Revisiting Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure: A Problem Play in Terms of the Issue of Justice

William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (1603) has been categorised as a problem play since the eighteenth century. However, scholars and critics have provided different views about what makes the play a problem play. The problem in genre, the darkness in tone and the unsatisfactory ending have been examined as the problematic features of the play. The aim of this article is to analyse Measure for Measure as a problem play in relation to the issue of justice. It will be demonstrated that Angelo, who takes over the management in the absence of the Duke, abuses justice through the strict enforcement of law eliminating the element of mercy while the Duke abuses justice as he monitors the corruption instead of fighting it, and exploits his subjects through tricks. Thus, Angelo’s abuse of justice is related to the law whereas the Duke destroys his subjects’ sense of justice. Accordingly, the questions which are raised in the minds of the audience/readers about the place of the spirit of the law in the enforcement of law, and the Duke’s desire to stay in the background while being indirectly, though actively, involved in the action will also be examined as the features which make Measure for Measure a problem play