William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare

Publisher Marketing: Measure for Measure is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604. It was (and continues to be) classified as comedy, but its mood defies those expectations. As a result and for a variety of reasons, some critics have labelled it as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. Originally published in the First Folio of 1623 (where it was first labelled as a comedy), the play's first recorded performance was in 1604. The play deals with the issues of mercy, justice, and truth and their relationship to pride and humility: "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall." The play draws on two distinct sources. The original is "The Story of Epitia," a story from Cinthio's Hecatommithi, first published in 1565. Shakespeare was familiar with this book as it contains the original source for Shakespeare's Othello. Cinthio also published the same story in a play version with some small differences, of which Shakespeare may or may not have been aware. The original story is an unmitigated tragedy in that Isabella's counterpart is forced to sleep with Angelo's counterpart, and her brother is still killed. The other main source for the play is George Whetstone's 1578 lengthy two-part closet drama Promos and Cassandra, which itself is sourced from Cinthio. Whetstone adapted Cinthio's story by adding the comic elements and the bed and head tricks. The title, which appears as a line of dialogue in the play, is usually thought to be a reference to the Bible, Matthew 7:2: For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 02/04/2008 pg. 43 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Kirkus Review - Children 04/01/2008 pg. 371 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) - *Starred Review Booklist 03/15/2008 pg. 58 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) School Library Journal 05/01/2008 pg. 156 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2008 pg. 466 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2008 pg. 494 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2008 pg. 64 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Hornbook Guide to Children 10/01/2008 pg. 444 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2008 pg. 444 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 406 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 603 (EAN 9780763630256, Paperback) Publishers Weekly 02/04/2008 pg. 43 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Kirkus Review - Children 04/01/2008 pg. 371 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Booklist 03/15/2008 pg. 58 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) School Library Journal 05/01/2008 pg. 156 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Voice of Youth Advocates 06/01/2008 pg. 143 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2008 pg. 466 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2008 pg. 494 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2008 pg. 64 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 10/01/2008 pg. 444 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2008 pg. 444 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 406 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 603 (EAN 9780763630249, Hardcover) Library Journal 10/15/2006 pg. 97 (EAN 9780300115642, Paperback) Univ PR Books for Public Libry 01/01/2007 pg. 1 (EAN 9780300115642, Paperback) Library Journal 10/15/2000 pg. 109 (EAN 9780140714623, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 492 (EAN 9780140714623, Paperback) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 606 (EAN 9780140714623, Paperback) Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2011 (EAN 9789380028590, Paperback) School Library Journal 09/01/2011 pg. 188 (EAN 9789380028590, Paperback) School Library Journal 09/01/2010 pg. 178 (EAN 9780764144462, Paperback) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2010 pg. 334 (EAN 9780764144462, Paperback) Booklist 03/15/2010 pg. 51 (EAN 9780764162985, Hardcover) School Library Journal 09/01/2010 pg. 178 (EAN 9780764162985, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2010 pg. 334 (EAN 9780764162985, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Shakespeare, William William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, on England's Avon River. When he was eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway. The couple had three children--their older daughter Susanna and the twins, Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet, Shakespeare's only son, died in childhood. The bulk of Shakespeare's working life was spent, not in Stratford, but in the theater world of London, where he established himself professionally by the early 1590s. He enjoyed success not only as a playwright, but as an actor and shareholder in an acting company. Sometime between 1610 and 1613, Shakespeare is thought to have retired from the stage and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616.