SexViolHist Bib: Representations: Literary Texts: William Shakespeare: Measure for Measure

»Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the First Folio of 1623.
The play's plot features its protagonist, Duke Vincentio of Vienna, stepping out from public life to observe the affairs of the city under the governance of his deputy, Angelo. Angelo's harsh and ascetic public image is compared to his abhorrent personal conduct once in office, in which he exploits his power to procure a sexual favour from Isabella, whom he considers enigmatically beautiful. The tension in the play is eventually resolved through Duke Vincentio's intervention, which is considered an early use of the deus ex machina in English literature.« (Extract from: Wikipedia)

K e y w o r d s

I. Chronological Index: Modern History: 17^th Century

II. Geographical Index: European History: English History

III. Topical Index: Types: General: Rape

B i b l i o g r a p h y

I. Author Index

[Info] Aebischer, Pascale. »Silence, Rape and Politics in Measure for Measure: Close Readings in Theatre History.« Shakespeare Bulletin 26 (2008): 1-19.

[Info] Bamford, Karen. Sexual Violence on the Jacobean Stage. Basingstoke 2000.

[Info] Brooks de Vita, Alexis. »Immeasurable reflections on a 'Masque'. Reading corecive rape and the ravishment of silence in Milton's 'Comus' and Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure'.« English language notes 37 (2000): 25-34.

[Info] Fernie, Ewan. »'To sin in loving virtue': Desire and possession in Measure for Measure.« Sillages critiques No. 15 (2013).

[Info] Scozzaro, Concetta. Cruel Intentions: Rape and Deliberation in the Time of Shakespeare. Ph.D. Thesis, Johns Hopkins University, 2020.

[Info] Thoret, Yves. »La violence sexuelle dans Mesure pour mesure.« Sillages critiques No. 15 (2013).

[Info] Williams, Nora J. Canonical Misogyny: Shakespeare and Dramaturgies of Sexual Violence. Edinburgh 2025.

[Info] Yoon, Ah. Power, Law, and Female Agency: Reading Rape in Measure for Measure. Master Thesis, Seoul National University, 2012.

II. Speaker Index

[Info] Aebischer, Pascale. »'Is it her fault, or mine?': Rape, Silence and Culpability in Measure for Measure.« Shakespeare, Renaissance, Performance. Belfast 2006.

[Info] Aebischer, Pascale. »Rape, Silence and Politics in Measure for Measure: Close readings in Theatre History.« International Shakespeare Conference. Stratford-upon-Avon 2008.