Measure for Measure: It's a comedy

As I’m reading Measure for Measure, I find it interesting how Shakespeare stuck to the genre of comedy besides uniting every couple in the end. Just like in Othello where the tragic end is created by Iago explaining his evil plan at the beginning, the Duke provides the audience with his plan that can be a comfort as his presence bring twists to the whole plot. The audience know there is something to expect although his motivation is unclear. When Isabella is forced to a dead end, he shows up to reveal a brand new story of Mariana and provides Isabella with a better solution. It’s unfair that Isabella has suffered from the faults of men, so she absolutely deserves a second chance to fix the problem just like in the romance plays.

Apart from that, even Barnardine, a secondary character, is free form death. As I was reading, I questioned that if it could be justified to sacrifice him for Claudio who was not a very likable character. Also it’s never clear why Barnardine is in prison for 9 years in the first place. However, Barnardine is saved because he’s too tough thus “a creature unprepared, unmeet for death”. When there seem to be another dead end, the pirate appears and relieves the tension as he is the most suitable substitute for Claudio because of his appearance and his unforgivable guilt. Barnardine is pardoned by the Duke in the end, but he seems to abandon his life long before as he just gets drunk all the time and won’t leave the prison even when he can. The motivation of his behaviors is also unclear. One of my guess about him is that he is also one of those who has committed sexual crimes, and might have some conflicts with Angelo before, therefore making him a targeted prisoner when Angelo has seized power.

Focusing on the Duke, I think it’s reasonable to say that he’s having fun with the situation to some extent. As the Duke, he blames the Friar and as the Friar, he claims that he “love the Duke as I love myself”. It’s probably amusing for both the audience and himself when he asks where is the Friar and wants to speak to him. It’s also interesting to see Lucio stigmatize the Duke in front of the Friar but tries hard to please the Duke by reporting false accusation from the Friar.

        Although every couple unite in the end, I’m still worried about the happiness of the women. It’s hard for Isabella to say no to the proposal of a powerful figure as the Duke, so she will never become a nun as she wants. Unfortunately, Angelo still has no affection for Mariana despite their marriage. Since he is now in total control of her, I really doubt whether Angelo will treat her as his wife.