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 Introduction of the characters who live in the Castle: Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver lamp, in which the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation:—  “Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!” He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed as cold as ice—more like the hand of ...

The question of whether it is fair for the Duke to have used Mariana in Measure for Measure is a complex one. On one hand, it could be argued that the Duke's plan to use Mariana in order to bring about Angelo's downfall was manipulative and potentially harmful to Mariana herself. Mariana was initially abandoned by Angelo after the loss of her dowry, and it is clear that she still loves him and wants to be with him. The Duke's plan to have her impersonate Isabella and sleep with Angelo in order to secure his redemption could be seen as exploiting her love and loyalty for his own purposes. On the other hand, it could also be argued that the Duke's plan was necessary in order to bring about justice and restore order to the city. Angelo's abuse of power and attempted rape of Isabella cannot go unpunished, and the Duke's plan, while risky and potentially harmful to Mariana, ultimately achieves this goal. Furthermore, Mariana herself agrees to the plan and is willing ...

Mariana is a complex character in Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure. Initially, she is presented as a woman who has been abandoned by her fiancé, Angelo, after he discovers that her dowry has been lost at sea. Mariana's situation is used by the Duke and Isabella to trick Angelo into thinking that he has slept with Isabella, thereby bringing about his downfall. Mariana languishing.  However, as the play progresses, Mariana's character begins to reveal itself. She is shown to be a woman of great patience and resilience, who is willing to endure the pain of Angelo's abandonment and humiliation in order to secure his redemption. When asked by the Duke why she would agree to such a plan, Mariana responds: "I have spirit to do anything that appears not foul in the truth of my spirit" (Act 4, Scene 1). Mariana's loyalty to Angelo is also evident in her willingness to take on the difficult task of impersonating Isabella in order to consummate Angelo's mar...

 Mistress Overdone and Isabella are two of the most prominent female characters in William Shakespeare’s "Measure for Measure". Despite the fact that they are both women living in the same patriarchal society, their experiences and characteristics differ drastically. While Mistress Overdone represents the harsh reality of the societal limitations and restrictions placed upon women, Isabella represents the ideal of moral and religious virtue.  To begin with, Mistress Overdone is a character who runs a brothel in Vienna. Her character represents the harsh reality of the societal limitations and restrictions placed upon women in Elizabethan England. Her establishment is seen as a place where men indulge in immoral and illicit activities, and her character is depicted as a symbol of the moral decay of society. Her dialogue and behavior reflect a sense of cynicism and resignation to the societal norms that have led her to her current position in life. In contrast, Isabella is a ch...

 Isabella is main feminine protagonist in William Shakespeare's play, Measure for Measure. She is portrayed as a young, devout, and principled woman who is faced with a difficult moral dilemma when her brother is sentenced to death for fornication, which was a crime punishable by death in 17th century Vienna. Isabella's character is complex and multi-layered, and she undergoes significant development throughout the play. This appraisal will explore Isabella's characterisation in Measure for Measure, using examples and quotations to support the analysis. At the beginning of the play, Isabella is introduced as a novice nun who is about to enter a convent. She is described as "a thing enskied and sainted" (Act I, Scene 1), which highlights her pure and virtuous nature. Isabella is committed to her religious beliefs and is determined to live a life of chastity and celibacy. She is hesitant to intervene in the affairs of the world and is reluctant to leave the safety o...

 Measure for Measure is a play written by William Shakespeare, first performed in 1604, which is categorized as one of his “problem plays.” This play has been the subject of much critical debate, particularly surrounding its ambiguous nature, its thematic and philosophical complexities, and its sometimes troubling portrayal of gender and sexuality. This essay will appraise Measure for Measure by examining its plot, themes, characters, and language, and consider its significance and relevance to contemporary audiences. The plot of Measure for Measure is set in Vienna, where Duke Vincentio decides to leave his position of power in the city to the strict and puritanical Angelo, under the pretence of taking a leave of absence. In reality, however, he disguises himself as a friar, and stays in Vienna to observe how Angelo manages his new role. Claudio, a young man, has been imprisoned for impregnating his fiancé, Juliet, before their marriage, which has been deemed a criminal offence. A...