Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Needless to say, Shakespeare is incredible. This is a play I find very distressing, I didn't even remember this barnstormer of a monologue

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guidosophia

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pan

I don‘t get it

LitStephanie

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

Although the stakes are high, with Claudio facing death for the crime of fornication and a corrupt magistrate demanding sex from Claudio's sister in exchange for sparing him, there is a lot of funny in this play. Pompey is one of my favorite clowns (goes from pimp to executioner's assistant smoothly and with no complaints), and Lucio's hilarious two-faced slandering leads to a wonderful spectacle of come-uppance. 👇

LitStephanie The themes around people trying to find the balance between oppressed, judgmental prudery and all-out libertine are thought provoking and relevant right now. 3y

LitStephanie #shakespearereadalong 3y

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erzascarletbookgasm

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

A play with dark undertones that raises important questions about judgement and punishment, sexual exploitation, and human rights. The play and ambiguous ending leave many unsatisfied but memorable and powerful.
Some good, worth remembering quotes :

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

and

“What‘s mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.”

#shakespearereadalong

Graywacke

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Malthe

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

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batsy

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

so-so

There are caveats reading Shakespeare, or any piece of literature from another historical epoch: the values & worldview are obviously going to be removed from those of the present. That said, despite this being a play constructed from the ethics of the Gospels or medieval mores or a combination of both, something that hinges upon the sexual humiliation of women that culminates in a "happy ending" is always already a problem & a tragedy in my eyes.

batsy A shoutout, as always, to @Graywacke and the #ShakespeareReadAlong crew for fascinating discussions. 3y

Graywacke Well put and quotable. If I could memorize your review… 3y

GingerAntics Very well said. I hadn‘t thought of the hinge being sexual humiliation of women, but that is absolutely accurate. In some senses, this play feels absolutely current. 3y

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TheBookHippie Fantastic summary. I agree with @GingerAntics that the humiliation part is what it was. So current to today, awful. 3y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it‘s so sad that sexuality for men has always been power, and sexuality for women has always been humiliation and submission, at least in Western society. Clearly Rome brought us all “civilisation.” 🙄 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics gah Rome 😫 3y

batsy @Graywacke Thank you 🙂 3y

batsy @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie Thanks, guys! The "problem" of Isabella is hard to get over (what she experienced, then being effectively silenced in the end) and the general worldview of sexuality in this one is so bleak. It doesn't seem like the men are enjoying themselves much, either, but they do get to use sex as a means of power, coercion, etc. ? 3y

GingerAntics @batsy I get that impression, too. Sex the “wrong” way is really no fun for anyone. It‘s interesting the men I‘ve heard talking about sex where everyone enjoys themselves talk about how sure it could be used for power, but what fun would that be? Apparently enjoying it is better than the power trip, but so many men, and even some women, just can‘t give up the death grip on the power trip. It‘s sad, really. 3y

batsy @GingerAntics It is sad and quite grim; seems to be the logic of how the world operates. Power over everything. 3y

GingerAntics @batsy totally agree 3y

GatheringBooks Sex and shakespeare! 💕 3y

LitStephanie I was bothered by Angelo presumably getting to keep his post at the end. I get that the Duke thinks really highly of him and was testing him and now hopes his character will improve, but really, not even a demotion? His "punishment" was having to be in Claudio's shoes and fear for his life for a whole ten minutes and marry a woman who against all reason dotes on him and has eyes for no one else. 3y

batsy @LitStephanie That's true, I was unhappy about that as well. I do wonder if the deeper meaning is that Angelo has to live with the knowledge that his reputation has taken a hit, because his idea of morality is tied to his self-regard. Now he knows he can succumb to temptation just like anyone else. What kind of a husband does this make him? I dread to find out! 3y

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Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

Whoa, was Shakespeare just trying to provoke? His look at variations of self righteousness within variations of power and control makes an odd play in that it really leaves most of the audience unsatisfied. The bad guys aren‘t punished and the good one is strained by dilemma, and then mid-play she becomes a humble role player. It leaves a lot to talk about and led to some great discussions in #shakespearereadalong

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Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Isabella, what just happened?

Measure for Measure Act 5 - #shakespearereadalong
The Duke directs a show, performing his version of justice on everyone, and then… just kind of sneaks a marriage proposal to a nun.

Well then. Was justice served? On Angelo? Lucio? Claudio? Barnardine? What just all happened to Isabella? Thoughts?

(I have so much on my mind that I‘m posting ~7 discussion questions in the comments. Feel free to respond or ignore.)

Graywacke Q 1: G. Wilson Knight cited all the biblical references and wrote (1949) that the Duke was a paternal Jesus figure. This influenced productions whose tried to emphasize this aspect. 👇👇 (edited) 3y

Graywacke 👆👆 Mary Lascelles wrote a harsh critical response in 1954, arguing it‘s a conclusion “without considering the ugly reason of the total design.” For example, the Duke caused all these problems to begin with. How do you judge the Duke? Divine? Good? Mixed? Bad? Sick? Satanic? 3y

Graywacke Q 2: Isabella is viewed from an idealized perfect heroine and a fraud on par with Angelo (self righteous, but not willing to walk the extreme preached). And most critics note she‘s a strong character early and just a role player after 3.1. What do you make of her? What‘s the paternalistic world missing here regarding her? 3y

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Graywacke Q 3: The Berliner Ensemble of Brecht performed a version that emphasizes power and exploitation (“Beneath the surface of Shakespeare‘s reassuring happy ending lurks a very nasty underworld of sexual and commercial exploitation of inferiors which is never cleaned up, only played down and obscured.” Is this perspective enlightening to anyone (else besides me 🙂)? 3y

Graywacke Q 4: The play requires a lot of nuance to perform. How to humanize Angelo, or avoid a character contradiction in Isabella? How should she handle the Duke‘s weird marriage proposal? And how to set that up earlier? So, is all just incidental stuff, or does it reflect on the success of the play? And, if so, how? 3y

Graywacke Q 5: (3 posts) My prep post before we started quoted the intro: “Other critics felt that the play, though it had some superb moments, changed course halfway through and that its form could not accommodate the questions that it raised so compellingly.” 👇👇 3y

Graywacke 👆👆… “There is a third, more recent, interpretation of the play, especially popular on the modern stage. It prefers to see the play as a moden representation of the hidden, explosive sources of desire in men and women, of different, incompatible, and mutually incomprehensible levels of social reality, the touch-and-go, hit-or-miss nature of establishment justice, 👇👇 3y

Graywacke 👆👆 the abundance of social energy at the lower strata of society, and of the way money can interfere with sex and marriage. The play is seen as an open-ended problem play that raises more questions than it answers and permits divergent interpretations of more or less equal validity. Ambiguity is the very essence of the play's meaning.” Now that we have read it, thoughts on all this? 3y

Graywacke Q 6: and i quoted: “It is indeed one of Shakespeare‘s most impressive achievements whether we consider the seriousness of the issues it deals with, its characterization, or its construction.” You agree? 3y

Graywacke Ok, stopping there. Six long, in theory, discussion-provoking questions (they‘re also potentially discussion-strangling. But hope that‘s not the case.) Feel free to add yours. (edited) 3y

Graywacke @merelybookish @GingerAntics @readinginthedark @Jess_Read_This @Lcsmcat @batsy @TheBookHippie @Melismatic @mollyrotondo @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @erzascarletbookgasm @MoonWitch94 @LitStephanie @SamAnne @jewright @CoffeeNBooks @Daisey @saresmoore @Liz_M @Gezemice 3y

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I hated the ending! So Angelo propositioned her, sexual assault. The Duke pushing her to marry him, a-ok. She should run off back to the nunnery and never talk to any of these crazy men again. And Angelo who treated everyone badly, and duplicitously, not even honoring his agreement with Isabel and trying to kill off her brother anyway…finds redemption,but Lucio goes to execution! Why not just make him marry his “lady” too? I just thought⤵️ (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ the ending was hypocrisy after hypocrisy.🤷‍♀️ 3y

MoonWitch94 1️⃣ I view the Duke as misguided, flawed, character with a grandiose sense of self! Definitely a mixed bag of a character. 3y

Lcsmcat Q1: I judge the Duke more harshly than I judge Angelo, and that‘s saying something. He‘s supposed to be the good guy? Christ like? No way!!! And that “proposal?” That implies a question that can be answered. Isabella wasn‘t given a chance to answer. She was just told. 3y

Lcsmcat Q2: I had similar issues with the change in her I‘s character. Where was all her strength and conviction? 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Q3: Lots of exploitation here! And echoing @Riveted_Reader_Melissa , the wealthy & connected Angelo gets embarrassed and then forgiven for a much more serious set of crimes than Lucio, who gets executed. Definitely raises issues of the problem with power. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Q5: It‘s a “problem play” alright! And I‘m not sure how the problems raised could have been resolved in Shakespeare‘s day without insulting the people in power over him and thus risking HIS life. So maybe this is ripe for a modern retelling in the “me too” era, with a better ending. 3y

Lcsmcat @MoonWitch94 Agreed! 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Still pondering Q4 and Q 6. 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke Q1 It reminded me of parochial school to the point of feelings I‘ve not felt in some 45 YEARS 😳 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 😫agree it was such hypocrisy!!! 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke Q2 Reminded me of people and or volunteers who THINK they KNOW ALL to do good -will be the white savior then learn truth and just disappear … since it was about them and or they can‘t fix it. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie Right #Metoo all over the place. Angelo propositions her, her brother says why not, then the Duke decides to marry her….does anybody ask what or care what she wants. She wants to be a nun, back off creeps 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️and everyone at every level of power tries to say what she should do and what‘s right for her (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke This is Texas. This is people who pay for their mistress abortion but vote to outlaw abortion. This is people who want to control women because they‘re intimidated by the perceived sexual hold women have over men 🤦🏻‍♀️ it is all 😡 Q3 (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa EXACTLY!!!!! Ugh 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie Yes! 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa and no one asked her. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie Yep, I hated the ending, but I liked how he highlighted the hypocrisy in this play. But I was annoyed that the only one really punished was Lucio and really Isabella 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie She was very clear that she wanted be a nun, but nobody cared or listened. 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke It reminded me of do we ever know anyone‘s heart, intent or involvement. Were these people recognizable to themselves upon seeing the play. Are these folks reflected of people in the inner circle or society or Shakespeare‘s world and no one would know? Are they Easter eggs? Would love to ask him! Q4 (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa should have phrased it listen truly to her ask to hear her! Which even today rare! 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie …and all of them basically told her to put that aside and do what they wanted. Lucio, save your brother. Angelo, sleep with me to save your brother (but I‘m going to kill him anyway), Claudio, yea sleep with him and save me, Friar/Duke, say yes, but trick him, Duke, marry me instead. What kind of pawn/shell game is this with her life? The more she tries to help, the more they ignore her wishes. (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Do you think anyone listened to women as people at this time? Or was this the point? Why are younger women thinking this is a feminist play?! 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie Agree, she was silenced. No question. Her last independent thought is maybe with Claudio in Act 3 (but i still thought her pleading in public was at least a little fearless, surrounded by all those powerful men and calling Angelo what he was, no sympathy in sight.) 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I often wonder was the point, this play just in itself or the discussion of it OR was it all sarcasm?! This one made me feel so angry and remember religious school so much 😂 I lost sight a few times! 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie 🙂 (re: “It reminded me of…”) interesting questions. 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa all the sex as power or weapon -nothing has literally changed at all. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie do they now…really? I‘m thinking it‘s a feminist play because it highlights, again like MeToo, that this stuff and not listening has been going on forever, and in hundreds of years still hadn‘t changed enough. 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke I swear this play had me yelling at my book 😂 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie See, and I‘m angry and revved up just talking about this ending again. 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa apparently https://www.bl.uk/shakespeare/articles/gender-in-measure-for-measure & https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/15/16644938/shakespeare-measure-for-measure-... plus girls at school have been saying this an English teacher told me! 😳 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Ha. It‘s just so aggravating my brain tries all circling ways to figure it out from multiple views. Never ending in a good space!!! 😡🤪😅 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat As I understand, Lucio was sentenced to marriage, whipping and execution and then released from the last two, sentenced only to marriage. (Mom obviously was no consulted). Anyway, his body won‘t be physically reprimanded. (My commentary on this: More Duke games. threaten, but don‘t follow through the worst parts…and seem merciful.) 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I agree it‘s just never ending!! 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke Q5 I think it can be used until the end if time even though it‘s a problem play. I can‘t imagine a day where sex power women‘s rights and aren‘t all hot button topics and means to control and contrive 😫 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke This one has me had more emotions than any other if that counts. 😂🤪Q6 (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie The Vox article is very good. 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I thought so too!! 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie enjoyed the linked articles. 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke I have treated this play like a research project 😂 it got under my skin! 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie i think what strikes me, personally, most is the meaning of silence highlighted at the end of the first article, the missing commentary by the the relevant women. (I‘m just thinking. Angelo gets soliloquies (two!), but Isabella does not.) 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie Noting your powerful response. This play certainly had me thinking. And I want to apply it to my Q4. Is that great composition or bitterness against “wrong” composition? The play strikes me as upsetting, but I can‘t decide if I should blame Shakespeare or humanity ( or specifics therein - sexist paternity, self-righteousness, political manipulation…) (edited) 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke Shakespeare making us look at humanity in 1604. 2021 not much has changed it‘s just mind boggling. It‘s probably both. Since it‘s something I constantly advocate, protest and try to create change in law to know in 1604 Shakespeare was saying look at yourselves is both fascinating and frustrating and a bit hopeless I think. 3y

GingerAntics The ending of this play is truly bizarre. I agree that this could pretty much happen today, if conservative, right-wing, Christians got their way. 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa i should have also tagged you for the question in my last post above. 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics bizarre captures aspects of my reactions too. 3y

Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie Thanks for sharing those articles. They make some good points. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @TheBookHippie The silence is indeed striking. It makes me want to watch multiple productions to see how it gets interpreted by different actors. But also, it could be Shakespeare telling /showing how women are routinely silenced. 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics 😫 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke there was very much different things happening in the background, off stage if you will, than what I thought was happening throughout the play. Is the Duke a benevolent crazy person? Did the Duke get some sort of entertainment out of all this? People died!!! Was/is the Duke actually in charge around here? So many unanswered questions. 3y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat I hadn‘t thought of it through that lens. That does frame it nicely. This is all about silencing women. Hm. 🤔 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics i don‘t think anyone died (other than the pirate R and Marianna‘s brother 5 yrs before, and everyone who will die of syphilis eventually, if they live long enough) but if we called this the Duke‘s convoluted but potentially successful plan to get in the pants of an unwilling nun…well, it fits. (edited) 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Signet describes a lot of different productions. Some end with Isabella left alone on stage, silent. (Some create Isabella-Duke mutual interest throughout the play so that the end is natural and romantic.) 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke still sounds like Stockholm Syndrome to me. 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I had to go back and check this. You‘re so right. I guess it just feels like so many people died, what with execution looming over every act. It just feels like it has so much death. Maybe that‘s just me. 3y

jewright @Graywacke Q2 I saw her as looking out for herself. Goodness knows no one else is. She refuses to sacrifice herself even for her brother. At first, I was upset with her for this, but as I saw how everyone treated her, I understand it. 3y

Graywacke @jewright well I certainly agree. (I found it interesting that the signet afterward essays feel she didn‘t much care for her brother and one essay wonders why she ever confronted him in prison. She could have just let him to his fate. (Which I think is roughly @Riveted_Reader_Melissa ‘s take) ) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Graywacke See, and I didn‘t think that was odd at all, she went to plead her brother‘s case, so of course she went to tell him how it went, let him know there was no reprieve because Angelo was not a moral man to be reasoned with (in the end she was right there, because he continued and moved up the execution even after she capitulated), and to say goodbye to her brother and sorry her morality, which is why he called her to argue for him, ⤵️ (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ Had no effect on an immoral man. It really stinks that again, that essayist is saying obviously she didn‘t care much for her brother…. If that was true she wouldn‘t have come to argue for him at all, just stayed at the convent. And wouldn‘t have been so upset at the proposition, she would have just left (not caring) and returned to the convent. Was that essay by any chance written by a man? Just curious now. What‘s your guess @TheBookHippie (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Seriously, this poor nun trainee gets a message that her brother is to be executed can she please come and plead for his release because she‘s moral and clever and if anyone can convince Angelo it‘s her…she does all that, is basically sexually harassed, propositioned, and assaulted (as far as Angelo knows), but yet she‘s uncaring and doesn‘t really like her brother? Women really can‘t win, no matter what they do, can they? ⤵️ (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️if she slept with Angelo she‘s a ruined fallen women, life ruined (mortal and immortal as far as her beliefs), and Angelo will punish her for that too because once she gives in, she‘ll be as bad as everyone else he‘s punishing for giving into fornication, BUT if she doesn‘t, then she‘s obviously an uncaring sister. Talk about Catch-22…but maybe that‘s the point, no matter what she chooses or does, she‘ll still be found guilty & lacking. (edited) 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa i think that is a point. She can‘t win. I don‘t recall which essay it was in, regarding her pale warmth for her brother, but I think it was more than one, written by male and also in a kind of feminist female authored essay (an odd Signet standard thing). It wasn‘t she‘s a bad unfeeling person, it was that her brother didn‘t warrant all that in her value system, and maybe he shouldn‘t have. When he dies, she‘s kinda 👇 3y

Graywacke 👆not crushed and later (in her hypnotic state?) argues he deserved to die more than Angelo who only had intent (which is messed up logic). But also this play exposes weaknesses in simplified value systems. Angelo breaks, Isabella may be a parallel who is also self righteous and here also exposed. (edited) 3y

erzascarletbookgasm That was one ending I did no expect! The Dukes‘s announcement..where did that come from? I‘m beginning to think he may have planned the whole thing - clean up the city and get his girl. Q1, the Duke‘s a liar, a hypocrite. The play is not problematic, his character is.😒 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Agree it has an ambiguous ending. Isabella may be horrified at the Duke‘s announcement. It‘s like déjà vu" ! Those in power preying on the hapless. No wonder she‘s speechless. 3y

erzascarletbookgasm I‘m with @Riveted_Reader_Melissa ..no matter what, it‘s a no-win situation for her. And that‘s the point, I guess. 3y

batsy Sorry it's taken me so long; I finished the play but was so unsatisfied with it (never has a play made me so frustrated trying to understand what Shakespeare was trying to convey, if anything) that I was reading the Signet essays and also Marjorie Garber's chapter on it in "Shakespeare After All" where she says ?? 3y

batsy "There was a time in critical history when the Duke...was seen as a godlike playwright figure, ordering the lives of all the other characters, making sure that things come out right in the end." As readers we do definitely disagree on the playwright's version of things "coming out right in the end", so my easy answer to Q1 is: all of the above :) 3y

batsy Q2: Isabella is a frustrating and complex character. Her commitment to virtue and chastity has a charge to it that makes her more passionate than the other more "based" characters who don't see lust or sexual desire as bad, so she kind of reminds me of a Joan of Arc type character. But one who is rendered silent in the end in order for things to work out the way the Duke has planned it. From a feminist perspective, that's definitely Not Great. 3y

batsy Q3 That's enlightening to me, as well. I've read some commentaries that remind us that this play is steeped in "late Medieval morality" and Catholic doctrine (written "after the dissolution of the monasteries", Eileen MacKay says, and also "after the Reformation") both aspects that I'm familiar with only from the bare minimum of knowledge gleaned from popular history, so it is interesting to see how cynical the play is about the Church. 3y

Graywacke @erzascarletbookgasm @batsy appreciating your thoughtful comments. I might respond a bit more when I have time. The Duke as a Prospero or a Shakespeare alter-ego play director makes sense in some ways, and bothers me personally a lot in some others. (edited) 3y

mollyrotondo Q2: @Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie I agree with the critics that Isabella seemed like a really strong female character in the beginning. She stood her ground and told her brother off. But then she becomes a role player in the second half of the play. I don‘t know if this was intentional or not. I thought it was very well done when Marianna defends Angelo. Marianna is the opposite of Isabella. She defends a man who scorned her ⬇️ 3y

mollyrotondo While Isabella is trying to expose Angelo for the creep he is. Yet both women are not valued and are toyed with and given no agency or voice. Women of all kinds get screwed over by men. I was frustrated that Isabella is not a strong character by the end but I do think Shakespeare writes these two women as strong examples of all women being silenced and used. 3y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo I agree you summed it up very well. It is just surreal that this is so relevant to today. Mind boggling. 3y

mollyrotondo Q1: I definitely don‘t think the Duke should be considered a Christ like figure but I do find what Shakespeare did with his character very interesting. He‘s supposed to be spying on Angelo because he wants to bring proper justice and order since he neglected those duties previously. Valiant endeavor. And the whole time he is the fixer while Angelo is the villain. And then at the very end when he brutishly claims Isabella as his bride ⬇️ 3y

mollyrotondo ...he proves he is just as disgusting of a person as Angelo and the brother and probably most men at the time. He has no respect for women and is not the restorer of order that we were made to believe in the beginning of the play. I don‘t like the Duke but I like what Shakespeare did with his character. 3y

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie oh I know it is disgusting that so little has changed in all of these years. Text like this should be unfathomable to us now but we can all sadly relate. Awful. 3y

mollyrotondo Q6: I liked this one but I definitely don‘t consider it one of Shakespeare‘s most impressive achievements. It‘s a very thought provoking play that criticizes power and church and morals and law. But it‘s no Hamlet or Richard III or Macbeth. 3y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo Awful indeed. 3y

Graywacke @erzascarletbookgasm I agree with you about the Duke. I think he's a problem. I kind of feel that S. thought that if anyone doubted the Duke had issues, he threw that marriage proposal (or command? ) in as a little flag. 3y

Graywacke @batsy regarding being unsatisfied... I keep finding myself thinking this a play with the kind of happy ending the really bothers about everyone. Surely it must have then too...? As for charged chastity - it's not just Isabella, but Angelo, of course. And...maybe the false Friar, aka Duke V. But only Isabella is silenced. And, cool about the Medieval morality play connection. I haven't read Boccaccio yet, but this plot makes me think of him. 3y

Graywacke @mollyrotondo “I do think Shakespeare writes these two women as strong examples of all women being silenced and used“ - but in sympathy or approval? “he proves he is just as disgusting of a person as Angelo“ !! (The Duke bothers me more than Angelo does, and only Angelo was killing people. So why do I feel so negative to him? I think maybe just because he gets away with it.) @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 3y

Graywacke @mollyrotondo Completely agree, it's no Hamlet, etc. An experiment, but maybe not a wonderful theatre experience (er, as imagined while reading) 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke I agree the Duke is way more bothersome. 3y

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virtuousauthoress

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

What may man within him hide,
Thou angel on the outward side.

Graywacke Welcome to Litsy. Nice first post. 3y

virtuousauthoress Thank you, my lord 3y

2 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Judge not…and yet, how to not do that after finishing such a play. More Sunday. 🙂

#shakespearereadalong reminder

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

Lcsmcat I feel so judgy about this play!!! 3y

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MoonWitch94 @Lcsmcat Same 🙋🏻‍♀️ 3y

batsy @Lcsmcat Me too 😂 3y

TheBookHippie 🤐🤐🤐 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa 😂 3y

GingerAntics It‘s really hard not to judge this play. It‘s so twisted. See, I wasn‘t even trying. I was actually trying not to. 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @MoonWitch94 @batsy @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa there might just so much to say…. @GingerAntics yup. 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @MoonWitch94 @batsy @TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa oye, phones.... I think I meant. that there _is_ just so much to say. ?? 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘s ok. I speak autocorrect. 😂 3y

TheBookHippie I didn‘t even catch it 😂 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat an admirable skill! @TheBookHippie appreciated. 😁 3y

36 likes13 comments

LitStephanie

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

I love Pompey so much! He is now one of my favorite Shakespeare clowns. #shakespearereadalong

virtuousauthoress Agreed 3y

15 likes1 comment

LitStephanie

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

In 4.1.71, the Duke tells Mariana "He is your husband on a precontract; To bring you thus together is no sin." Yet Claudio and Julietta had a contract made in the presence of witnesses, and Claudio is sentenced to death. What a difference for such similar situations! #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke The Duke‘s whims? 3y

LitStephanie @Graywacke I am not sure if it is that or if there was some actual legal difference in the ceremonies. I was assuming the latter, but maybe this is just showing how capricious the law is under this administration. 3y

12 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

“I will not consent to die this day, that‘s certain.”

Measure for Measure Act 4
#Shakespearereadalong

Our Duke a tried director. Marianna acquiesces to perform her part (yuck), but Angelo, fearing Claudio‘s wrath, undermines the deal and pushes execution anyway. The Duke scrambles for a solution, but then there‘s Barnardine. He does not comply. Order to disorder. And let‘s not overlook our Provost, Pompey or Lucio. Thoughts? Barnardine fans?

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke Ecclesiastes 5:11: ‘The slepe of him that travaileth is swete, whether he eate little or much.‘

Claudio on Barnardine:
As fast lock‘d up in sleep as guiltless labour
When it lies starkly in the traveller‘s bones.
He will not wake. 3y

Graywacke @readinginthedark @Jess_Read_This @Lcsmcat @batsy @TheBookHippie @Melismatic @mollyrotondo @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @erzascarletbookgasm @MoonWitch94 @LitStephanie @SamAnne @jewright @CoffeeNBooks @Daisey @saresmoore @Liz_M @Gezemice 3y

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

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Lcsmcat Much to say “yuck” to. But I found it hilarious that the condemned B could just refuse to be executed. Why didn‘t C think to try that? 😂 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat Right!? What was that! 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa perhaps Barnardine is just a lot smarter than Claudio… 🤷🏻‍♂️ 3y

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼My thoughts too. 3y

TheBookHippie When the quantity of goods increases, so does the number of parasites consuming them; so the only advantage to the owner is that he gets to watch them do it. CJB this version had me 😱 at what we then read this week 🤯 So what object lesson is Shakespeare teaching ? So many to chose from. Verse 12 The sleep of a working man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the overfullness of the rich won't let them sleep at all. Seems to be a theme 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie that first line may explain most of what we see/read in our daily news. But, yeah, what is this play teaching us, exactly? 3y

LitStephanie @Lcsmcat haha, I know! And they let Barnardine get drunk all the time, too. This prison has been run very leniently for a long time. Angelo is a total a$$hole, but he does deliver swift justice. 3y

Lcsmcat @LitStephanie Swift, yes. Justice? I‘m not so sure about that. And the Duke‘s not much better, playing with people‘s lives. 3y

LitStephanie Sorry I have been MIA the last couple of weeks, but I am loving this play. I really enjoyed the banter of the executioner and Pompey (Pompey is my favorite character). 3y

LitStephanie @TheBookHippie @Graywacke I think one of the great themes in Measure is the struggle to walk the line between crazy righteous prude and total libertine. Angelo is so repressed and harsh he becomes a monster and also ends up committing a crime he has no mercy for in others. But the Duke is just as bad in his own way; he has been lax in his duty to uphold the law, and now no one respects him or the law. 3y

TheBookHippie @LitStephanie I agree with this. Great explanation. I have to say the unreal religious prude is so accurate. AND CURRENT to today! I do also enjoy this play. It has given lots of pause and thought. 3y

LitStephanie Lucio is such a trash talker! I love how the Duke is learning what people think of him. He has been a soft ruler, and instead of admiring his mercy, people think it is because he is immoral himself. And I cannot wait to see Lucio get his comeuppance, LOL! 3y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie this is so terrifying current 3y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie the duke is such an odd/interesting character to me. What‘s up with him? I can‘t wait for Lucio‘s downfall either. (edited) 3y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics I think the Duke is a good guy, but he has really been blind to his own faults as a justice of the peace or whatever he is. He also thinks a bit too highly of his own judgement and can be patronizing. He inflicts cruelty on Isabella by telling her Claudio is dead simply because it works better for his plan, and he loves giving out sage words of wisdom as an imposter friar. 3y

LitStephanie @Graywacke what kind of a production did that picture come from, OMG! 🤣 3y

TheBookHippie @LitStephanie the picture is everything !! 3y

Graywacke @LitStephanie The picture is from an RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company?) production. My search was Abhorson Barnardine. 🙂 I really like your analysis - missing the Goldylocks enforcement. And I agree the Duke is patronizing...so patronizing. oye. I think he's mainly just not doing anything intelligent. He's just being stupid. But glad he caught Angelo's order. What a monster. 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics religious prudery... hasn't it always been current? 3y

Lcsmcat @LitStephanie There is some great word play in the scene with Pompey and the executioner! 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke It‘s a great production! 3y

Graywacke @LitStephanie I love Pompey too. So many great lines this act. (Also his illegal bawd to legal hangman transition is meaningful.) 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @LitStephanie Some Pompey lines. 🙂 :

“You must be so good, sir, to rise and be put to death.“

...

“Pray, Master Barnardine, awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.“

...

“O, the better, sir; for he that drinks all night,
and is hanged betimes in the morning, may sleep the
sounder all the next day.“ 3y

jewright I felt guilt for enjoying the lines you quoted, but they were so good. This play has some icky factors, but I am enjoying reading it. The language is clever. 3y

Lcsmcat One of my favorite exchanges in this Act: PROVOST Come hither, sirrah. Can you cut off a man's head? POMPEY If the man be a bachelor, sir, I can; but if he be a married man, he's his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head. 3y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie he does make a brilliant imposter. Perhaps he‘s just winging it in everything, a sort of imposter in every roll he plays. 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I wish I could say no, but I think both religious prudery and religious hypocrisy are always current. It‘s sad, really. 3y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics ooh, good point! 3y

LitStephanie @Lcsmcat I like that bit, too. I love how Pompey is never ruffled by anything. Always calm and just goes with the flow. He seemed surprised that Lucio won't bail him out, but other than that he just calmly accepts everything. He is a survivor, that one. 3y

batsy @Lcsmcat I loved that bit, it made me snort a bit too loudly 😆 3y

batsy @LitStephanie I think that's a very elegant way to sum up the themes of the play. I also think it's Shakespeare revisiting his favourite theme of the utter arbitrary nature of the laws that govern society and to expose the hypocrisies and farcical nature of how it's applied. 3y

LitStephanie @batsy yes, I see your point. Very unevenly applied justice! 3y

Graywacke @batsy having read act 5, this theme seems spot on to me. It hadn‘t occurred to me that it‘s a reoccurring and favorite Shakespeare theme. 3y

batsy @Graywacke I might be overstating it but it feels like quite a lot of the plays we've read have a latent "look at people in power twisting the law to work in their favour however they want" theme going on, or I might have read into those plays too much because the local political scene has been a shitshow since, like, forever and I keep seeing parallels ? 3y

Graywacke @batsy malaysia aside (where I‘m clueless), I want to think this through more. It always struck me how ruthlessly practical his strongest characters tend to be, with power being the purpose, and weaker side players and unrealistic goals being the problem. So twisting the law fits easily in my mindset. But arbitrariness of laws and enforcement is a social commentary, not a human frailty thing. It‘s a different theme…maybe. Thinking… 3y

batsy @Graywacke That's true. We can never be sure of his intention when writing a play but the rich expansiveness of his depictions allows the reader to read into power struggles in multiple ways; he might have been presenting individualised power struggles between strong and weak characters, or he could have been depicting the ways in which laws are bent to purpose and thus not absolute. Or both. In this play I'm curious about what he's trying to say. 3y

Graywacke @batsy looking over the plays I‘m familiar with, I see three following legal games: Comedy of Errors, Merchant of Venice, and this one. (Maybe I missed some) As for what he‘s trying to say here - the Signet afterward essays are rich with disagreements. 🙂 Hopefully we can hash over this more next week after we finish. 3y

31 likes40 comments

GingerAntics

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

so-so

The ending certainly brings justice, but does it really? It corrects a few injustices, but I feel like it just continues the tyranny that created this whole situation to begin with. The ending just wasn‘t enough to redeem this play for me. There were some great, strong, female characters who really carried the play and made it worth continuing and finishing. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Graywacke

GingerAntics Shakespeare is clearly commenting on Puritan ruled society here, but that doesn‘t really make this play any easier to stomach, especially with current events. #Shakespeare #MeasureForMeasure #shakespearereadalong 3y

12 likes1 comment

Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

Hmmm…. Better than “All‘s Well That Ends Well”, although the ending was still very iffy in my opinion, HOWEVER, I gave it a qualified pick because I thought it tackled the hypocrisy of those in charge well, basically a Shakespeare ‘MeToo‘ highlighting those in power enforcing the laws are committing the same crimes, but worse (by coercing women 🙄). 🤷‍♀️

#ShakespeareReadAlong

AvidReader25 It‘s being staged in my city next month with an emphasis in the Me Too movement. I‘ve seen it before, but I‘m curious how this lens with focus it. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AvidReader25 That sounds very interesting, I‘d be curious to see what you think after you see it! 3y

50 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure - Act 3 - prison scenes

Isabella meets Claudio and they (tensely) confront their options. The Duke resolves it with some imagined justice on Angelo. (But what about poor Marianna?). Also Pompey and M. Overdone go to prison. And the Duke in disguise gets some critical feedback from Lucio and Escalus. Thoughts? Are you enjoying the straight-faced humor? Or just disturbed by Shakespearean ethics?
#shakespearereadalong

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke Scene 1 - my quick summary:
- Oh dear poor brother, you must die honorably
- Is there nothing you can do?
- Only if i put out
- Ok.
- O you beast. Die, Perish!
- Buh
- ‘Tis best thou diest quickly
- (Duke) psst. Let me tell you about All‘s Well That Ends Well. (edited) 3y

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

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Lcsmcat “Psst. Let me tell you. . .” 🤣😂🤣😂 3y

Lcsmcat I‘m enjoying the humor in this act, but I have to keep my 21st century self in check. And the Duke? He was totally asking for it, sono pity for his feelings if he hears things he‘d rather not! (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I was feeling some deja vu from our last play. 😂. So your summary nailed it! (edited) 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa. @Lcsmcat apparently this in dark flipping was a thing. Weird. (edited) 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat definitely not 21st cent. ethics. And the Duke - he so deserves it. 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Once she said, “O you beast”, it‘s like right there this whole thing sheds its serious holier-than-thou mask. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa My summary of the bro/sis convo: Brother: Death Is, well terrible, it‘s just a tiny thing in exchange…& your disgrace & shame for the rest of your life, & as a novice you of course know about the everlasting hellfire part & eternal soul, but hey…no worries, Angelo is both strict & conflicted, he‘ll probably arrest you for breaking his own law & you‘ll be here waiting to be beheaded in my place by the end of the day All‘s Well That Ends Well Sis 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Graywacke And also odd that they think once the deed is done with the right/wrong lady in the dark…Angelo will immediately marry her and make it right. Which is exactly what he didn‘t let Claudio & Juliet do. Maybe he‘ll just order Mariana executed for breaking “the law” (and tricking him) 3y

Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 😂 that‘s about it! 3y

batsy I'm enjoying the summaries 😆 What's really interesting to me this time is that it feels like it's the first play where I find every character insufferable. Usually there's someone to (kind of) root for but even Isabella drives me nuts. There's the unhinged lechery on the one hand, & the smug pious moralism on the other. Something's definitely quite rotten in Vienna!? 🙃 Also, the Duke's posturing is too on the nose wrt present day politicians! 3y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa SPOT ON!!!! BRAVO! 3y

TheBookHippie @batsy I like no one. I can't remember, but we had this before that we wanted EVERYONE to die. ALSO COULD THIS BE ANY MORE RELEVANT TO TODAY!!! OY VEY. 3y

TheBookHippie Is Vienna really Texas was my thought reading this week. I don't like anyone, there is no one to root for. Is this the point? To see the ridiculousness of it all? Is Shakespeare mocking literally everyone and everything? How did this play out when it was written is what I want to know. 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 🙂 love that summary perspective. As for the plan - well… erk…maybe we get a miracle in act 4? 3y

Graywacke @batsy can‘t have smug pious moralism without lechery, no? If you have one, isn‘t the other sort of automatically generated. Aren‘t they roughly the same? 🙂 As for who to root for (with @TheBookHippie ), oye. I keep pulling for sanity, but it hasn‘t really got a chance at this point. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie Was it Timon of Athens? That‘s the one I thought of, everyone treated him horrible and he basically just wallowed and died. 😬. Although in this case I think Isabella should go back to the nunnery, and just pray from all their souls and live happily ever after without them! 😂. Who needs them! Maybe Juliet can join her? After all, if only Claudio had married her first 🙄 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie (wondering how to hide my address. This stupid state has tried to corner the market in stupidity for a long time now.) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie and yes! Smug moral piety, while doing the same thing yourself. Very Texas! Because you know those wealthy white lawmakers can afford to fly their wives or mistresses to another state and it won‘t effect them at all. 🙄 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa very human. You mean Tx isn‘t a center of humble selfless piety? 😐 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa regarding Timon - I‘m imagining him watching this play (presumably on Netflix from his humble underground abode). I think he‘d like it. 3y

Liz_M Maybe the whole point of the play is that none of the characters are “likeable“? The whole “Judge not, that you be not judged“ thing -- they are all human, and express both good and bad impulses?
3y

Graywacke @Liz_M the judge not quote is apt. 3y

Liz_M @Graywacke 😁 It should be, since I stole it from my edition's introduction, that says the play's title is an allusion to the following bible passage:

“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.“ (edited) 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M if you‘re willing to drill down Litsy a bit, see my prep post. 😉 3y

GingerAntics This play is really not sitting well with me. The ethics of it are SO troubling. I don‘t really see them as Shakespeare‘s ethics though. I wonder what inspired this play? What was he exploring further in imagining this play into life? 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics i‘ll take a stab at a response. I think he meant to entertain, which means the ethics here (some of which are only satire, but some seem actually intended) say something about those of this era of Londoners…🙂…😳 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke it could be. I‘m not sure I agree that his only point was to entertain. I think he had some other motives. He‘s been known to do amazing social commentary. I wonder if there were moral police running rampant in Shakespeare‘s day. I wonder how distressed he would be to find that 400+ years later, the morality police are still running rampant. (Ahem… texas) 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics (tx has a lot of Angelo wannabes.) 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke they sure do!!! 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics as far as social commentary, I think he surely saw the Angelo type, the power-hungry puritans lechers, and he‘s sort of exposing them. (And he saw the brothel stuff and plays on that.) It‘s interesting to compare A and I‘s different flawed piousness. And surely the Duke has familiar ridiculous aspects then and now. Hmm maybe A is a plug at James 1 (kinged 1603, a year before this was performed) 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke that makes sense 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke he would have been living in the direct aftermath of the Cromwell‘s Puritan revolution. Much of that sentiment continued after the crown was restored. That certainly could play a part in the formation of this play. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @GingerAntics I think the morality police _were_ running rampant at the time. Every time plague came through there were those who blamed it on the immorality of others, including the theaters. As well as the Puritan element. Plus, I think humans have always had the temptation to judge - hence the necessity for the “judge not” quote the title comes from. 3y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat usually it was the puritans who were shutting down the theatres. They were such a buzz kill people. 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat lots of aspiring Angelos? ( @GingerAntics ) 3y

Graywacke “Judge not” had some serious meaning 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke definitely!!! It‘s sad, really. 3y

jewright I really liked Claudio‘s line at the beginning, “The miserable have no other medicine / Only hope.” 3y

jewright Anybody else think the switching thing is kind of like Rachel and Leah? I do think Shakespeare does the switching a lot for comedic value. 3y

Lcsmcat @jewright great connection to make re: Rachel & Leah. And Shakespeare does do that a lot. It must have worked well the first time he did it. 😂 3y

TheBookHippie @jewright yes this is the third time I‘ve thought of that reading his plays!!! 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics buzz kill people 😂 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics @Graywacke I agree that he is making a point. I don‘t think these were his beliefs I think he found it all ridiculous and this it total satire. Amazing how relevant it is. 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie yes, amazing. Maybe some aspects capture permanent social conditions. 3y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it is terrifying how close they are. 3y

30 likes48 comments

MoonWitch94

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Getting back to my Litsy Self! Thanks for thinking of me @TheSpineView 🍂📚🍁

1️⃣Not reading much lately, but read the tagged play for #shakespearereadalong
2️⃣No swaps but probably get back into photo challenges
AND I‘m hosting Discovery of Witches real-time read-along starting 9/18!

If you want to play, consider this your tag! 📚🎉💜
#two4tuesday

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I couldn‘t remember the date! Do you have me on your list?! 🧙🏻 3y

TheSpineView Happy Tuesday and Thanks for playing! 3y

30 likes2 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

“go to your bosom,/ Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know” - add this plea by Isabella to the list of unintended consequences.

Measure for Measure Act 2
#shakespearereadalong

In an exploration of the fundamental problems of law, the power corrupts it entirely. Angelo, on high, demands sex from Isabella for her brother‘s life. And notes, “my false o‘erweighs your true.” !!

Deeply cynical stuff. What are you making of this?

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke Also Escalus judges Pompey and Froth, brought in by Elbow. Lucio advises Isabella and the Provost roots for her. Our lovely Duke and Juliet agree, “Then was your sin of heavier kind than his.” And Angelo goes poetic on his inability to not be a really sick deranged (add more apt adjectives here) pervert. 3y

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yea… this act… ugh! 3y

Lcsmcat I was really angered by Juliet‘s “sin [being] of heavier kind than his.” I know Will was going for the pun, but to have a pun you have to have both meanings. And why should she be more guilty than him? 3y

Lcsmcat Do you think Shakespeare was invoking Aeschylus with the character Escalus? He serves as a kind of commentator on the government, as did the playwright. 3y

batsy @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yep, that was basically my take throughout this whole act! 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat huh. Aeschylus. Never crossed my mind. What a great classical tie-in (playwright to playwright). I wasn‘t crazy about Escalus‘s fatalistic acceptance and Angelo‘s sentence of state murder. … unrelated, but makes me want to note the irony of Angelo‘s name. 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @batsy not fans? 🙂 (Surely I‘m not the only one reading this play and thinking about Harvey Weinstein.) 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat as for Juliet‘s heavier sin - that‘s a really provocative assessment today. Wonder if it was back when this was first performed. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke irony of his name indeed! I‘m not sure what to think of Escalus. I watched the entire RSC production (so I know the ending and am avoiding spoilers) but I want to see how it reads b/c it was a, shall we say, unique production. 3y

Graywacke (What got me in this act was how fast it escalated. That Angelo was tempted by Isabella and had trouble with that arguably only means he was human. But that he acted on it how be did is irredeemable. And that is so even before we note the rest - that he undermined everything he‘s said to this point and has made Claudio‘s sentence entirely arbitrary, and law a farce. We go from moralistically iffy stuff straight to the absurd.) 3y

Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @batsy Yeah, this act. You knew Angelo was a creep, but he came right out with it. Not even an attempt at subtlety. (edited) 3y

GingerAntics This is definitely a case of total corruption. “Hey, I can demand this if you while we prepare to execute your brother for the same, because I‘m not your brother.” 🤦🏼‍♀️ Oy 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I feel like this picture really makes the situation worse because she‘s young and he‘s old, creepy, and appears to have a really bad haircut. 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics does that mean it was well casted? 🙂 And, total corruption it is. Phew… 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke perhaps. The juxtaposition of what Angelo is demanding and Claudio‘s current precarious situation is accentuated/personified in the completely different actors (old and young, innocent and corrupt, creepy and desperate). That could have been the point in casting Angelo. I‘m going with gold casting choice. 3y

jewright I really, really hate Angelo. How can you execute someone‘s brother and ask the sister to commit the same “crime?!” I also can‘t help wondering if any of this is inspired by Shakespeare having to marry Anne Hathaway because of a pregnancy. 3y

Graywacke @jewright Welcome to the really-really -not-a-fan-of-Angelo club. interesting idea about Shakespeare‘s marriage. Would that mean he equated his own marriage with a kind of execution? 3y

jewright @Graywacke He seems to abandon his marriage for long points of time. Critics are certain he cheated on her. I just wish we knew more about his life. It‘s one of the things that drives me crazy that no one thought to write a contemporary biography of him. 3y

Graywacke @jewright it‘s curious we know so much about him and also so little. His most striking characters seem to me to almost always be practical, ruthless cynics. Wonder what _that_ says about him. 3y

mollyrotondo @Graywacke yes! I felt like the final scene was a perfect MeToo movement moment. Isabella in this Act is a champion for women fighting off sexual advances of men in power. I am so afraid of what is to come but so far she rules in my book. Isabella shows strength in this Act whereas Juliet shows way too much weakness. She should not be apologizing. 3y

mollyrotondo I of course hate Angelo but I‘m not sure what to think of Escalus. He wants to rule more fairly (like not executing people for no reason) but he‘s also wishy washy. He lets Froth and Pompey go for their associations with the brothel but goes along with executing Claudio for having premarital sex with a woman he loves. Paying for sex is way more egregious and execution is cruel and unusual punishment for consensual sex between a couple. ⬇️ 3y

mollyrotondo So Escalus is no better than Angelo. Weaker in my opinion. At least at this point in the play. But Shakespeare is painting a very clear and critical picture of Vienna in this one. 3y

35 likes24 comments

GingerAntics

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Bloody hell!!! What a twat.
#Shakespeare #MeasureForMeasure #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke

Graywacke Shakespearean pickup line? 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke god I hope not. There is a lot of sexism in this one. I want to punch a few of the guys in this play. Never mind the whole, execution for impregnating someone your brother is not married to, but I‘ll release him if I can sex with you. 🤯 This play feels kind of like that last one. I completely hate almost every male character. 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics It will have more elements like AWtEW. And, yeah, agree about the men. Full out failure of not being terrible. 3y

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GingerAntics @Graywacke I guess we don‘t know about Claudio, he‘s just sitting around waiting to die, but the duke and pretty much all the rest of the men, eh. Maybe more of the men will die by the end of this one. That‘s a better ending to me. 3y

TheBookHippie Bloody hell!!!! 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics yes let‘s get back to everyone dying 😂 3y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😂 3y

14 likes7 comments

GingerAntics

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Starting in this almost 2 weeks late. Sorry @Graywacke
#Shakespeare #MeasureForMeasure

Graywacke Woot! 💪 Look forward to see what your thinking tomorrow. 3y

14 likes1 comment

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Let‘s give full autocratic power to this guy and see what happens…

Measure for Measure Act 1

The act is largely setup. The Duke of Vienna gives power to Angelo, “A man whose blood/ Is very snow-broth”, and pretends to leave town. Angelo quickly enforces draconian laws, and Claudio is about to lose his head for consensual pre-marital…stuff. What‘s up with Vienna? Can Isabella do anything about it?
#shakespearereadalong

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

Graywacke (On my mind - So is the Duke a cowardly monster? He wants to enforce these laws, but he knows they are so bad that enforcing them will make him look bad. So, to dodge the public image hit, he hides and he drops execution on Angelo? Mind you, Vienna does seem to have a little bit of a VD issue…) 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa I thought it was odd that the pure sister was immediately enlisted to fix everything. It‘s a bit of a twist for Shakespeare, at least where women‘s roles are considered. In our last play the women had to win through some shrew schemes backstage more or less to get what she wanted (her husband). So to immediately put the whole rescue plot in the hands of his sister‘s persuasive words, is an interesting premise and I‘m curious where that leads. 3y

Lcsmcat Such a politician‘s move! Keep the people‘s good opinion while still doing the draconian thing you want to do. I don‘t know about “monster” but the Duke is definitely a coward! 3y

Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I think men making messes and expecting women to clean them up is par for the course, but I agree it‘s a different type of move. But think of Imogen in Cymbeline, Paulina in Winters Tale, Portia in Merchant of Venice. They use various tactics, but Shakespeare seems to me to use women often to get men out of difficulties they couldn‘t get themselves out of, either because of “honor” or some other reason. Like stupidity. 😏 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat I thought of them too, but many of them show up disguised as men with the saving, or with their father‘s work to save. It‘s rare, it‘s on their own as themselves, with just there own voice. No scheme or artifact or background plan….just she should go talk to him, she has a way with words. And they usually have to help/save kind of on the sly. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat And yes! Totally a politician move! 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat - what to you get between Claudio‘s lines? : “for in her youth/ There is a prone and speechless dialect, / Such as move men; beside, she hath prosperous art/ When she will play with reason and discourse,/ And well she can persuade.“ (prone? As in a prone and speechless dialect? Signet says prone means submissive, but, it also means, well, prone.) (edited) 3y

batsy @Lcsmcat Definitely a very snivelling politician thing to do! 3y

batsy I thought Claudia's "Our nature's do pursue ... A thirsty evil" the most interesting philosophical aspect of the play, and it'll be fun to see where Shakespeare goes with it. Though it also works very well as a convenient excuse for men's wayward appetites! 3y

Graywacke @batsy 1.2.28-33 - rereading these are powerful lines. Are you thinking the play may revolve around these lines/this idea? (And, is it just men‘s appetites? Spinning off that idea, maybe this, as applied within the play, is a reason why our possible savior must be a woman. But…in reality, is Shakespeare touching a truth?) (edited) 3y

Liz_M I thought the Duke was just doing a classic good cop, bad cop. Also how can a ruler make change that the people will believe and trust if he is seen as a flip-flopper? 👿 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke My edition doesn‘t have the lines numbered. Can you start the quote so I can find it? Tx. 3y

Liz_M As for Claudio's lines about Isabella, it is very astute and manipulative -- he is aware that a beautiful woman is more likely to persuade a man. Especially one that is pious and busily resisting female charms. 3y

Liz_M And also, of course, a playwright is highlighting the power of words. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I read the “prone and speechless” to be her sweet, innocent looks (and her ability to use them) as separate from her ability with “discourse” referred to in the second half of that quote. And I don‘t find women being manipulative or cunning to be a negative in this era. When that‘s the only power you can possibly have, good on you for using it. The same behavior in our era, that would be different in my eyes. 3y

Lcsmcat @batsy Yes, that philosophy could be self-serving in Claudio. I‘ll be watching for that as well as for where he goes with “Our doubts are traitors And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt.” 3y

Lcsmcat @Liz_M I agree Claudio is astutely aware of the power of a beautiful woman. But manipulative? It‘s not like he‘s asking her to do something she wouldn‘t want to do. He‘s just grasping at his best chance to keep his head connected to his neck. 😏 3y

Lcsmcat @Liz_M Do you think the Duke intended Lord A. to be this strict, or just to clean things up a little? 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat LUCIO
Why, how now, Claudio! whence comes this restraint?
CLAUDIO
From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty:
As surfeit is the father of much fast,
So every scope by the immoderate use
Turns to restraint. Our natures do pursue,
Like rats that ravin down their proper bane,
A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die. 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat ps - the word “nature” shows up twelve times in the play. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat Oh I totally agree, I have huge respect for getting the job done in any way available to you, historically especially you need to weld any power you can any way you can just to survive. I just meant this set-up seemed unusual for Shakespeare. More straight forward then he normally goes. (edited) 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Thanks. I should‘ve gotten a “real” edition instead of my free eBook version. 😀 (edited) 3y

Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Do you suppose Isabella will be able to be straight forward? Or will she have to resort to “underhanded” means or trickery? I‘m curious. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Lcsmcat I can‘t wait to see. I was just surprised that he sent his friend to get his sister….just because she has a way with words basically. It just seemed unusual…for Shakespeare. 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M @Lcsmcat the manipulative power of women over men, and men‘s perception of this may be two parts of one theme here. (I suspect the choice of the word “prone” shows both Claudio‘s meaning, which is as you, @Lcsmcat , describe it, and his state of thinking. (Keep in mind this comes on the heals of Lucio and two gentlemen‘s syphilic double-meaning chat.) 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Ok, regarding the quote, up to “restraint” I think yes, the play could easily revolve around this idea. But taking it to the extreme of the last three lines would make a dark play indeed. 3y

Liz_M @Lcsmcat Oh he absolutely hoped Angelo would be this strict. The Duke, in his opening speech admits Escalus is the most knowledgeable, but appoints Angelo, whom he characterizes as "a man of stricture* and firm abstinence". (*severity, self restraint). And later on as "precise*, stands at a guard with envy, scare confesses that his blood flows..." (*morally strict). He wanted Angelo to uphold the "strict statues and most biting laws". 3y

Liz_M And was also curious to see what affect power would have on a supposedly most pups man. 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat well, he is about to lose his head… 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke @Liz_M I think the double meaning of prone is absolutely intended! And is Shakespeare saying any power women have over men is necessarily manipulative? I‘m withholding judgement at this point. But definitely seems a likely theme. 3y

Lcsmcat @Liz_M I‘m just wondering if he hoped Lord A. would be this strict over some people, but not his own circle. 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M and then he hides under a religion. A modern politician. 3y

Liz_M @Graywacke @Lcsmcat According to Merriam-Webster that while prone (tendency, being likely) was first used in the 14th century, prone (as in lying down), only came into use in 1971. 😉 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M huh. Well…that changes our perception. 1971? So recent? 3y

Lcsmcat @Liz_M @Graywacke The OED disagrees. “The meaning "bending forward with the face down" is from 1570s; according to OED, the broader sense of "lying flat, in a horizontal position" (1690s) is "Permissible of things that have not an upper and under side, but improper of men and animals, unless the position is as in I" ["situated or lying face downward"]. “ 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M but this source disagrees: https://www.etymonline.com/word/prone#etymonline_v_2672 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat 😂 we‘re a suspicious bunch. 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😂😂 3y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @Lcsmcat so, what‘s up with Marriam-Webster? 🤨 3y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Good question. I usually trust M-W. @liz_m I hope it doesn‘t feel like we‘re piling on. It‘s just that I‘m old enough to think I was aware of the word before 1971. 😂 3y

Graywacke @Liz_M - oh, yes i also hope that didn‘t feel critical. Certainly wasn‘t intended. Just criticizing M-W. I‘m glad you brought that up. 3y

LitStephanie I think it is funny that Vienna is so corrupt that when the Duke goes to see the friar, he automatically assumes he needs a secret love-nest. 🤣 3y

Lcsmcat @LitStephanie That is a telling detail, isn‘t it? 3y

LitStephanie @Lcsmcat yes, that and their ever so slight STD problem, LOL @Graywacke. With such an epidemic, I suppose these oppressive anti-sex laws become a matter of public health. 🤣 3y

Lcsmcat @LitStephanie So many modern correlations! 3y

Graywacke @LitStephanie the syphilis pandemic 😳!! 3y

TheBookHippie So this is the time of the plague and the re-enactment of the stricter Catholic laws? Plus sexual dens being very popular and the push back against women controlling their own bodies and sex on their own and men wanted the control from them I think. Vienna had a lot of convents and Catholics? So this setting is apt for purity and chastity?! I'm thinking Isabella has some sway as she is religious? But this is all GUESS WORK! I am anxious to readon 3y

erzascarletbookgasm @Lcsmcat Certainly the Duke‘s a coward, and he‘s up to no good, I can tell..hanging around the city in disguise. 3y

TheBookHippie @erzascarletbookgasm 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 3y

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Daisey

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Sunday morning Shakespeare with breakfast

I know absolutely nothing about this play, so I‘m intrigued to continue after reading the introductory post by @Graywacke and the first act.

#ShakespeareReadalong #ArkAngelShakespeare #BookAndBreakfast

TheBookHippie ME TOO! I am fascinated! 3y

Klamm Love that you have the recording and text side by side! Never thought about doing that for Shakespeare but it makes so much sense.. 3y

Daisey @Klamm I generally cannot sync up my reading and listening well, but for Shakespeare it‘s my favorite method. The audio helps with the performance aspect of a play, but the text helps me actually keep track of location and who is talking. 3y

66 likes2 stack adds3 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2

I enjoyed the Signet intro for this play. So, posting a little prep before we discuss Sunday. See comments.
#Shakespearereadalong

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke “Other critics felt that the play, though it had some superb moments, changed course halfway through and that its form could not accommodate the questions that it raised so compellingly.” 3y

GingerAntics Hm… now I‘m intrigued. 3y

Graywacke “There is a third, more recent, interpretation of the play, especially popular on the modern stage. It prefers to see the play as a moden representation of the hidden, explosive sources of desire in men and women, of different, incompatible, and mutually incomprehensible levels of social reality, the touch-and-go, hit-or-miss nature of establishment justice, 👇👇 (edited) 3y

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Graywacke But i say to you, Love your enemies. Matthew 5:43 3y

GingerAntics Apparently I read this play in 2015, but I don‘t remember anything about it. A play a week is never a good plan, clearly. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Reading my Act tomorrow… can‘t wait. 3y

Graywacke “It is indeed one of Shakespeare‘s most impressive achievements whether we consider the seriousness of the issues it deals with, its characterization, or its construction.” 3y

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics it‘s not an easy play to read or, I imagine, retain. 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa usually I wait till Sunday morning ☺️ (except when I‘m the post person and feel all responsible. ☹️ I‘ll reread Sunday am.) 3y

TheBookHippie I‘m excited for this one. It‘s supposed to be the most passionately discussed plays. Challenge accepted 😂 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie i had no idea. @GingerAntics Now I‘m intrigued too. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Graywacke I‘ve been known to do that too! Haha. Usually I end up reading the section for my book club (the one I post and am responsible for on Friday night/Saturday), and then my Shakespeare Act either Saturday night/Sunday morning. So it all depends on how cooperative life is and how big the section of my other group read is. 3y

batsy I thought the introduction was really interesting, too. Really added to my anticipation. Though I've started a bit of the first Act and it's a bit ho-hum to begin with but I'm sure it'll pick up soon! 3y

Graywacke @batsy first act is all - ok, holding off. Will finish the sentence tomorrow. The intro was very good. 3y

44 likes17 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Reminder - ten days away. (This title page makes me think of Mel Brooks as Swiftus: “you are nuts. N-V-T-S - nuts!” Perhaps that‘s what we‘ll think if Angelo.)

Measure for Measure
Act I - Aug 22
Act II - Aug 29
Act III - Sep 5
Act IV - Sep 12
Act V - Sep 19
#Shakespearereadalong

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis 3y

Leftcoastzen 😂Mel! 3y

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GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 I love Mel!!! 💙💙💙 3y

TheBookHippie 😂😂😂MEL! 3y

Lcsmcat Looking forward to it! 3y

MoonWitch94 Gotta love Mel!!! Looking forward to returning to The Bard! 3y

Gezemice Another problem play - supposedly the best though! Getting my copy. 3y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @MoonWitch94 I‘ve seen too many Mel Brooks movies too many times. 🙂 He‘s awesome. @Lcsmcat @MoonWitch94 me too! 👍 3y

Graywacke @Gezemice I didn‘t know that! Cool. 3y

38 likes1 stack add10 comments

Graywacke

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Coming soon, another problem play: A comedy with executions and dire soliloquies. Posting now so everyone can plan ahead. (Anyone is welcome to join.)

Measure for Measure
Act I - Aug 22
Act II - Aug 29
Act III - Sep 5
Act IV - Sep 12
Act V - Sep 19

#Shakespearereadalong

merelybookish, GingerAntics

Graywacke @IamIamIam @Trashcanman @rabbitprincess @Wife @Susannah @wanderinglynn @Mtroiano @MrsMalaprop @kathedron @Sunraven @teainthelibrary @Kristy_K @mhillis (if anyone wants on or off the list for this one, just let me know.) 3y

merelybookish On the ball @Graywacke! 3y

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GingerAntics You are so well planned. 💙💙💙 I love it. 3y

batsy Thank you! Looking forward 🙂 3y

Graywacke @merelybookish @GingerAntics Thanks. Had a moment of feeling responsible 😇💪 3y

Graywacke @batsy you‘re welcome. And me too. No clue what to expect here. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Thank you! 3y

TheBookHippie I‘m in -you had me at executions… 😂 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke you‘ve had your adulting, responsible moment for the week then. You‘re good! 🤣😂🤣 3y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa you‘re welcome 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie needed a lure 🙂 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics i wish. I‘m ready to be done for the week! 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke you and me both. Is it really just Monday? I‘m over it already. 3y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics @Graywake I swear this week was a month long. 3y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @Graywacke it really has felt like a REALLY long week. No idea why. 3y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie oye. Wish you a better week @GingerAntics and you too. 3y

GingerAntics @Graywacke thank you. I was genuinely surprised to find that this post was only 7 days old. 3y

48 likes18 comments

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

There‘s a reason this is one of the “problem plays.” It‘s typically labeled a comedy b/c it ends w/a bunch of marriages instead of deaths & there‘s a clown. But it‘s not a tragedy b/c no deaths. So...yeah. A dramedy?? Who knows, but I really liked it! Esp when Angelo is like “I won‘t kill your brother if you fuck me” & Isabella‘s like “How about u go fuck yourself?” She was awesome. A lot of good quotes in this one. And a happy-ish ending. 4/5 ⭐️

25 likes

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Alack, when once our grace we have forgot,
Nothing goes right. We would, and we would not.

[The second sentence is a reference to Romans 7:15.]

20 likes

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

O, it is excellent
To have a giant‘s strength, but it is tyrannous
To use it like a giant.

18 likes

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Our doubts are traitors
And makes us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.

tpixie Isn‘t that the truth! 4y

17 likes1 comment

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offense, by weight,
The words of heaven: on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still ‘tis just.

19 likes

alisonrose

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

This is one of the “problem plays,” and from reading the synopsis, I can see why. It‘s typically categorized as a comedy, but it sure sounds like it gets pretty dark and heavy at times. The Bard contained multitudes, and so did many of his works! #nowreading

24 likes

madamereadsalot1

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

#giant #quotsymar19 @TK-421

21 likes

Lcsmcat

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

#nurse #quotsynov18 @TK-421

50 likes

Kimberlone

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

This might be one of my favorite insults so far!

26 likes

BlissReads

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Sundays with Will.

Lcsmcat

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

#complete #quotsymarch18 I seem to gravitate to the snarky quotes. Hmmm. @TK-421

TK-421 That's not a bad thing! Snarky, silly or serious, I love them all! 7y

Lcsmcat @TK-421 I‘m (half-heartedly) trying to get all of this month‘s quotes from Shakespeare, and he does snark so very well. 😀 7y

57 likes2 comments

Lcsmcat

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

#doubt #quotsyjan18 @TK-421

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i.z.booknook

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

pick

Of course Ol‘ Bill is a pick! 😉💪🏻

An entertaining look at human nature! The language is beautiful including some extremely powerful passages, some that are very relevant to recent events 🤔

I feel very sorry for Isabel. She had a tough old time and tries her best to do what is right by everyone. And then at the end when she doesn‘t say anything, I wonder what she feels...😔

Ke633 Measure for Measure is one of my absolute favorites! 7y

i.z.booknook @Ke633 me too now! Can‘t believe it took me so long to read! 😂 7y

46 likes1 stack add2 comments

i.z.booknook

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Shakespeare‘s comedic characters were very good! 😂

When the prisoner is too sleepy to go to his execution...

“Awake till you are executed, and sleep afterwards.”

36 likes1 stack add

erzascarletbookgasm

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

Measure for Measure | William Shakespeare

This scene is so so intense! The language is incredible, the characters strong, and still commenting on relevant aspects of today's society! Why I love Shakespeare!

I: "I'll tell the world aloud what man thou art."
A: "who will believe thee, Isabel? My unsoil'd name..."

36 likes

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