Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare Essay

I am perpetually enjoin by you Mariana I am directed by you Isabella. Both these lines atomic number 18 addressed to the Duke. What do they suggest about women status in this lean? What other evidence can you find to support your view? assess for Measure is a tomboy written by William Shakespe atomic number 18 in the 17th century which cruci bothy presents the role of women. Women were viewed as pure and were not anticipate to be gentle, but dependent on men with few options or choices.Shakespeares interpretation of women in Measure for Measure very much(prenominal) reflects federations opinion of women at the term, where men had more(prenominal) liberty and should be harbourn more respect than women. The society at that time was a patriarchal one, where a male was a considered a paragon like figure and ultimately the leader, and below him was the king and then the nobles. However, although the society gave men more rights than women, Measure for Measure demonstrate s that men in any case had more responsibilities.This is shown through the situation with Claudio and Juliet, as although they are both equally to reprobate for Juliets pregnancy, it is Claudio facing the death penalty. The women of Measure for Measure are mainly sort of low in the ranks of importance and respect they are not spoken of with whatever importance. Juliet is the object of Claudios sexual release and Mariana is the pine lost forgotten fiancee of Angelo, who was abandoned by him when she lost her helping in a shipwreck.The only woman who kind of breaks the trend of the low-toned women is Isabella, who has the courage to stand up to Angelo for her justice. In the first half she is pushed mingled with Angelo and Claudio while she decides what to do and refuses to respond Angelos advances, then in the piece 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 women when talking to Mariana, he says Why, you are nothing then neither maid, widow nor wife.According to the Dukes point of view, the other woman who truly is free is Mistress exaggerate as she earns her own money and is satisfactory to get some emancipation at least she doesnt have to stay at seat 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 fact that she is training to become a nun and by the strong Christian values she appears to have. This is then emphasized later when she is told her buddys life 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 Is abella. None of these three men, Angelo, Claudio or the Duke, front to think that her picking matters- her body is to be bargained for whether for lust, life or love.When the duke asks Mariana to allow him a common soldier discussion with Isabella, she replies, I am always bound to you, as if she is dissertation 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 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 absolute 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 declare oneself by order of men, but especially if the order was m inded(p) by a man of religion. These words show the absolute compliance that the Duke is able to gain through becoming a disguise (pseudo-)friar. The Duke abuses this religious bureau 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, in that respect are no independent women in Measure for Measure, this is not strange, considering the scene 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.