Shakespeare's Measure for Measure: No One is Above the Law ... Except for Those in Power

Measure for Measure is one of the most unique plays in the Shakespearean canon. It was not until the second half of the twentieth century that the play's themes about the uses and abuses of power began to be explored in productions. This brief study argues that the Shakespeare authorship question matters in understanding the play in its historical context at the court of Elizabeth I. The play has confounded critics, audiences, and readers for centuries.
When it is understood that the author was shaping a powerful political drama around his own life story and making use of biting satire, then new light may be shed on this fascinating play. Measure for Measure is an underappreciated work that offers a mirror image of the Elizabethan court and resonates with profound political relevance in the modern age.