Premarital Sex In Measure For Measure By Shakespeare

During the sixteenth and seventeenth century in Shakespearian England, laws regarding sexuality and marriage were very stern. Premarital sex was strictly forbidden. In such circumstances where sex outside of wedlock was apparent, consequences such as beheading or forced marriage were denounced. Shakespeare presents this issue between promiscuous behavior and marriage within his plays. The bed-trick, a deceitful trick played in Measure for Measure and All’s Well that ends well was initiated so that eternal marriage was made. Despite the unwillingness between the men, Helena and Mariana tricked their former fiancés into sleeping with them. Both Angelo and Bertram were forced to eternally live with the women they were fooled into sleeping with

Friedman (1995) explains that the men must marry their sexual partner immediately to compensate for the harm they have caused through fornication. In these circumstances where premarital sex occurs, women feel humiliation with the risk of destroyed reputation. However, marriage to the sexual partner can result in restoration of the woman’s righteousness and decency. This is shown between many characters in both plays. By marriage the crime is forgiven and all is well, despite the fact that love or desire may not be

Mariana, Angelo’s former fiancée tricks Angelo into sleeping with her, pretending to be his beloved Isabella. Through the bed-trick Isabella is able to save her honor and save the day without having to do the dirty work. Which in this case was to sleep with Angelo to save her brother’s life. In the end the law stands strong and like the title Measure for Measure, the punishments must be equal. As Claudio has to marry Juliet, Angelo too has to marry Mariana, despite his lack of love or interest in her (Act 5, Scene 1). Regardless of the feelings of both partners, if they can sleep together, they can live together for eternity. Forced marriage is also evident in All’s well that ends