Barbara Tovey, “Wisdom and the Law: Thoughts on the Political Philosophy of Measure for Measure,” in Shakespeare’s Political Pageant, eds. Alulis and Sullivan, 261–87

Excerpt:

The opening lines of Measure for Measure and The Tempest are remarkably similar. In both plays a superior summons a subordinate, calling him by name or title and giving him commands.

Thus at the very outset of these plays Shakespeare suggests that they will be concerned with the theme of rulership. In the case of Measure for Measure this is made fully explicit. It would be inappropriate, Shakespeare may be suggesting, for a dramatist to present a “discourse” unfolding the properties of government, but the play, which explores some of the most fundamental problems of political philosophy, will perhaps be a substitute for that discourse.

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