Law in Society’s Morality

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Law in Society’s Morality
Shakespeare often presented law in scenes that represent legal proceedings in his plays. It is a tragicomedy that portrays tragedy and comedy. Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure reestablishes and modernizes present-day concepts of law. The establishment reflects customs, principles, morals, and thoughts politically. Shakespeare creates many ordinary ideas on the leadership of Angelo in Measure for Measure. The play stimulates people in discovering instances of reviewing literal interpretation of the law and its reliance. The play uses malapropism in highlighting the problem some people have in misusing language. The Measure for Measure is a problem play that aims at changing people's perception of the law and morality of society as it touches critical issues of law, justice, morality, mercy, corruption, and purity in Vienna.
The ruler of Vienna, Duke Vincentio, had a lax in law enforcement. Corruption is depicted in the whole context, from the aristocracy to the lower-class members of Vienna. They engage in a series of uncouth behaviours that typically illustrate the pervasive act of moral deterioration. Duke then decide to restore the civic authority by plotting a plan using problem play. He pretends to go to Poland and leaves his deputy Angelo to be in charge. As he resided in a friary, where people spend time in prayer and contemplation, he uses it to intrigue and keeps an eye on his deputy Angelo. Duke thought that Angelo would be more effective in law enforcement. Still, when Angelo takes the leadership lead, Angelo follows the law and closes down the brothels in the city and orders for the execution of Claudio to death. The play in a paradox compares the law to a scarecrow. It states that it is essential not to make a scarecrow of the law,
“We Must Not Make A Scarecrow Of The Law,
Setting It Up To Fear1 The Birds Of Prey,
And Let It Keep One Shape, Till Custom Make It
Their Perch And Not Their Terror” (2. 1. 3-6).
Angelo says the law needs to be enforced strictly. When Isabella pleads for mercy on behalf of Claudia, Angelo tells her to exchange Claudio's life with her virginity. In the book Measure for Measure, Shakespeare uses paradox where Mariana pronounces the great people to be “little bad." They prosper and gain greatness by doing bad. He says,
“They Say, Best Men Are Moulded Out Of Faults;
And, For The Most, Become Much More The Better
For Being A Little Bad.” (5. 1. 451-453)
The play notes that some people rise by doing sin while others fall by virtue,
“Some Rise By Sin, And Some By Virtue Fall,” (2. 1. 43).