Exercise of Authority in Measure for Measure Essay -- Measure for Meas

At the outset, we find the Duke transferring his king and authority to Angelo. He lends to Angelo his admit terror and dresses Angelo with his love, giving his deputation all the organs of his own advocate. He says that from now on mortality and mercy in capital of Austria would live in Angelos tongue and heart. The Duke motive in appointing Angelo to liaison in his stead is, as he tells Friar Thomas, to rid the field of the evils which have taken strong roots and which, he thinks, he himself can non uproot because of his reputation as a very lenient earth. Now the oppugn is how far the Duke is confirm in appointing a substitute to rule the commonwealth and reform the corrupt Vienna society. We do not think that the Duke is justified in taking such a step. We are certainly not convinced by the reason which he gives to Friar Thomas for not undertaking the task of reform himself. Why should the Duke evade his responsibility? He tells Friar Thomas that, if he were now suddenly to become severe and stern, his actions would cause much resentment among the people. But this is no reason why a ruler should himself go into the background and appoint another man to take his place. Besides, we soon afterwards find that the Duke in interested more than in observing Angelo at work as his representative, and less is eyesight evil being eradicated. We find that the Duke is concerned more with spying his deputy actions than with the process of reform. He becomes more interested in watching and intrusive into the personal as well as official life of Angelo than in the direction which the public affairs of the country are taking.Angelos physical exercise of AuthorityAs soon as Angelo is given charge of the kingdom, he begins to exercise his authority in a relentless manner. H... ...e protested against justice being totally pushed into background with mercy holding the field. The Duke compels Angelo to get married to Mariana, the miss whom he had once betrayed a nd forsaken, and the girl whom he has now seduced. But that is the moreover punishment which is imposed upon a character who proves to be the worst evildoer among all the characters of the play. References1Marsh, Nicholas. Shakespeare Three Problem Plays New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 20032Montrose, Louis Adrian. Shaping Fantasies Figuration of gender and power in Elizabethan cultures 1983.3Rogers, Pat. The Oxford Illustrated History of English Literature Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1993.4Schanzer, Ernest(1963). The problem plays of Shakespeare London, Routledge&Kegan Paul, 1963.5Tillyard, E.M.W. Shakespeares problem plays London, Chatto&Windous, 1964.