In the words of the 19th century critic FS Boas, “Measure for Measure” is undeniably a “problem play”, meaning that it is of a play centered on certain moral values. or philosophical questions. However, beyond simply being a play about the issues, "Measure for Measure" is a problem in itself - it is neither a full-fledged tragedy nor a comedy, and one cannot isolate a single " problem”, or a single question, that the game seeks to solve. Rather, the play contains a multitude of contrasting moral and philosophical themes, many of which Shakespeare introduces us to in the first act of the play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The most obvious theme is that of symmetry and antithesis; the idea of ​​balance and counterweight. The name "Measure for Measure" alludes to this in clear terms, alluding to the connotations of balance and equivalence that are very present in the piece, and evoking the image of the "scales of justice", a common image of the law. These scales represent a balance between mercy and punishment, a balance between crime and the response to it. It is often suggested that the name Escalus – that of the play's elderly and wise character – is intended to imply this image of the "scales of justice". This title is a good summary of the main theme and ethos of the play – namely the idea of ​​“an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. Crucially, many of the play's apparent symmetries are actually antitheses. A prime example of this in the first act is Angelo's overly harsh punishment of Claudio – sentencing him to death for "lust", a crime and punishment that are clearly not in balance with each other (a fact that Lucio expresses with the question “is lust thus cured?”). Angelo's character fits perfectly with the image of an apparent balance that is in fact an imbalance: his soul "seems good", but he resorts to "tyranny" and abuse of power; he seems to be a man of “rigor” and “firm abstinence”, but who (we discover later) has an illegitimate child. Indeed, we often see references to coins and money in reference to Angelo (an Angelo being a type of coin), such as the idea of ​​a "figure" being "stamped" on its " metal ". A coin is an apt metaphor for Angelo's character, and even for the coin as a whole - although it seems like a simple thing, a coin has two distinct sides. Angelo's misunderstanding of the Duke's reference to "mortality" goes a lot like this: the Duke means "life", while Angelo sees "the other side of the coin" and interprets this statement as a proclamation that he has the power to sentence his people to death. The themes of appearance and power in "Measure for Measure" are summed up by the Duke, with his decree that "we will see, if power changes its aim, what our pretenses are." The theme of substitution is linked to that of appearance and is also introduced in the first act. Substitution becomes a key facet of “measure for measure” – such as the substitution of Mariana in place of Isabella. We also see Angelo taking the Duke's place and the Duke taking the brother's place. These substitutions recall the central ethos of the play – the idea of ​​“measure for measure,” as alternatives that seem balanced often rely on the substitution of one person for another. The idea of ​​fraud or substitution fits well into the morally corrupt society in which the play takes place – a society in »..