Literature

William Shakespeares drama Measure for Measure recounts the rise and fall of one Angelo, the Deputy of the Duke Vincentio. The importance of this drama is the way in which power can create a flaw in even the most perfect character.  It also shows the violence of power in which is seen through the use of Angelos time in substitution for the Duke.  However, the Duke is not far away and hides in view to watch as the power flaws those who believe they are too pure for sin.  In this sense, Measure for Measure must be examined in the ways of violence, because the violence is in every scene in some such way.  All are effected by the new order, and the Duke is hopeful in the use of this violence.
This fact of using Angelo as the deliverer of violence can be seen in the conversation between the Duke and Friar Thomas when he states
 I have on Angelo imposd the office
Who may, in th ambush of my name, strike home,
And yet my nature never in the fight
To do in slander.  (I.iii.40-43)

In this it seems that the Duke does not want to show a strong hand and take the re-enacting of laws into his own hands and thereby be responsible for them. In fact, this is one of the reasons, but the other reason is based on his understanding of power and the ways in which power can corrupt even the purest.  This is shown in the comment Lord Angelo is precise Stands at a guard with envyhence shall we see If power change purpose (I.iii.59-63).

In the first Act, the undertone of violence is firmly set.  As the Duke gives his power to Angelo he states that to th hopeful execution do I leave you of your commissions (I.i.58-59).  The use of the word execution is a foreshadowing of the things to come in the drama.  Duke Vincentio continues with Angelo stating With any scruple. Your scope is as mine own, So to enforce or qualify the laws As to your soul seems good (I.i.64-66).  This last instruction is giving all power of life and death to Angelo, in hopes that he will reinforce laws that have been ignored for too long.

Now that Angelo has his say and the power to give justice, the audience begins to see how his justice works within the city of Vienna.  It is not at all a merciful substitution.  Each and every decision of Angelos hurts another person or group of people, because he believes in himself as pure and in the laws as pure and unbending as well.  One of the first instances of this new found power is the destruction of all houses of ill-repute, or otherwise known as houses of resort are to be torn down and the bawds and prostitutes that work within them are to be arrested. The action will take place in the suburbs first, and then the urban inns will be taken (I.ii.95-103), much to the dismay of many common people as well as nobles.

The most violent action of the drama is the understanding that no one is safe in Vienna.  This is most apparent as the noble Signior Claudio is charged with fornication and being executed because of the deed, as per the law.  He is discovered because the woman whom he is to marry is with child and therefore the act of fornication was obviously committed, and as per the law, Angelo sentences, Claudio to die (I.ii.64-73). This is the act that creates the momentum of the rest of the drama.

Several of the characters beg for the life of Claudio.  One such character is the second in command, Escalus, who asks for Claudios life through his lineage and his most noble father (II.i.7).  However, the true understanding of Angelos justice is pronounced in his response Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall (II.i.17-18).  Hence, Escalus realizes that for Claudio But yet, poor Claudio there is no remedy (II.i.285).

The next to question Angelo on the death of Claudio is the Provost, in which he states I have seen When, after execution, judgment hath repented oer his doom (II.ii.10-12).  Angelos response is either to do as told or give up the job.  Of course, the Provost will do his job, but is not happy about the actions at all, especially for such a slight offence in the ways of crime.

Through the begging of Claudios sister, the nun-to-be Isabel, Angelo is changed and in this change the power of justice is warped. At this point the Duke returns in the character of Friar Lodowick, and watches from the sidelines, until things become too much to bear. At this time he schemes and plans to save Claudio and Isabel, but also to redeem the foresworn Mariana, the woman contracted to marry Angelo and cast aside. The Duke wants to right all the wrongs and now has his answer as to the question of If power change purpose (I.iii.63).

All the devilment comes to light upon the Dukes return.  At his return Isabel goes to him to for justice.  She tells how Angelo required her to give him her body in payment for her brothers life, and after the deed was done, he executed her brother anyway.  She is led to prison (V.i.20  121). Next is Mariana, who charges Angelo with knowing her as a wife, for she had replaced the nun to make claim to her husband and to ensure the purity of Isabel. She accuses Angelo to be her husband, and he denies the possibility without as much as a falter (V.i.167-235). Now Friar Lodowick returns, and is shown to be none other than the Duke Vincentio (V.i.355).

It all becomes clear for Angelo.  He knows that he is lost, because the Friar is the Duke and therefore knows his treachery.  Where at the beginning is seems to the audience that the Duke was not one for corporeal punishment, this is quickly shown to be false.  For he charges Angelo with fornication and sentences him not only to wed the woman, but to be executed as well, just as he had done to Claudio.  However, the Duke has one more play before he finishes the task.  He shows mercy to all and pardons all execution except in the character of Lucio who has berated and slandered the Duke.  He even pardons the Provost and Escalus for their parts in the events, and in the end presents a very live Claudio that is to be wed to Juliet and their child.

The drama shows the very big differences in the styles of rulers in the 16th Century.  The fact is that when one was raised to rule there was more to the position than meting out justice.  Each circumstance needed to be evaluated for the individuality that befalls every human.  The drama also implores the audience to understand that even the most pure, who are arrogant of their purity will fall, and when they do the fall will be hard.  The pure of heart have nothing to fear but everything to gain.

Shakespeares approach to drama and sonnets was to tell the truth of the world from the outside looking in to the medieval world of kings and commoners.  Through his histories, tragedies, comedies, and romances the audience was able to understand the plot and comprehend the message.  The use of the different types of rulers allowed him to show the difference between the just and justice.  There is a large difference and Measure for Measure showed it well.  Most of the rulers in Shakespeares works are based on the real ruler and on the concepts put forth by Machiavelli and Aristotle in the virtuous and just ruler.  The Duke was virtuous and just, while Angelo was truly neither.  The power took over and he became a plaything for the power and looked at his own understanding and interests in the events and not in the individuals or their story.  Having the Duke return and put everything back into place, was to show that the just ruler will be merciful or cruel when needed, but will always have the laws and justice on his side.