| Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, a play greatly interested in patriarchal authority, has stymied feminist critics. Reading Isabella as either an independent feminist or as a disappointingly submissive dependant on men hinges on the interpretation of the final scene, in which it is unclear whether she accepts the Duke's marriage proposal. I will argue that the ambiguous ending gives us something more satisfying—Shakespeare immortalizes Isabella as a woman who is always about to choose, thereby emphasizing her agency and power. While some critics interpret Isabella's compliance with the Duke's plan as subservient, I believe that she may actually be acting out of self-interest (and trusting the Duke-friar when he tells her that her that he has her interests at heart). I will construct a feminist reading based upon this revised understanding of Isabella and on an analysis of the ways Shakespeare unnerves his audience regarding the Duke (and patriarchal authority). |
