Contextual References in ‘Measure for Measure’ Essay Sample free essay sample

‘Measure for Measure’ is set in Vienna. in 1603. It was written merely after James the first. a Protestant swayer came to the throne in England after the decease of Queen Elizabeth. who was Catholic. Religion is a large portion of the drama. particularly in Act 1. when the new announcement is foremost introduced. Both Catholics and Puritans believe that sex before matrimony is incorrect. and during James the 1sts reign. the Puritans tried to do adultery a condemnable offense. This belief is portrayed in the drama through Claudio. who is being arrested for acquiring his fiance . Julietta pregnant. In Act one scene two. Pompey describes Claudio’s offense as â€Å"Groping for trouts in a curious river. † The word â€Å"peculiar† is used because Claudio and Julietta were about married. nevertheless hadn’t sorted out the dowery. a payment to the groom and his household from the bride’s household. ( This was common pattern in Jacobean/Elizabe than society. We will write a custom essay sample on Contextual References in ‘Measure for Measure’ Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page ) The position that sex outside of matrimony is incorrect. is farther emphasised by the belief in the seven lifelessly wickednesss. the foundation of morality in Jacobean society. One of the deathly wickednesss is Lechery ( lecherousness ) which is what most of the population of Vienna is guilty of. This is why all the whorehouses in Vienna are traveling to be closed down and Claudio is being arrested. and used as an illustration to the remainder of the people in Vienna. Angelo is the individual who implements the jurisprudence. and wants to kill Claudio as a penalty for his offense. He appears to be a rigorous Puritan. and is described as â€Å"snow-broth† which means he is person who doesn’t see any immoral or iniquitous. sexual feelings. nevertheless. the audience shortly change their positions and get down to see him as a dissembler when he subsequently on asks Isabelle to hold sex with him in order to salvage her brother. Claudio. In London. and Vienna. common pattern was the opposite to ideals of faith and province. For illustration. in Elizabethan and Jacobean England. a spiritual individual was thought to be baronial and had a high positi on in society. and heritage depended upon lineages in a household. However. pre matrimonial or excess matrimonial sex was really common. particularly in royalty. and because of this. sexually familial diseases were besides really common. Shakspere illustrates this in scene two. where Lucio. Gent One and Gent Two are jesting about sexually transmitted diseases outside the whorehouse. â€Å"I had as leif be a list of an English kersey as be piled. as thou art piled. for a Gallic velvet† The characters are jesting with each other about acquiring sexually transmitted diseases from cocottes. as whorehouses were really common in Vienna. â€Å"French velvet† is a wordplay on sexually transmitted diseases. such as pox and besides means cocotte. Another wordplay is used. on the word â€Å"piled† which refers to haemorrhoids or losing hair. both caused by pox. Peoples in Shakespeare’s clip believed in countenance. and this is demonstrated during act one. scene on of the drama when the duke is talking to Angelo. â€Å"There is a sort of character in thy life That to th’observer doth thy history Fully unfold. † Physiognomy is the belief that external visual aspect is an index of a person ’s personality. and here. the duke is stating that Angelo’s visual aspect shows that he is a spiritual and baronial individual. This is boding what happens subsequently on in the drama when we realise Angelo’s true character. Shakspere shows some similarities between the duke and King James who was governing at the clip when the drama was written. This is shown in the Duke’s monologue. for illustration. â€Å"I do non enjoy good Their loud applause† suggests that the Duke is modest and doesn’t like being in the limelight. which was similar to James the 1st’s personality. Shakespeare is seeking to show two swayers who are both just swayers. but have been excessively indulgent in their opinion which has lead to London and Vienna to go ‘diseased’ really. and metaphorically. as James was a batch more tolerant of people than Elizabeth was. James’s belief in ‘The Divine Right Of Kings’ is besides reflected in the drama. through Angelo’s character. when he arrests Claudio and so sentences him to decease for his offenses. This belief states th at swayers were sent down from God and were God’s deputies on Earth. so hence. were a higher position than ordinary people. Angelo takes his function as swayer really earnestly. and starts to move as if he is God. by interfering with affairs of life and decease.