna is a beautiful place but hides a secret that is not attractive, this city practices prostitution. Claudio, a man who is married (which is not yet official because of the missing dowry), made his wife pregnant and so is sentenced to execution by Angelo. Isabella (Claudio's sister) goes to Angelo to plead for mercy, yet Angelo will not consider individual's ... more
5 of 7 Ciao users found the following review helpful

licon

Stunning 29/03/2001

User recommends the product

Advantages The plot is very interesting...
Disadvantages There are so many levels it would be easy to completely lose the plot

This play really astounded me. Even with a not-brilliant English teacher, when I studied this at A-level it blew me away. There are so many levels, and best of all - no character is completely good or completely bad. There are motivations for everything, strange reactions, and lots to discuss. We could have spent the entire 2 years on this book, and still not even agreed what happens at the end! Although it's one of Shakespeare's lesser-known plays, I would really recommend this to anyone wanting to get deeper into his writings. It's full of life, humour and reality. (As people don't seem to ... more
1 of 3 Ciao users found the following review helpful

Groovygal2_99

Boring 05/01/2001

User doesn't recommend the product

Advantages None
Disadvantages Everything

Measure for Measure by Shakespeare is the most disappointing play by Shakespeare I have read. I normally read Shakespeare a lot, but when I picked this one up I didn't like it. It's about a mayor who is about to kill another man because he got his fiancée pregnant. So, the man begs his sister to try to tell the mayor to set him free. So, the sister goes, and the mayor says that he will behead her brother unless she sleeps with him. (She about to become a nun by the way). I don't really recommend this play at all, because it's quite boring, and not at all like other plays Shakespeare has done. ... more