Morality in Measure for MeasureShakespeare's play, Measure for Measure, focuses on human morality. The play also explores the question of what type of sexual behavior is socially acceptable and which is not. The play depicts various attitudes towards prostitution, promiscuity and premarital sex. But it also suggests that human laws and perhaps human morality are entirely arbitrary and relative. Measure for Measure considers the need for statutes and laws to govern sexual appetites and ensure domestic tranquility. But it also focuses on the conflict between human actions and human moral values, particularly as it manifests itself in the question of appearing and being. The Duke himself notes the difference between appearance and reality when he speaks of his deputy Angelo, who appears to be a perfect deputy and a disciplined (even puritanical) character. Noting Angelo's character, the Duke also questions the integrity of his inner and outer worlds: Lord Angelo is precise; Stands to guard with envy; hardly admits that his blood flows, or that his appetite is more for bread than for stone: this is why we will see, if power changes its goal, what our pretenses are. Angelo is ultimately revealed to be a pretence, whose declarations of virtue and self-control do not match his behavior. But calling him a hypocrite is a mistake: he is as surprised as anyone by her desire, at least at first, and he initially questions her moral status. His virtue has always been very real to him, and his slide into sin catches him off guard. When he finds himself lusting after Isabella, he exclaims in surprise, "What is that, what is that?" Is it his fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins more? Ha! No...... middle of paper...... objective standards but based on what the traffic will support. Works Cited Black, James. “The deployment of measure for measure”. Shakespeare Survey 26 (1973): 119-28. Knight, G. Wilson. Shakespeare and morality. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1967.Leech, Clifford. "The 'Sense' of measure for measure." Shakespeare Survey 3 (1950): 69-71.Milward, Peter. The religious origin of Shakespeare. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1973. New American Standard Bible. Ed. reference. Chicago: Moody Press, 1975. Shakespeare, William. Measure for measure. The Arden Shakespeare. Ed. JW lever. London: Routledge, 1995. Thomas, Vivian. The moral universe of Shakespeare's problem plays. London: Croom Helm, 1987. Wilders, John. “Problem comedies”. In Wells, Stanley, ed. Shakespeare: select bibliographic guides. London: Oxford UP, 1973.