Measure for Measure Contents
- Social / political context
- Religious / philosophical context
- The Theatre
- Act I
- Act II
- Act III
- Act IV
- Act V
Setting Measure for Measure within a Christian world view
Christianity
Measure for Measure is noticeably set in a Christian universe, which strongly affects the ideas which permeate it.
- Christians are followers of Jesus Christ, believed to be the Son of God (the word Christ means anointed) who, though divine, was born in human form to a virgin, Mary.
- The New Testament (the second part of the Christian Bible) tells of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus and the coming into being of the Christian church. Christians believe that the coming of Jesus as the Messiah, or Saviour, is foretold in the Old Testament (the Jewish writings which form the first part of the Christian Bible), so Christians draw upon both parts of the Bible. (The word Bible simply means a collection of books.)
- Christianity began in the Middle East over two thousand years ago but, well before the time of Shakespeare, had spread throughout Europe – the area of its influence was known as Christendom.
- A very important act of Christian worship is Holy Communion, or the Mass, during which they partake of bread and wine to commemorate the Last Supper which Jesus had with his disciples before he was crucified. It is this act of worship to which Angelo is referring in Act II sc iv; when he speaks of misusing God's name in prayer he is also suggesting eating Communion bread without devout feeling: ‘Heaven in my mouth,/ As if I did but chew his name.'
- From the early centuries of the church onward, some Christians have chosen to withdraw into a life devoted to prayer, living in enclosed communities known as monasteries (for men, known as monks) and nunneries (for women, known as nuns). In Measure for Measure Isabella is about to enter a nunnery at the start of the play and Shakespeare makes it obvious to the audience that her Christian faith is very important to her.
The faith setting of Shakespeare's plays
Although Shakespeare was writing in the context of a society where Christian belief was central, not all his plays are set in a Christian world.
Shakespeare's Roman plays, such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra are set in a world where people believe in ancient pagan gods such as Jupiter. The same pagan world is the background to King Lear. In these plays there is no suggestion of a life after death, whereas those set in a Christian universe strongly present the idea of Heaven and hell and judgement.
Some plays present a mixed set of beliefs, for example The Winter's Tale, where pagan gods are mentioned alongside a reference to Whitsun, a Christian festival.
- It is very important that Shakespeare consciously chooses to set plays such as Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet in a Christian universe, because what may happen to characters after death is as much an issue in these plays as what happens to them in life.
Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.
(c. 4 BCE- c. 30 CE). The founder of Christianity, whose life and teaching are described and interpreted in the New Testament. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew 'Joshua'. He was also given the title 'Christ', meaning 'anointed one' or 'Messiah'.
Title used of Jesus in the New Testament and in Christian statements of belief.
In the Old Testament Kings and Priests were ceremonially anointed (touched with holy oil) to show that they belonged to God and as a sign of receiving God's power.
The mother of Jesus. The Gospels state that Mary's pregnancy was brought about by the Holy Spirit and not through a human relationship; she is therefore known as the 'Virgin'.
A 'testament' is a covenant (binding agreement), a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people. The New Testament is the second part of the Christian Bible. Its name comes from the new covenant or relationship with God.
The Christian Bible consists of the Old Testament scriptures inherited from Judaism, together with the New Testament, drawn from writings produced from c.40-125CE, which describe the life of Jesus and the establishment of the Christian church.
Literally, rising to life again. In the Bible it is specifically applied to Jesus Christ's coming to life after his crucifixion; and from thence, to the hope of all believers that after death, they will be raised to a new life in heaven.
Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.
1. Term for a worshipping community of Christians.
2. The building in which Christians traditionally meet for worship.
3. The worldwide community of Christian believers.
A Hebrew word meaning 'anointed one', describing someone who will be the saviour of the people. Title (eventually used as name) given to Jesus.
One who saves in particular, Christ as the saviour of the world.
A 'testament' is a covenant or binding agreement and is a term used in the Bible of God's relationship with his people). The sacred writings of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible). These also form the first part of the Christian Bible.
The beliefs, doctrines and practices of Christians.
A collective name for countries primarily inhabited by those who accept the Christian faith; it is a term which, in medieval and early modern times, was applied largely to Europe.
The central act of Christian worship in which bread and wine are consumed in the way that Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper before his betrayal and death.
The central religious service of the Roman Catholic Church, incorporating praise, intercession and readings from scripture. The central action is the consecration of the bread and wine by the priest.
The Passover meal which Jesus ate with his disciples before his betrayal and arrest, at which he instituted the eucharist or holy communion or mass.
1. Term meaning learner or follower.
2. Used in the New Testament in particularly of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
3. Now applied more generally to all Christians.
Executed by nailing or binding a person to a cross.
Communication, either aloud or in the heart, with God.
The central act of Christian worship in which bread and wine are consumed in the way that Jesus demonstrated at the Last Supper before his betrayal and death.
The house of a religious community.
Member of male religious community.
A religious house where nuns ' women who have devoted themselves to the worship of God, and have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience ' live and pray (also called a Convent).
A woman who has chosen to enter a religious order for women, and taken the appropriate vows.
Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church.
Belief and trust in someone or something.
Term applied to those who are not Christian, particularly followers of the classical religion of Greece and Rome and of the pre-Christian religions of Europe.
The idea that there are many gods and goddesses which control our lives and the natural world around us.
This name came to be attached to the feast of Pentecost because of its being a major occasion for baptisms, where the candidates were frequently clothed in white.
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