Measure for Measure

✍ Scribed by William Shakespeare, Brian Gibbons

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 237
• Series: The New Cambridge Shakespeare
• Edition: Updated ed
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Since the rediscovery of Elizabethan stage conditions early this century, admiration for Measure for Measure has steadily risen. It is now a favourite with the critics and has attracted widely different styles of performance. At one extreme, the play is seen as a religious allegory; at the other, it has been interpreted as a comedy protesting against power and privilege. Brian Gibbons focuses on the unique tragi-comic experience of watching the play, the intensity and excitement offered by its dramatic rhythm, the reversals and surprises which shock the audience even to the end. His introduction considers how the play's critical reception and stage history have varied according to prevailing social, moral and religious issues, which have remained highly sensitive. This updated edition contains a new introductory section by Angela Stock, which describes recent stage, film and critical interpretations, and an updated reading list.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover......Page 1
Copyright page......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
List of Illustrations......Page 8
1 Act 4, Scene 3: a reconstruction of the court performance at Whitehall, 26 December 1604.......Page 21
2 Triumphal arch erected for the Royal Entry of James I in 1604. From Harrison's Seven Arches of Triumph (1603-4)......Page 29
3 Act 5, Scene 1: as presented on a public playhouse stage.......Page 30
b In Jonathan Miller's 1974 production......Page 44
5 Act 2, Scene 2: a reconstruction of a performance on a public playhouse stage.......Page 48
6 Mrs Siddons as the Tragic Muse (1784). Portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds......Page 69
7 Claudio and Isabella (1850-3). By W. Holman Hunt......Page 71
8 William Poel's production of Measure for Measure at the Royalty Theatre, 1893......Page 73
b Claudio and Juliet......Page 76
b The Duke overhearing Claudio and Isabella......Page 80
11 The Duke (Philip Madoc) reasoning with Claudio (Jason Durr) about death. From Trevor Nuun's production for the RSC, 1991.......Page 90
12 Juliet (Penny Layden) and Claudio (Stephen Kennedy) shamed. From Michael Boyd's production for the RSC, 1998-9.......Page 91
Preface......Page 9
Acknowledgements......Page 10
1. Shakespeare's plays......Page 11
2. Other works cited and general references......Page 12
Puritanism, political allusion and censorship......Page 17
The sources and their shaping......Page 22
Cinthio......Page 23
Whetstone......Page 25
Severus......Page 28
The Phoenix......Page 31
The Malcontent......Page 32
The Mode of Tragi-Comedy......Page 34
Contemporary Allusions......Page 36
Sejanus......Page 38
Underworld and Sub-Plots......Page 39
Carnival and Justice: Word-Play and Self-Defence......Page 42
Angelo and Isabella: Word-Play and Self-Betrayal......Page 46
Exchanges......Page 49
The Question of the Duke......Page 52
Acting......Page 54
Playing with Audiences......Page 58
The Question of Tragi-Comedy......Page 62
The play on the stage......Page 65
Criticism......Page 84
Recent Stage and Film Productions......Page 94
Note on the text......Page 100
List of characters......Page 102
1......Page 104
2......Page 109
3......Page 118
4......Page 121
1......Page 124
2......Page 133
3......Page 142
4......Page 144
1......Page 153
2......Page 163
1......Page 173
2......Page 176
3......Page 185
4......Page 192
5......Page 194
6......Page 195
1......Page 196
The nature of the copy......Page 218
The Compositors and Casting-Off of Copy......Page 219
The Scribe......Page 221
Juliet in 1.2......Page 223
Possible Toning-Down of Oaths......Page 224
The Duke's Speech in 4.1......Page 225
4.3 And 4.5: Lucio and Varrius......Page 226
Summary: the nature of the copy......Page 228
Verse and Prose......Page 229
Short Lines......Page 230
Textual cruces and editors......Page 233
Reading list......Page 236