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MonkeyNotes-Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
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SOURCES OF THE PLAY
Measure for Measure is based on the tale of Epitia and Juriste from
a collection of stories by Giraldi Cinthio, published in Venice in
1566. Juriste, appointed governor of Innsbruck, passes the sentence
of death on Vico for his crime against a woman. Vico's sister,
Epitia begs for her brother's life. Deeply stirred by her beauty,
Juriste is prepared to commute Vico's sentence if Epitia will satisfy
his desire for her. Though she considers her honor far dearer, when
her brother appeals to her to save his life, she surrenders herself to
the corrupt Governor. She realizes her folly when her brother's
coffin is carried into the house. She appeals to the Emperor. The
Emperor arranges the marriage of Juriste and Epitia. He then
sentences Juriste to death. However, Epitia begs the Emperor to
pardon him. Astonished by her goodness, the emperor grants her
request.
The other sources include the two versions of a similar story by
George Whetstone. The earlier version is a play in two parts called
Promos and Cassandra published in 1578, and the latter, a short
narrative called the Rare History of Promos and Cassandra. In
Whetstone's play, Cassandra debates whether she will let her
brother Andrugio die or whether she will yield her honor to
Promos. Like Isabella, she would gladly die in place of her brother,
and she thinks death in itself is a lesser evil than loss of honor. The
play presents certain simple and basic human passions and
conflicts: Promos' dilemma between justice and lust, Andrugio's
instinct to save himself at almost any cost, Cassandra's dilemma
between the desire to save her brother's life and to save her honor.
The human interest and the dramatic possibilities of the Cassandra
plays kindled Shakespeare's imagination, and he proceeded in
Measure for Measure to give his version of them. But Shakespeare
makes his heroine resist the appeal of her brother to save his life.
Whetstone's heroine has a divided mind and struggles with herself.
But Isabella struggles with her brother and her would-be seducer.
Cassandra, after having been violated, contemplates suicide. But in
Measure for Measure, Isabella has no reason to meditate suicide.
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