Free Measure for Measure Essays: Mercy vs. Justice :: Measure for Measure

Mercy vs. Justice in Measure for Measure   Theme Mercy vs. Justice. Allusion to justice = eye for eye, tooth for tooth measure for measure allusion to mercy = let him without sin cast away the first stone esp. sexual sin. Summary Duke wants to restore the strictness of fornication/adultery laws. He sets up Angelo to do it, while he feigns that he forget be away. Instead he remains to check up on Angelo and the town (Vienna). Angelo goes ahead and closes down Overdones brothel and the others, and puts Claudio in jail, condemned to die the morrow, for impregnating Juliet. Isabella, Claudios sister and virtually to enter a nunnery, pleads for Angelos mercy on him. Lucio counsels her to be warm to him, and she is just warm enough to inspire Angelo to seduce her seduction in exchange for Claudio. The Duke, represent as a Friar, overhears her exchange with Claudio in which he counsels her to go through with the act. He enters and sets up a plan Angelo ought to have married Mariana but didnt Mariana indeed will go in Isabellas place. Angelo, after the deed, calls even more quickly for Claudios head. The Duke (as Friar) puts this off now Angelo is two steps behind (not knowing about either Mariana or Claudio). The Duke returns, as Duke, and asks for anyone against Angelo to speak. Isabella does finally it comes out that the Friar was behind Isabellas suit. The Friar is called for, and so the Duke disappears and comes back as the Friar, but is revealed to be the Duke. The switch is revealed and Angelo must conjoin Mariana Claudio is revealed as alive and is pardoned by the Duke. Lucio (a subplot) also gets his deserts. Morality mercy wins over justice, and yet there is a strong sense of justice having been done. Symbolically realised by the Duke (justice) taking on the habit of a true friar (mercy but with sense of justice) starting with I.iii.48. II.i.17 ff, Angelo on justice without mercy Tis one function to be tempted, Escalus,/Another thing to fall. I not deny,/The jury, passing on the prisoners life,/May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two/Guiltier than him they try. Whats open made to justice,/That justice seizes what know the laws/That thieves do pass on thieves?--this is unmitigated justice, just as II.i.30-31 Let mine own head pattern out my death, which Angelo is willing to accept once caught, in V.