"Measure for Measure"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in William Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure", one character, Pompey Bum, servant of Mistress Overdone, a bawd, serves better than the other characters to highlight the impossible hypocrisy of the play's social situation in which the Viennese legal system conflicts with human nature when public law forbids illicit lovemaking and makes the crime punishable by death. The author points out that Pompey appears at first to be a minor character; however, if Pompey were different, or even absent, the play's weighty morality might well outstrip Shakespeare's need for humor in this hybrid creation. The paper relates the story of the play demonstrating that Pompey's attitude extends beyond the current themes of virtue and morals and moves into the realm of accepting the inevitable that people will always strive to satisfy themselves especially their sexual desires.

From the Paper:

"Throughout the play, Pompey's attitude carries this universal perspective. In his next scene, he is meeting with Lord Escalus in less than fortunate circumstance. A constable named Elbow drags Pompey and a gentleman named Froth in front of old Escalus and Angelo. The latter have just been arguing the virtues of moderation, with Escalus bemoaning the severity of the new law: "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall...and some condemned for a fault alone." When Elbow accuses Pompey of being a "tapster," Escalus quickly notices Elbow's ineloquence and gives Pompey the opportunity to defend himself."

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• Comparison Essay # 65686 : "Measure for Measure" & "Henry IV Part I"
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• Analytical Essay # 49847 : "Honor in "Measure for Measure" and "King Henry"

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