Part One: Shape
1. What Happens That Makes Something Else Happen?
2. And What Happens Next?
3. But Do It Backwards
4. Stasis and Intrusion
In the original stasis of the play, the Duke is the leader of Vienna. Vienna is at war with Hungary. Vienna is a hedonistic city which is full of brothels, unlawful sexual activity, and the pestering venereal diseases that accompany such behavior. Citizens frivolously engage in various debaucheries and have a disregard for the law which is rarely enforced. Claudio's sister, Isabella, is in the process of joining a nunnery in order to separate herself from the sinfully saturated city. Claudio has been having premarital, consensual sex with Juliet. He intends to marry her but he is awaiting her parents' approval. Juliet is pregnant with Claudio's child.
The first major action which sets the plot of the story in motion is when the Duke leaves Lord Angelo in charge of ruling Vienna while he attempts to negotiate with the King of Hungary (although he actually remains in Vienna, disguised as a friar, in order to observe the city). This intrusion alters the stasis of the play because Lord Angelo seeks to define his rule by strictly enforcing the laws that punish unlawful sexual activities. When authorities notice Juliet's pregnancy, they arrest Claudio and take him to prison. The intrusion which leaves Lord Angelo on the throne also sets up a major conflict in the play between the sinful pleasure-seekers and the virtuous saints of Vienna.
After the action of the play, as in comedies, we return to a similar stasis as where we began. The Duke returns from his escapades as a friar, pardons Claudio, and proposes marriage to Isabella. His reestablishment as the ruler of Vienna is what brings the play back into the stasis of a functional society.
Although Vienna in the play will continue to exist with a morally-poor society, this is the stasis with which it can continue to exist. The establishment of Lord Angelo as the temporary ruler throws out of balance the delicate nature between the desperate pleasure seekers and the saint-like religious folk, leading to the action of the play. His removal from power brings back the delicate balance between the two morals and groups.
5. Obstacle, Conflict
Act I:
At the opening of the play, after Lord Angelo's establishment as temporary ruler, we find Claudio wants to marry Juliet but due to the new laws enacted by Lord Angelo, his impregnation of her is punished by death, and he is thrown in jail. The obstacle here for Claudio is the new law which revokes the previously lenient moral standards imposed by the Duke.
We learn more about the happenings from Mistress Overdone, a prostitute who runs a brothel in Vienna who intends to have a successful business but is also in conflict with the laws forbidding sex in Vienna City. The effect of Lord Angelo's moral code is far reaching in this society, affecting the Mistress' business operations, given the business is sex.
While being taken to jail, Claudio reveals that he and Juliet had intended to be engaged to be marries but were opposed by Juliet's family, a very conservative family who, like Angelo, do not support the morally lesser pursuits of pleasure. He, under the enouragement of Lucio, hopes to appeal Angelo's warrant for his death, but cannot because the Duke is nowhere to be found.
At the monestary, the Duke explains that he wants to create a more perfect society free of corruption and low moral standards, but is personally in conflict with himself out of fear that be resinding his legislation, he will be frowned upon. Here, Isabella is shown with her commitment to becoming a good nun, but is stopped by her desire to protect her brother Claudio by using her feminine charm on Lord Angelo
Act II:
Characters such as Escalus and the provost believe that Angelo is narrow minded and that Claudius' punishment is too harsh. However, they seem to fear Angelo and it takes the Duke's intervention in order to motivate them to act.
During their meeting, Angelo begins to have lustful thoughts for Isabelle, and he has an inner conflict in maintaining control over the sexual impulses that he has outlawed.
Isabelle is furious at the idea of having sex with Angelo, yet his attraction to her does give her some power in saving her brother's life. Oddly enough, Angelo does not want to have sex with any other woman in Vienna.
Angelo says that he loves Isabelle, but would not marry her. This lust turns Angelo into a hypocrite for enforcing the law that he would so easily break with Isabelle. Yet, Isabelle decides that death is better than shame, and refuses to have sex with Angelo to save her brother's life.
Act III:
We find Isabella with Claudio at the open of Act 3, where she has returned from appealing to Lord Angelo. She desperately wants to help her brother, but cannot break her own moral code as a nun-in-traning (N-I-T), Claudio, likewise wants to save his life, but is not willing to pay the price of shaming his sister. Both Claudio and Isabella are facing largely internal conflicts with regards to saving Claudio.
Outside of the prison, the Duke encounters Lucio who slanders and insults the Duke and Lord Angelo, the Duke struggles to remain in disguise while sticking to his own beliefs that Lechery should be banned.
Act IV:
In one of the Duke's schemes, he proposes that Mariana sacrifice her sexuality with Angelo in order to gain some sort of redemption as a woman. Yet this is deceptive as Mariana believes that she is partaking in the scheme with the friar's blessings.
We see the meaning of the play's title expand as the Duke reveals the nature of his schemes. Many of the conflicts that occur during the play involve measuring the relevant value of two things (such as Isabelle's virtue verses Claudius' life or the Duke's wanting to know how good of a leader he is verses Angelo having free reign in Vienna). In this scene, the Duke judges the value of Claudius' life to be greater than that of Barnadine as he is willing to sacrifice her life for his in one of his schemes.
Barnadine refuses to be executed which shows that he recognizes the value of life where the Duke might not. This shows that perhaps the Duke is too far separated and not connected enough with the lives of his citizens. The duke begins to appear manipulative and deceptive as he uses both of his identities to make Isabella go along with his plans as she refuses Angelo's proposal. Although his scheme with Mariana does work and the ability to put plans into action successfully is a quality of a good leader.
Act V:
Isabelle's marriage to the Duke does conflict with her previous beliefs in chastity so in a way she is surrendering her sexuality to the will of a man. However, she does not partake in premarital sex, which is her main objection in the play.
In the end, the Duke uses marriage as a punishment for Lucio and Angelo, and a reward for Claudio and Mariana (and himself). It is ironic how the institution of marriage is used in this absurd sense at the end of the play after it was built up as the main staple of Angelo's laws in the previous acts.
6. Things Theatrical
Following that definition Angelo's desire of Isabella is certainly theatrical, because this behavior is so unexpected, coming from such a straight-laced deputy. Not only that, but the simple juxtaposition of the nobleman lusting after the soon-to-be nun is in and of itself, unusual, creating once again a strong response. A very strong "thing theatrical" occurs when Angelo demands Claudio be killed even after he thinks he's slept with Isabella. I myself as a reader was not expecting that level of treachery from Angelo, making the surprise element of this action supremely theatrical. But perhaps one of the most theatrical moments occurs when the Provost enters with Ragozine's chopped-off head to give Angelo in place of Claudio's head. Freshly cut heads on stage seems pretty theatrical to me. However, one of the interesting variances in this scene is the almost lightheartedness that goes along with the dismembered head. Instead of it seeming gross or horrifying, the head is looked upon as God's saving grace. This subtle inequity between what we expect the character's reaction to be, and what it really is, is in and of itself, theatical.Finally the end scene is chockablock full of €˜things theatrical'. The Duke's entrance, the Duke's reveal, Angelo's marriage and saved life, Claudio's appearance, Lucio's end, and the Duke's proposal to Isabella are all exciting and surprising. Because of this, the audience responds very strongly to what can be considered the finale of "Measure for Measure".
Part Two: Methods
7. Exposition
8. Forwards: Hungry for Next
9. Missing Person (Character)
10. Image
11. Theme
Group 1: (What happens that makes something else happen?, And What Happens Next?, But do it backwards)
End of Play.
Act V
-The Duke sentences Lucio to marry a prostitute he had a child by
-The Duke accuses Lucio of slandering him, and does not pardon him
-The Duke reveals that Claudio is still alive, and pardons Angelo
-Mariana and Isabella plead for Angelo's life
-The Duke decrees that Angelo is to be executed because he executed Claudio, and all his property will go to Mariana
-The Duke forces Angelo to marry Mariana because he was once contracted to marry her and he slept with her
-The Duke reveals himself, and Angelo confesses to his wrongdoings
-Escalus, Angelo, and Lucio all accuse the duke/friar of lying and inciting Isabella and Mariana to slander Angelo, and the duke/friar defends himself
-The duke sends for Friar Ludowick and leaves, and then returns as Friar Ludowick
-Mariana speaks out against Angelo, but is not believed, and then unveils herself
-Isabella accuses Angelo, but is not believed, and calls on Mariana (veiled) as a witness and mentions Friar Ludowick/the Duke
-The Duke makes his return to Vienna, and Friar Peter encourages Isabella to speak out against Angelo
Act IV
Scene Six
-Mariana and Isabella worry about speaking out against Angelo, and Friar Peter comes and tells them he has a place for them to stand near the duke
Scene Five
-Varrius meets the Duke and they go to meet their friends and make their entrance back into Vienna
-The Duke sends Friar Peter to round up his friends and Friar Peter leaves to do so
Scene Four
-Escalus leaves to alert people who want to make grievances, and Angelo worries about what will happen when the Duke returns, and regrets killing Claudio
-Escalus and Angelo are confused by the Duke's orders, and wonder why he has set up for people to bring forward grievances and injustices against them
Scene Three
-Lucio explains that he once got away with getting a woman pregnant when the Duke was in power.
-Lucio says that if the Duke were in power, then Claudio would not have been executed.
-The Duke tries to cheer up Isabella and tells her that he is returning to take power back from Angelo.
-Isabella comes to the jail and the Duke tells her that her brother was executed, hoping that this will make her happier when she finds out the truth.
-They send a dead man's head to Angelo in place of Barnardine's (in place of Claudio's.)
-Barnardine is avoids his executions by saying that he is tired and drunk.
Scene Two
-Vincentio asks the provost to send Barnardine in place of Claudio in order to buy four more days for Claudio.
-Pompey agrees.
-The Provost asks Pompey to help execute Claudio and Barnardine in exchange for pardon.
Scene One
-The Duke reassures her that her actions are virtuous.
-Mariana agrees to go with Isabella's plan.
-Isabella tells the Duke that she has agreed to Angelo's plan, sharing that she told Angelo that she would be bringing a servant with her.
-Vincentio visits Mariana just as Isabella enters.
Act III
Scene Two
The Duke laments that Angelo "kills for faults of his own liking." He remarks that Angelo will be revealed as a hypocrite and suffer the consequences of his actions.
-Escalus leaves to visit Claudio.
-The Duke tells Escalus that he has been counseling Claudio, and Claudio is prepared for death.
-Escalus tells the Duke that he has been pleading with Angelo for Claudio's release, but if it is not granted, Claudio must be prepared for death.
-Escalus says that Lucio will have to answer to Mistress Overdone's claims.
-Mistress Overdone accuses Lucio of getting Kate Keepdown pregnant.
-Escalus, Provost, and Officers with Mistress Overdone enter.
-Lucio leaves.
-Lucio responds that he would have no fear of doing so.
-The Duke defends "The Duke." He asks Lucio if he would say these things to the Duke's face.
-Lucio remarks about Angelo's poor leadership and overuse of punishment. He says that punishment will not deter sin, for it is in human nature. Lucio makes remarks about the Duke.
-The Duke responds he has no idea.
-Lucio asks the disguised Duke if he knows where the Duke is.
-Lucio enters.
Scene 1
-The Duke plans for Isabella to tell Angelo she will agree to his request, but send Mariana instead of Isabella.
-Isabella calls him a coward.
-Claudio changes his mind and tells his sister to give up her virginity for him.
-Isabella tells him that he will die, as she is willing to give up her life, but not her virginity.
-Isabella requests to speak to her brother.
-Claudio and the Duke discuss Claudio's likely upcoming death. Claudio thanks the Duke and says that he is ready to face death.
Act II
-Isabella decides to go visit Claudio in prison and tell him of Angelo's request.
-Angelo tells Isabella that nobody will believe her. He also adds that if she does not accept his proposition, her brother will suffer a long and painful death. Angelo tells Isabella that she has one day to decide whether she will accept his proposition and exits.
-Isabella threatens to tell everyone about Angelo's request.
-Angelo reasserts that Claudio will not die if Isabella does accepts his request for sexual relations. The seriousness of his request is established.
-Isabella tells Angelo that he is a hypocrite for putting Claudio death for loving Juliet, while he is in the act of stating his love for her.
-Angelo tells Isabella that she is being just as much as a tyrant as she is accusing him of being. He adds that he truly loves her.
-Isabella claims that she cannot redeem her brother through sin.
-Angelo asks Isabella if she would have sexual relations with him in order to save her brother. ("treasures of your body")
-Isabella responds that it would be worth a sin to save her brother life.
-Angelo asks Isabella if it would be worth sin to save her brother's life.
-The Duke tells Juliet that he will leave to see her lover, who will die the next day.
-Juliet repents her sin.
-The Duke realizes that the sexual encounter between Claudio and Juliet was consentual.("mutually committed")
-The Duke initiates conversation with Juliet, asking her if she repents of her sin.
-Juliet enters the prison.
-The Duke enters the prison disguised as a Friar.
-Angelo realizes that he sexually desires Juliet.
-As she leaves, Isabella tells Angelo that she would bribe him.
-Angelo tells Isabella to return the next day.
-Isabella continues to plead with Angelo.
-Lucio tells Isabella to touch Angelo.
– Isabella continues to plead with Angelo.
-Lucio tells Isabella to continue pleading with Angelo.
-Angelo tells Isabella that those who break the law must be punished.
-Isabella says she abhors Claudio's vice, but begs for his pardon.
-Isabella enters.
-Escalus decides to appoint a new constable.
-Escalus gives Pompey and Froth a warning, and learns that Elbow has served seven and a half years.
-Disgusted and frustrated, Angelo leaves Escalus to settle the matter.
-Elbow, Pompey, and Froth convey the events that had occured in a nonsensical manner.
-Elbow enters, with Pompey and Froth.
-Angelo calls for for the Provost, and orders him to see to Claudio's execution the next morning.
-Angelo refuses to give in.
– Escalus tries to convice Angelo to treat Claudio mercifully.
Act I
Scene Four
-Isabella says she will leave to try to influence Angelo.
-Lucio continues to argue with Isabella, telling her that women have a degree of power over men.
-Isabella tells Lucio that she has little power to do anything.
-Lucio tells Isabella that Claudio has gotten Juliet pregnant, and has been sentenced to death.
-Lucio calls out to Isabella at the nunnery.
Scene Three
-The Duke says that crime has gotten out of control. Additionally, the Duke establishes that he intends to see whether or not Angelo's resolute appearance is false.
-Friar Thomas inquires as to why the Duke wishes to be hidden.
-The Duke asks Friar Thomas to hide him.
-The Duke enters a monastary.
Scene Two
-Claudio asks Lucio to find his sister so she can appeal on his behalf to Angelo.
-Lucio visits Claudio in prison.
-Claudio is imprisoned for lechery.
Scene One
-The Duke tells Angelo that he must leave right away, and he is given control of the city of Vienna.
-Angelo enters.
-Escalus approves of Angelo.
-The Duke tells Escalus that he must leave the city, and asks if Angelo would be the right person to choose to leave in control of the city.
-The Duke sends an attendant for Angelo.
Play Begins
The backwards analysis of action presents a way to better understand the cause and effect relationships between the actions of the play. For example when doing this analysis straight from the beginning to the end, as we learned in class, one action can lead to many sub-actions, therefore creating a potentially monsterously confusing tree of actions. When working from the back to the front however, when you pick an action, there is ONLY ONE other action that could have caused this to occur and therefore it is much easier to find the single cause than it is to find multiple effects.
Without doing the analysis backwards, some actions could be missed entirely if one action has four or more sub-actions branching from it, so it is also more thourough to do the analysis from back to front.