Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader
This scholarly guide to the play 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.

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Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader
This scholarly guide to the play 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.

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Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

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Overview

This scholarly guide to the play 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.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781350409033
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date: 12/11/2025
Pages: 256
Product dimensions: 5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespeare Institute, University of Birmingham.

Table of Contents

1. Timeline, Sarah Olive
2. Introduction, John Jowett and Sarah Olive
3. The Critical Backstory, Suzanne Gossett
4. Performance History: Stage
5. Performance History: Screen and Multimedia, Sarah Hatchuel
6. The State of the Art

New Directions
7. Sexual Politics
8. Impression, Harry Newman
9. Credit and Reputation, Laura Kolb
10. Politics and Ethics, Alexander Thom
11. Reformation and Free Will
12. Government and Law
13. Resources, Sarah Olive

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