Duke Vincentio appoints Lord Angelo as his deputy to rule with Escalus in his absence from Vienna, where depravity and loose living have become rife. Lucio, with the bawd, Mistress Overdone, and her servant, Pompey, are horrified at Angelo's enforcement of the laws against immorality which results in imprisonment and a death sentence for Claudio, who has got his fiancé, Juliet, pregnant. Lucio takes this news to the convent where Isabella, Claudio's sister, is about to become a nun. Isabella goes at once to seek mercy from Angelo. The Duke, meanwhile, has not left the city but, in disguise as a travelling friar, he is attempting to discover how the people react to Angelo's rule. He visits the prison where he tries to persuade Juliet that Claudio must die. Encouraged by Lucio, Isabella begs the stern Angelo for leniency. As she persists, Angelo is attracted to her and tells her to come back next day, after he has thought the case over. On her return Angelo proposes that if Isabella will sleep with him he will reprieve her brother.

Isabella's horror at the idea leads her to the prison where she tells Claudio of Angelo's suggestion and they are overheard by the disguised Duke. The Duke suggests a solution whereby Mariana, whom Angelo has formerly rejected as his betrothed because her dowry was lost at sea, should secretly take Isabella's place in the suggested night-time meeting. The prison governor, or Provost, receives instructions for Claudio's execution despite Angelo's agreement with Isabella, but the Duke, still in disguise as the friar, persuades the Provost to spare Claudio and instead to execute a long-term prisoner, Barnardine, so that Angelo may be sent the head he has demanded. When Barnardine will not oblige, they decide to substitute the head of a recently deceased prisoner, claiming it to be Claudio.

On the following day the friar tells Isabella, after Mariana has fulfilled her part of the bargain, that Angelo has had Claudio executed and the two women resolve to go with Lucio, next day, to present their complaints to the Duke whose return from abroad has been announced. At the Duke's state entrance to the city Isabella begs for justice. With Mariana's aid Angelo's fault is revealed and he is forced to accept Mariana as his wife. Lucio, who, while befriending Isabella, has frequently slandered the Duke unknowingly to his face, is condemned to marriage with the prostitute mother of his illegitimate child.

After the Duke reveals his former disguise, Claudio's escape from the law's demands is disclosed and he is restored to Juliet and to Isabella. The play ends as the Duke offers to make Isabella his bride.

'Measure for Measure' was probably written and first acted in1604, but the play did not appear in print until the ‘First Folio' of 1623.

© Marian J. Pringle
Special Collections Librarian