Measure For Measure Comic Subplot

natural acts no moral consequences Prostitutes a commodity

characters treat food and sex in a similar way

banter - Lucio and Gents - insults about STD Scene 2

Different morality Don't understand the new laws

Act 1

One law of upper class (Claudio) Another law for lower class (Pompey/Froth)

Purpose

Nunnery Scene 4

Claudio asks Lucio to tell his sister

Lucio and Isabella

Lucio speaks in iambic pentameter Lucio gently mocks Isabella. Persuades her to intercede

Escalus shows mercy and indulgence to Pompey/Froth

Pompey to execute Claudio for a crime he has committed himself !

Pompey says brothels to be closed

Lucio and Claudio speak of his crime Appearance = reality !

accepts they have a different moral code ?

Mistress O tells of Claudio's arrest

Elbow - malapropisms Arbitrary nature of justice

Act 2

Difficulty of applying the law (reason) to matters of instinct - Rossiter

Scene 1

Pompey - rambling Angelo - bored so leaves Pompey and Froth let off with a warning

Articulate

M4M Comic Sub-plot

Dynamic Voice of common sense Revels in degeneracy Link to main plot

Elbow, Pompey, Duke

Act 3

Scene 2

Scene 2

antagonist to disguised Duke

Act 4 want war - it's their job

Gents

Characters

Froth Abhorson - represents justice

Comic Subplot.mmap - 01/07/2009 - Roger Knight

Ragozine's head substitutes for Claudio's

Lucio slanders the friar to the Duke

Bawdy interjections from Lucio

represents vice Elbow

Barnadine refuses to be executed

Duke irritated with Lucio

Pompey

Mistress Overdone

Scene 3

Lucio slanders the Duke to the friar

Loves the sound of his own voice Same name as character in Julius Caesar

Pompey, Abhorson Pompey and nicknames of prisoners

Changes as play progresses Soldiers

Insults and rumour

Lucio

Acts as the chorus in first few acts Openly sniping at Duke in Act 5

Lucio, Duke

Act 5

Lucio accuses the friar of slander. Lucio reveals the Duke Barnadine forgiven Lucio repentant - has to marry a punk