MEASURE FOR MEASURE SYNOPSIS

PRE-AMBLE

It is not necessary to be familiar with the story and plot of Measure For Measure. Since I Suppose is an experience-based work. You will receive updates on the general flow of the story as you go through your journey. However, we know that some of you will want to have a general idea of the story beforehand, so below is a brief outline.

If you do wish to read this synopsis, then we recommend that you read it some days or weeks prior to your journey, and then forget about it. Elements will surface as you go through your experience, and that is sufficient.

So, that’s the pre-amble – here is the synopsis.

SYNOPSIS

Shakespeare’s ‘Measure for Measure’ centres around the fate of a young man, the brother, who is arrested and sentenced to death. His crime? – sex out of wedlock.

Let me go back a bit. The Duke of the city (we call him just Duke) suddenly decides to leave town and promotes a deputy, Angelo, as temporary leader of the city. Angelo is a zealous upholder of the law, with a reputation as virtuous, strict and moralistic. As head, he decides to curb the sexual excesses of the city, and takes it upon himself to rid the city of its sex industry. He revives an old law that makes it illegal to have sex outside of wedlock.

The brother is arrested when it becomes apparent that his girlfriend is pregnant, though they are not married. Engaged, yes. And consensual. Nonetheless, the young man is to be made an example of and is sentenced to death.

Now, the young man has a sister (that’s why we call him the brother). Isabella is a sister – well, she is about to enter a nunnery, when her brother is arrested. She is strictly virtuous, religious and chaste. When she hears of her brother’s arrest, she goes immediately to Angelo to beg him for mercy. He refuses, but – affected by her proximity and her passionate nature – he suggests there might be a way to change his mind. Angelo proposes that he will let her brother live if she agrees to have sex with him, Angelo. She is shocked and immediately refuses.

She visits her brother in prison and tells him of Angelo’s request. He too is outraged, and agrees with her – at first – but on considering what death is to him, he then changes his mind. Isabella is left to contemplate a very important decision.

But of course Duke never did leave town but instead adopts a disguise to observe the goings-on in his absence. He gets wind of Isabella’s predicament and, in a way, lets her off the hook by suggesting a ruse. Duke tells Isabella that Angelo had a former lover, Mariana, was engaged to be married, but he abandoned her when she lost her dowry in a shipwreck.

Duke forms a plan by which Isabella will agree to have sex with Angelo, but then Mariana will go in her place. The next morning Angelo, satisfied, will pardon the brother.

And so it goes, according to plan, except that Angelo does not pardon the brother, fearing that word may get out and ruin his reputation. Duke comes up with a further trick and sends Angelo the head of a dead pirate (recently deceased through natural causes) claiming that it is the head of the brother, leading Angelo to believe that his orders were carried out.

Isabella is told that her brother is dead, and that she should submit a complaint to Duke, who is due to arrive back in town shortly, accusing Angelo of immoral acts.

Duke returns, sans disguise, and declares that he will immediately hear any and all grievances. Isabella tells her story. Duke pretends not to believe her. Angelo condemns Isabella as a liar. Eventually, Duke reveals his dual identity, and Angelo is undone. Angelo confesses his misdeeds and is given in marriage to Mariana; the brother – still alive – is pardoned; and the Duke asks Isabella to marry him.