At the time that Measure for Measure was written, England was a Protestant country, meaning that the monarch at the time, James I was the head of the Church of England. However, the England that Shakespeare was brought up in was still living with the remnants of a Catholic history, and so the religious beliefs that he would have learnt about as a child would have been those of the Catholic faith. Although Shakespeare was writing the play for a Protestant audience and a Protestant king, he was setting the play in a Catholic country, so this gave him an opportunity to feature his religious beliefs as a Catholic in the play.
One of the characters in the play particularly affected by religion is the Duke, as he discards his secular identity and is able to take on a religious identity as a friar, which allows him to behave in a particular way which was not possible for a Duke. The fact that the Duke is disguised, and really has another identity makes it easy for the audience to see how religion affects the way he behaves, and also the way other people react to him, as we can compare him as a religious figure, to him as the ruler of Vienna. One aspect of the Duke as a friar that can be compared to him as a ruler is the amount of power that he has. The start of the play shows the audience the Vienna for which the Duke was responsible, and the audience are shown him taking a break from Vienna and leaving someone else to restore law and order. The audience learn that people are allowed to get away with breaking laws regarding fornication, and that people like Mistress Overdone run brothels without a problem. Although the Duke is supposed to have power, he doesn't choose to use it, and forgives people who break the law and doesn't...
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... her considering the offer, which makes the audience question just how dedicated to her religion she really is.
In the society the play is set in, religion theoretically has a huge effect on the way everyone lives their lives as it influences the laws which govern the city. However, we see in the play that whilst the Duke is ruling over Vienna, people do not take notice of these laws, and it is because of this that he hands over power to Angelo, to attempt to make the people abide by the laws. Despite this, the laws, and therefore religion still cannot have much effect as the Duke is secretly working to undo Angelo's work, and at the end of the play, order has not been restored to Vienna. This shows, that whilst in theory religion has an effect on society, unless the laws are actually being kept to, religion does not have as much of an effect as it should.
There are many Shakespearean experts who hold true to the belief that Shakespeare was a Protestant as was the custom of the time in England. Those who are in this manner of belief, point out the one thing that can be universally agreed on in the debate, the fact that there is no concrete evidence in the case for Shakespeare’s Catholicism. There is however a plethora of potential and speculative evidence to support the idea that William Shakespeare was a Catholic.
authority, providing a model for the Prince in his maturation. This play becomes the study
There are many social institutions that have major impacts on society. One of the trickiest social institutions would have to be, religion. Religion seems to have a huge impact on a society even if it’s directly or indirectly. Why is that? Do we need it? Does it let us live a more fulfilled life? What effects does it have on society? Is it necessary for a functioning society? According to Dalton Conley (2013:611) sociology defines religion as being a unified system of beliefs traditions, and practices around sacred things; a set of shared “stories” that guide belief and action. Religion is a way for people to make sense of the world, it keeps society in line with expected behaviors. Without religion people would subside to create their own rules and would deem to follow a path that could harm a society and come to an end. Religion is necessary for a society to function, prosper, and for someone to learn how to be a well moral contributor to society.
Throughout the day’s observation, a plethora of sociological concepts become abundantly apparent. However, for the purpose of this paper, we will only focus on the day’s greatest prevalent concepts. The first concept that strikes as a significant sociological concept is family as it is the opening and closing concept of the day. Next, the concept of gender roles appears as important because of the masculine groups that are so prevalent during observation. Third, the theory of religion grabs its place in prevalence due to its ability to center and focus the entire day. Lastly, the concept of stage theory rears into the spot as a result of interactions in the work center. When reviewing these sociological concepts, it becomes abundantly clear
Many bishops and abbots (especially in countries where they were also territorial princes) bore themselves as secular rulers rather than as servants of the Church. Many members of cathedral chapters and other beneficed ecclesiastics were chiefly concerned with their income and how to increase it, especially by uniting several prebends (even episcopal sees) in the hands of one person, who thus enjoyed a larger income and greater power. Luxury prevailed widely among the higher clergy, while the lower clergy were often oppressed. The scientific and ascetic training of the clergy left much to be desired, the moral standard of many being very low, and the practice of celibacy not everywhere observed. Not less serious was the condition of many monasteries of men, and even of women (which were often homes for the unmarried daughte...
At the outset, we find the Duke transferring his power and authority to Angelo. He lends to Angelo his own terror and dresses Angelo with his love, “giving his deputation all the organs of his own power”. He says that from now on “mortality and mercy” in Vienna would live in Angelo’s tongue and heart. The Duke motive in appointing Angelo to function in his stead is, as he tells Friar Thomas, to rid the country of the evils which have taken strong roots and which, he thinks, he himself cannot eradicate because of his reputation as a very lenient man. Now the question is how far the Duke is justified in appointing a substitute to rule the kingdom and reform the corrupt Vienna society. We do not think that the Duke is justified in taking such a step. We are certainly not convinced by the reason which he gives to Friar Thomas for not undertaking the task of reform himself. Why should the Duke evade his responsibility? He tells Friar Thomas that, if he were now suddenly to become strict and stern, his actions would cause much resentment among the people. But this is no reason why a ruler should himself go into the background and appoint another man to take his place. Besides, we soon afterwards find that the Duke in interested more in observing Angelo at work as his deputy, and less is seeing evil being eradicated. We find that the Duke is concerned more with spying his deputy’ actions than with the process of reform. He becomes more interested in watching and prying into the personal as well as official life of Angelo than in the direction which the public affairs of the country are taking.
A study of kingship, arguably the entire premise for Measure for Measure, is immediately introduced in the first scene, with the Duke's declaration "Of government the properties to unfold/ Would seem in me t'affect speech and discourse." It is not until the third scene of act one, however, that this political discussion becomes specific and, ultimately, linked to the Machiavellian notion of statecraft. In this scene, which details the exchange between Vincentio and the Friar, we learn the reasons for the former's deputising of Angelo. Both of the Duke's significant dialogues - I.iii.20-33 and I.iii.36-55 - reveal that, for the last fourteeen years, the "strict statutes and most biting laws" (I.iii.20) punishing pre-marital intercourse have slipped into disuse. Although this scene is by no means extensive, it furnishes the reader with much food for thought.
Ultimately, I feel that this play is putting to perspective the Christian religious practices; by at the end of the play [the reader] should be able to understand that through forgiveness, a reward is possible. I feel that this play teaches those who follow the Christian faith that they’re people in the world who carry out and do the most outlandish of ideas which may get them caught. Instead of the person being punished for their deed of infraction or as part of punishment, forgive them and you shall be rewarded based on your ability to forgive those who trespass against you (reference to Moses’ Ten Commandments).
Duke is portrayed as being a very controlling gentleman. He thinks that no one but himself has the authority to show off his late wife portrait: "Since no one puts by/ The curtain I have drawn for you, but I" (9-10). The duke seemed like the kind of man who wanted his wife's company all to himself. He enjoyed having the power to try and control who she smiled upon. He felt she treated too many others the same way she treated him. Apparently, in his mind he t...
The main religion in medieval Europe is Christianity and every other religion is considered to be offensive and wrong. According to Herder, the environment and location plays a huge role in someone’s culture and mindset. As seen in popular culture analysis, it is understandable that because of the geographic region and the events that take place, it can easily manipulate a whole society. It is very hypocritical of the religious figures that publish the folklores full of demonic creatures and yet they’re the ones trying to suppress it. This calls for the ‘Triller Effect’ in which the elite are the ones controlling the content, but still showing supernatural elements to the public and trying to suppress and profit from it at the same time. The elite is trying to colonize the popular elements and form their version of normal civilization. Since religion is such a big factor in everyone’s lives regardless of social status, it becomes rather easy for the clergy to start controlling the situation. It seems clear that the church abuse their power throughout the course of history. As seen in The Play of Sacrament translated in Non-Cycle Plays And Fragments Non-Cycle Plays And Fragments could be considered as propaganda towards the hatred of Judaism. The pre-modern fascination of the play displays the evil and misfortune of Judaism. The use of The Play of Sacrament manipulates the social status and
Sociology in its basic most broad definition is the study of society and social behavior. Which includes all variables that govern and affect how masses act and react under different circumstances. This includes values, traditions, morals, ethnic identity and most importantly; religion. Religion has been, for as long as humans existed on this earth, the foremost perception that controls society and govern its behavior. Some would even argue that religion is the source of human morals, traditions and values.
Shakespeare's Measure for Measure can be seen as an early account of sexual harassment. While the issue of women's rights had hardly been explored at the time the play was first performed, Measure for Measure touches on issues of sexuality, independence, and the objectification of women. Despite these serious issues, the play is considered a comedy, and the story it tells is filled with amusing characters as well as broad sociological questions.
Summary: Duke wants to restore the strictness of fornication/adultery laws. He sets up Angelo to do it, while he feigns that he will be away. Instead he remains to check up on Angelo and the town (Vienna). Angelo goes ahead and closes down Overdone's brothel and the others, and puts Claudio in jail, condemned to die the morrow, for impregnating Juliet.
The differences between the Duke and Angelo are far greater, however, depending on the reading the play is given (All the perspectives I mention below come from Lever’s ‘Introduction’). It is possible to interpret the Duke as being more a stage device than a full-fledged character. His primary role may be to represent the middle way that good rulers should adopt, and to orchestrate the trials and learning experiences that move the other characters from their extreme positions into more moderate ways of being. The Duke does this by implementing the historic ruse of going in disguise among his people to find out how things are really going, and to set them right if need be.
Religion, a word shrouded with mystery, confusion and complexity. For some it is the answer to everything, a path to guidance and hope. For others it is the reason for all evil or just a manmade phenomenon for people who refuse to understand that everything happens for a scientific reason. Whatever the case is, it is a topic that is quite controversial and much debated among scientists, cultural theorist and conspiracy theorists. Religion plays a major role in functioning and forming social and psychological behavior of a society. It is connected more towards the emotional side of a person and everyone has their own perspective about it. Therefore religion has become an important part of human identity.