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Measure for Measure

Chapter 2: Dramatis Personæ
By William Shakespeare
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About This Book

A ruler deputizes a strict official to impose moral order, and that official harshly punishes a young man for sexual transgression. The condemned man’s sister, a novice nun, pleads for mercy and faces an exploitative proposition that exposes the deputy’s hypocrisy. The absent ruler, disguised as a friar, engineers a series of substitutions and legal maneuvers that bring secret failings to light and force public reckonings. Bawdy comic episodes run alongside serious trials, and the work interrogates authority, justice, sexual politics, and the uneasy balance between rigorous law and merciful clemency.

Contents

ACT I
Scene I. An apartment in the Duke’s palace
Scene II. A street
Scene III. A monastery
Scene IV. A nunnery
ACT II
Scene I. A hall in Angelo’s house
Scene II. Another room in the same
Scene III. A room in a prison
Scene IV. A room in Angelo’s house
ACT III
Scene I. A room in the prison
Scene II. The street before the prisons
ACT IV
Scene I. A room in Mariana’s house
Scene II. A room in the prison
Scene III. Another room in the same
Scene IV. A room in Angelo’s house
Scene V. Fields without the town
Scene VI. Street near the city gate
ACT V
Scene I. A public place near the city gate

Dramatis Personæ

Vincentio, DUKE of Vienna
ESCALUS, an ancient Lord
PROVOST
ELBOW, a simple constable
ABHORSON, an executioner
A JUSTICE
VARRIUS, a Gentleman, Servant to the Duke

ANGELO, Deputy to the Duke
MARIANA, betrothed to Angelo
BOY, singer
SERVANT, to Angelo
MESSENGER, from Angelo

ISABELLA, Sister to Claudio
FRANCISCA, a nun

CLAUDIO, a young Gentleman
JULIET, betrothed to Claudio
LUCIO, a fantastic
Two GENTLEMEN

FRIAR THOMAS
FRIAR PETER

Mistress Overdone, a BAWD
POMPEY, Servant to Mistress Overdone
FROTH, a foolish gentleman
BARNARDINE, a dissolute prisoner

Lords, Officers, Servants, Citizens and Attendants

SCENE: Vienna