Measure for Measure is the story of Claudio who is arrested for immoral behaviour by Angelo, the man temporarily in charge of Vienna. As the play unfolds Claudio's sister Isabella works to ensure he is released.
This play is often referred to as one of Shakespeare's problem plays, and allows lots of opportunities to discuss ideas of justice and law. As well as this, there are lots of themes you can use as routes into the text:
- Wealth and Corruption
- Religion and faith
- Forgiveness and Mercy
There are so many different ways of exploring the text but you may find the following particularly useful in introducing the text: