How does Shakespeare Resolve the Issue of Justice and Mercy in Measure for Measure?

Measure for Measure mainly deals with the theme of justice and mercy. While delegating his authority to Angelo, the Duke says that he will have absolute power to sentence a man to Death if his crime is grievous and calls for this punishment. At the same time, he will have full authority to show mercy if the accused really deserves it. In the course of the action of the play both justice and mercy have their roles. If some scenes the question of justice becomes prominent, while in others mercy has the uppermost hold, and finally mercy brings the play to a happy end.


Angelo, the deputy of the Duke of Vienna is regarded as a puritan with a strict moral code. So to put a stop to all kinds of immoral activities within the kingdom he is determined and accordingly he sentences Claudio to death, because he has been found guilty of fornication with a girl called Juliet whom he made pregnant without having married her. So from the point of justice and law of the land Angelo’s death sentence against Claudio is just.

Escalus, who is next in authority to Angelo during the absence of the Duke, pleads for showing mercy to Claudio. He argues that any man in Claudio’s position, even Angelo himself, would have committed the same offence. But Angelo does, not pay heed to him. A moment later Escalus remarks that any mercy shown to a criminal is likely to lead to evil consequences. Thus he wavers between the demands of justice and the desire for showing mercy to a criminal like Claudio.

However, Angelo should have realized that the sudden enforcement of the laws which have long been dead is bound to result in court judgments which would seem to be tyrannical. It would be wise on his part to enforce the revived laws by slow degrees. Under this ground Claudio deserves a certain measure of leniency. As for Isabella’s intervention, she pleads for mercy, suggesting that Angelo should condemn her brother’s guilt but not her brother. Referring to the Christian virtue of forgiveness she argues that a man may have a giant’s strength but it is tyrannical for him to use that strength like a giant.

During her second interview with Angelo he dramatically proposes that if she is willing to surrender her virginity to him, he would pardon her brother. Now the issue is a contention between justice and lust, and between chastity and the desire to save a brother’s life. Later on at the advice of the disguised Duke Isabella sends Mariana in her guise to satisfy Angelo’s sexual appetite. Thus Angelo throws law and justice out of the window, and commits the same crime as Claudio did.

Finally when the Duke finds that Angelo proves even more unscrupulous in his behavior towards Isabella than Claudio’s conduct was towards Juliet, he feels greatly annoyed with Angelo and would like to punish him. Yet his judgment in Act 5 are characterized more by mercy than by a strict regard for justice. So when he resumes his office and authority, he tempers justice with mercy in passing judgments on all the criminals. Thus Measure for Measure dramatizes the Christian virtue of forgiveness.