Shakespeare's Use Of Mistaken Identities And Substitutions

In his book William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, Harold Bloom makes multiple claims in regards to Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure; however, the most significant is his argument that the problems within the play are ethical and are concerning conduct. This claim, makes the argument that Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is heavily satirical, but what makes it such? Within his work Shakespeare calls attention to many of the issues of Puritanism through the use of many rhetorical devices and strategies, such as the lack of honest leadership. Furthermore, the most important strategy is Shakespeare’s use of substitutions and exploration of mistaken identities. Miranda Johnson-Haddad writes,” In Shakespeare’s complex play Measure for Measure,
What I will be arguing, then, is the importance of the theme of mistaken identities and substitutions to the plot of the play itself. The mistaken identities and substitutions within the plot are most important to the plot as without them the play would have not been as successful in reflecting Shakespeare’s intended message. The order of events in the play and its conclusion are all result of the substitutions and mistaken or secret identities within the plot. The Duke’s disguise as a friar, Angelo’s alteration from his public self to his private self, and the bed trick involving Isabella and Mariana are all major contributions to the plot of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure to such extent that these occurrences are what make the play significant and satirical of social and political
In attempts to save her brother Isabella agrees to lay with Angelo however, without Angelo’s knowledge and to protect Isabella’s chastity a bed trick occurs. “In traditional literature and folklore a bed trick is a plot device which involves a substitution of one partner in the sex act with a third person” (Doniger). In Measure for Measure’s bed trick Isabella is substituted in Angelo’s bed for a woman named Mariana. As a result of the bed trick Mariana is deflowered by Angelo and the expectation is that Angelo will free Claudio as he believes that he has been with Isabella and his wishes were fulfilled. However, in fear that Claudio will kill him for propositioning and lying with whom he thought to be Isabella he orders for Claudio’s execution to continue. The bed trick and the substitution for Mariana as Isabella is essential to Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure as the altered identities bring the play full circle and allows for Shakespeare to successfully conclude his work. Isabella found herself in a very compromising position after being propositioned by Angelo. She was being forced to choose between her brother life and her purity. The bed trick allowed for her to remain pious while also continuing to be the surprisingly ingenious character that Shakespeare created her to be. Isabella’s character was too resilient to give into Angelo’s demands however; Isabella knew