The Role of Women in Measure for Measure

Besides that, in the play, women are distinctly identified through their association with men. Act V sees the Duke questioning Mariana, questioning her existence if she falls into the category of "neither maid, nor widow, nor wife." These three categories share a common trait: they assign women specific roles in society based on their connections with men. Moreover, they confine a woman's sexuality within socially acceptable boundaries. In a patriarchal society like Vienna, viewing women primarily as sexual objects implies that their main purpose is to fulfill men's sexual desires through the socially sanctioned institution of marriage. Women who deviate from this norm are seen as unnatural because they resist masculine control. This is illustrated by the polar opposites of sexual behavior represented by the nun and the prostitute, who are conflated into a single category by Angelo's corrupting gaze. By remaining chaste and embracing hypersexuality, both women step outside the accepted norms of sexual conduct, leading to their subjugation, as neither derives their identity from a single man. Consequently, the Duke refuses to acknowledge the identities of both women and proposes to Isabella that she conform to a socially acceptable category of sexuality. An alternative perspective regarding the Duke's proposal to Isabella is that he believes sexual abstinence to be unnatural. Shakespeare demonstrates this by having initially abstemious characters, such as the Duke and Angelo, eventually display interest in women. Therefore, the Duke offers Isabella an opportunity to quell her latent sexual desires, as indicated by the sexual undertones in her words in Act 2, Scene 4.

Simultaneously, Kate Keepdown, the prostitute, gains respectability through marriage to Lucio, symbolically bringing a woman's sexual nature under control.

Nevertheless, an argument can be made that the ambiguity of Isabella's decision harbors hope for independent women. In the play, women's power to incite desire in men constitutes a form of power, albeit the only one available to them. Once a woman relinquishes her chastity, she becomes an object like any other, but a chaste woman exudes a purity that attracts men. Even Lucio, initially holding Isabella in high regard, comments, "I hold you as a thing enskied and sainted, by your renouncement an immortal spirit." Her purity attracts Angelo, and the Duke, upon seeing her, equates beauty with goodness. An alternative interpretation of the Duke's proposal to Isabella is that he, like Angelo, is drawn to her because of her purity, leading him to strive to assist her and eventually propose marriage, which is advantageous for her. Lucio's remark, "when maidens sue, men give like gods," supports this view. However, the consequence is that both men seek to control her. Isabella is spared from yielding to Angelo or witnessing her brother's death only by becoming the Duke's pawn and publicly lying in Act V, tarnishing her reputation. Thus, Isabella's power appears somewhat superficial.

Nonetheless, unlike the other three women who are married off in the end, Isabella retains her chastity, offering an alternative interpretation of her silence. She is immortalized as a woman who possesses the power to make her own choices. Kate Keepdown and Juliet's illegitimate children serve as evidence of their sexual activities, likely the result of the Duke's orders for them to marry for financial support. Mariana's confession is endorsed by the Duke, and she also risks pregnancy. Throughout the play, references to sexually transmitted diseases and illegitimate children abound, always serving as evidence of sexual transgressions. Only Isabella remains a virgin. While her reputation is tainted by her initial confession to sleeping with Angelo, she lacks the physical evidence that others have. The ambiguity of her silence implies that she is free to accept the Duke's proposal or reject it and return to the nunnery, as she desires.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the portrayal of women in Vienna revolves around their sexuality and their connection to men, a dynamic that enables the city's rulers to exert control. Among all the women in the play, only Isabella resists such control. However, interpretations of her chastity vary, with some viewing it as unnatural and others as a means to escape Vienna's depravity. Audience reactions are inevitably influenced by their personal views on women and sexuality. Shakespeare's use of complex characters creates uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.

References

1. Shakespeare, W. (1623). Measure for Measure. First Folio.
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3. Thompson, A. (1983). Shakespeare's portrayal of women in Measure for Measure. The Modern Language Review, 78(3), 513-524.
4. Callaghan, D. (1996). Woman and gender in Renaissance tragedy: A study of "Othello," "Measure for Measure," and "The Duchess of Malfi." Harvester Wheatsheaf.
5. Levin, C. (2012). Shakespeare's Portrayal of Women and Sovereign Issues in "Measure for Measure." In A. W. Hoffman (Ed.), Shakespeare and the Ethics of Appropriation (pp. 87-102). Palgrave Macmillan.
6. Neely, C. T. (2000). Broken Nuptials in Shakespeare's Plays. Yale University Press.
7. Howard, J. E. (2003). Crossing the Threshold: Gender, Textuality, and the Renaissance Debate over Women. Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies.