Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare Essay

I am perpetually directed by you Mariana I am directed by you Isabella. Both these lines are turn to to the Duke. What do they suggest about wo manpower status in this play? What other evidence can you reveal to support your view? measuring rod for Measure is a play written by William Shakespeare in the seventeenth century which crucially presents the role of women. Women were viewed as pure and were not expected to be promiscuous, but myrmecophilous on men with few options or choices.Shakespeares interpretation of women in Measure for Measure real much reflects societys opinion of women at the time, where men had more freedom and should be presumptuousness more respect than women. The society at that time was a patriarchal one, where a male was a considered a God like figure and ultimately the leader, and below him was the king and thusly the nobles. However, although the society gave men more rights than women, Measure for Measure demonstrates that men likewise had more responsibilities.This is sh experience through the situation with Claudio and Juliet, as although they are both equally to blame for Juliets pregnancy, it is Claudio facing the death penalty. The women of Measure for Measure are mostly kind of low in the ranks of importance and respect they are not spoken of with any importance. Juliet is the tendency of Claudios sexual release and Mariana is the long upset forgotten fiancee of Angelo, who was abandoned by him when she lost her dowry in a shipwreck.The only woman who kind of breaks the trend of the lowly women is Isabella, who has the courage to raise up to Angelo for her chastity. In the first half she is pushed between Angelo and Claudio while she decides what to do and refuses to respond Angelos advances, then in the second half, she takes her orders from the Duke which shows that on the other hand she is still obedient toward the Duke, following all of his instructions. In Act V, Scene 1, the Duke shows his opinion of wome n when talking to Mariana, he says Why, you are nothing then neither maid, widow woman nor wife.According to the Dukes point of view, the other woman who truly is free is Mistress do as she earns her own money and is able to get some freedom at least she doesnt have to stay at home cooking. The main female character in Measure for Measure is Isabella she represents a very pure female character. This is first seen at the start of the play by the feature that she is training to become a nun and by the strong Christian values she appears to have. This is then accent later when she is told her brothers sprightliness will be saved ifshe agrees to sleep with Angelo.She refuses this offer, placing her chastity and her Christian values above her own life. This illustrates that a womans purity is highly valued, while a woman being promiscuous is not accepted. Mariana is another female character in the play and she is quite different to Isabella. None of these three men, Angelo, Claudio or the Duke, seem to think that her CHOICE matters- her body is to be bargained for whether for lust, life or love.When the duke asks Mariana to allow him a private discussion with Isabella, she replies, I am endlessly bound to you, as if she is speaking to an old friend. And again, when the duke tells her he respects her, she answers that she knows it and has found it to be true, suggesting a long-term relationship. This statement also shows that she is his subject. The adjective bound means that she is obliged to do as he wishes and also compelled to do so. She uses the adverb always to him which shows that she will always follow his example and will do his will in any condition.Her secure trust is manifested when she agrees to entrust her chastity as the Friar asks. In the Jacobean society Shakespeare lived in, women would have always done as they were bid by order of men, but especially if the order was given by a man of religion. These words show the absolute compliance that th e Duke is able to gain through comme il faut a disguise (pseudo-)friar. The Duke abuses this religious power to gain insight into peoples souls for his own ends.He knows that Angelo wishes Isabella to give up the treasures of her body and uses the two women to gain more power over Angelo. The same applies to when Isabella says to the Duke, I am directed by you, this statement also shows how women respected men and how men were above in authority. As mentioned above, there are no independent women in Measure for Measure, this is not strange, considering the setting and Shakespeares own era there are prostitutes and nuns who are given no chance to control their own lives most of all they seem to have no choice in any matter.