StageArchive

Measure for Measure

Full Length Play

Brief Description

The Duke of Vienna, Vincentio, temporarily steps away from his duties, leaving his strict and puritanical deputy, Angelo, in charge. Angelo immediately enforces draconian laws regarding sexual morality, sentencing Claudio to death for impregnating his fiancée, Juliet.Claudio’s sister, Isabella, a young novice nun, pleads with Angelo to spare her brother. Angelo propositions her: he will pardon Claudio if Isabella will sleep with him. Isabella refuses, but the Duke—who has disguised himself as a friar to secretly observe the city—intervenes. He orchestrates a "bed trick" (substituting Mariana, Angelo's jilted former fiancée, for Isabella) to satisfy Angelo's demand without compromising Isabella's virtue. Angelo breaks his promise anyway, prompting the Duke to reveal himself, expose Angelo’s hypocrisy, and deliver a dramatic conclusion that blends mercy, justice, and marriage.

Year Written1603

Original LanguageEnglish

Type of WorkFull Length Play

GenreComedy

Translations and Adaptations (0)

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Scene Breakdown (17)

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Act	Scene	Setting	Actions
I	I	An apartment in the Duke's Palace	Edit
I	II	A street in Vienna	Edit
I	III	A monastery	Edit
I	IV	The nunnery of St. Clare	Edit
II	I	A hall in Angel's house.	Edit
II	II	Another room in the same.	Edit
II	III	A room in a Prison.	Edit
II	IV	A room in Angel's house.	Edit
III	I	A room in the Prison.	Edit
III	II	The street before the Prison	Edit
IV	I	A room in Mariana's house.	Edit
IV	II	A room in the Prison.	Edit
IV	III	Another room in the same.	Edit
IV	IV	A room in Angelo's house.	Edit
IV	V	Fields without the town.	Edit
IV	VI	A street near the City Gate	Edit
V	I	A public place near the City Gate	Edit

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Characters (25)

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Character Name	Gender	Age	Lines	Scenes	Actions
Vincentio, the Duke	Male	—	189	Act I, Scene IAct I, Scene IIIAct II, Scene IIIAct III, Scene IAct III, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Vincentio, the Dukeout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Isabella	Female	—	129	Act I, Scene IVAct II, Scene IIAct II, Scene IVAct III, Scene IAct IV, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Isabellaout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Lucio	Male	—	108	Act I, Scene IIAct I, Scene IVAct II, Scene IIAct III, Scene IIAct IV, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Lucioout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Angelo	Male	—	83	Act I, Scene IAct II, Scene IAct II, Scene IIAct II, Scene IVAct IV, Scene IV	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Angeloout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Escalus	Male	—	79	Act I, Scene IAct II, Scene IAct III, Scene IIAct IV, Scene IVAct V, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Escalusout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Provost	Male	—	67	Act I, Scene IIAct II, Scene IAct II, Scene IIAct II, Scene IIIAct III, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Provostout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Pompey, the Clown	Male	—	61	Act I, Scene IIAct II, Scene IAct III, Scene IIAct IV, Scene IIAct IV, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Pompey, the Clownout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Claudio	Male	—	35	Act I, Scene IIAct III, Scene IAct IV, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Claudioout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Elbow	Male	—	27	Act II, Scene IAct III, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Elbowout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Mariana	Female	—	24	Act IV, Scene IAct IV, Scene VIAct V, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Marianaout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Mistress Overdone	Female	—	15	Act I, Scene IIAct III, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Mistress Overdoneout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
First Gentleman	Male	—	13	Act I, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write First Gentlemanout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Abhorson	Male	—	13	Act IV, Scene IIAct IV, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Abhorsonout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Froth	Male	—	8	Act II, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Frothout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Second Gentleman	Male	—	8	Act I, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Second Gentlemanout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Barnardine	Male	—	7	Act IV, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Barnardineout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Juliet	Female	—	7	Act I, Scene IIAct II, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Julietout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Friar Peter	Male	—	7	Act IV, Scene VAct IV, Scene VIAct V, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Friar Peterout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Friar Thomas	Male	—	3	Act I, Scene III	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Friar Thomasout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Servant to Angelo	Male	—	3	Act II, Scene IIAct II, Scene IV	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Servant to Angeloout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Justice	Male	—	3	Act II, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Justiceout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Francisca	Female	—	2	Act I, Scene IV	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Franciscaout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Messenger	Male	—	1	Act IV, Scene II	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Messengerout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
Varrius	Male	—	0	Act IV, Scene VAct V, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write Varriusout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!
A boy	Male	—	—	Act IV, Scene I	Edit 🎭 Nice try, director! You can't write A boyout of the script while they're still bound to an active show roster. Clear them from the productions first!

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Production List (2)

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Collection	Opening Night	🎭 Production Name	🏛️ Company	🏢 Stage
	14 Apr 1981	Measure for Measure	National Theatre	Lyttelton Theatre London, England, United Kingdom
	24 Mar 1981	Measure for Measure	National Theatre	Hull New Theatre Hull, England, United Kingdom

Measure for Measure

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Translations and Adaptations (0)

Scene Breakdown (17)

Characters (25)

Production List (2)