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Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader cover

Measure for Measure: A Critical Reader

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Pre-order. Available Dec 11 2025
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Description

This scholarly guide to the play highlights its unique position in the Shakespeare canon by covering its nuanced performance history and critical backstory.

Measure for Measure broke new ground in Shakespeare's dramatic writing by rejecting the formulae of comedy and tragedy. Issues at the heart of the play including gender equality, rape, judicial process, political authority, slander, and equality before the law provide rich material for teaching and studying. Contributors connect the specifics of these themes from the early modern context to the present day and make crucial interventions to contemporary criticism on the play. Such interpretations explore how sexual politics, reputation, the reformation, ethics, and law shape Measure for Measure for a 21st century audience. Through a wide range of essays, the book provides a comprehensive guide to this criticism as well as its recent stage history that will be useful for scholars and students alike.

Table of Contents

1. Timeline, Sarah Olive
2. Introduction, John Jowett and Sarah Olive
3. The Critical Backstory, Suzanne Gossett
4. Performance History: Stage
5. Performance History: Screen and Multimedia, Sarah Hatchuel
6. The State of the Art

New Directions
7. Sexual Politics
8. Impression, Harry Newman
9. Credit and Reputation, Laura Kolb
10. Politics and Ethics, Alexander Thom
11. Reformation and Free Will
12. Government and Law
13. Resources, Sarah Olive

Product details

The Arden Shakespeare
Published Dec 11 2025
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 256
ISBN 9781350409033
Imprint The Arden Shakespeare
Dimensions 9 x 5 inches
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

John Jowett

John Jowett is Emeritus Professor at the Shakespea…

Anthology Editor

Sarah Olive

Sarah Olive is Senior Lecturer, School of Educatio…

Related Titles

Environment: Staging