Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader
1st Edition
Published on 13. November 2025
256 pages
978-1-350-40904-0 (ISBN)
Description
This scholarly guide to Measure for Measure highlights its unique position in the Shakespeare canon by covering its nuanced performance history and critical backstory.
Measure for Measure broke new ground in Shakespeare's dramatic writing by rejecting the formulae of comedy and tragedy. Issues at the heart of the play including gender equality, rape, judicial process, political authority, slander, and equality before the law provide rich material for teaching and studying. Contributors connect the specifics of these themes from the early modern context to the present day and make crucial interventions to contemporary criticism on the play. Such interpretations explore how sexual politics, reputation, the reformation, ethics, and law shape Measure for Measure for a 21st century audience. Through a wide range of essays, the book provides a comprehensive guide to this criticism as well as its recent stage history that will be useful for scholars and students alike.
Measure for Measure broke new ground in Shakespeare's dramatic writing by rejecting the formulae of comedy and tragedy. Issues at the heart of the play including gender equality, rape, judicial process, political authority, slander, and equality before the law provide rich material for teaching and studying. Contributors connect the specifics of these themes from the early modern context to the present day and make crucial interventions to contemporary criticism on the play. Such interpretations explore how sexual politics, reputation, the reformation, ethics, and law shape Measure for Measure for a 21st century audience. Through a wide range of essays, the book provides a comprehensive guide to this criticism as well as its recent stage history that will be useful for scholars and students alike.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
ISBN-13
978-1-350-40904-0 (9781350409040)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
approx. 12/2025
The Arden Shakespeare
€113.80
Not yet published
Persons
John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham, UK.
Sarah Olive is Senior Lecturer in the Communication and Culture department, Aston University, UK.
Sarah Olive is Senior Lecturer in the Communication and Culture department, Aston University, UK.
Content
SERIES INTRODUCTION
NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
TIMELINE
Introduction JOHN JOWETT
1. The Critical Backstory SUZANNE GOSSETT
2. On Stage: Isabella's 'prone and speechless dialect' in Performance ELIZABETH SCHAFER
3. On Screen: 'Who will believe thee?' (2.4.154): Measure for Measure and the Problem of Verisimilitude on Screen SARAH HATCHUEL and NATHALIE VIENNE-GUERRIN
4. The State of the Art CARLA DELLA GATTA
5. New Directions: Theatres of Reputation in Measure for Measure LAURA KOLB
6. New Directions: 'False prints': Thinking through Metaphors of Counterfeit Impression in Measure for Measure HARRY NEWMAN
7. New Directions: 'There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you': Jacobean Plague-time Policies and Politics in Measure for Measure LORNA GILTROW-SHAW
8. New Directions: The Government of Self and Others: Ministerial Power and Hypocrisy in Measure for Measure ALEXANDER THOM
9. Resources for Teaching and Studying Measure for Measure SARAH OLIVE
NOTES
WORKS CITED
INDEX
NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS
TIMELINE
Introduction JOHN JOWETT
1. The Critical Backstory SUZANNE GOSSETT
2. On Stage: Isabella's 'prone and speechless dialect' in Performance ELIZABETH SCHAFER
3. On Screen: 'Who will believe thee?' (2.4.154): Measure for Measure and the Problem of Verisimilitude on Screen SARAH HATCHUEL and NATHALIE VIENNE-GUERRIN
4. The State of the Art CARLA DELLA GATTA
5. New Directions: Theatres of Reputation in Measure for Measure LAURA KOLB
6. New Directions: 'False prints': Thinking through Metaphors of Counterfeit Impression in Measure for Measure HARRY NEWMAN
7. New Directions: 'There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you': Jacobean Plague-time Policies and Politics in Measure for Measure LORNA GILTROW-SHAW
8. New Directions: The Government of Self and Others: Ministerial Power and Hypocrisy in Measure for Measure ALEXANDER THOM
9. Resources for Teaching and Studying Measure for Measure SARAH OLIVE
NOTES
WORKS CITED
INDEX
