
Measure for Measure
Approaching Shakespeare
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The Importance of Moral Questions in Shakespeare's Play
Shakespeare has made his Isabella into a nun, or at least a novice nun. The extent of her religious scruples about sleeping with Angelo is a key axis in the play. In all the sources, the Duke figure comes in at the end as the classical Deus Exmachina who enters the play right in the conclusion to bring about a resolution. There's a strong association of comedy, Shakespearean comedy, with dominant women characters. I said that in that story, the woman at the centre is the main character. Now that does seem interesting for the question of genre in measure for measure.
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