『자에는 자로』(Measure for Measure)의 화해의 이중성

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify the duality of reconciliation shown in Measure for Measure and to consider what is the background of such duality. The good impression of the duke, who is portrayed as a generous and competent monarch in the play, is likely to spread to Londoners’ liking for King James I in reality. It is because the duke avoided criticism by directing citizens’ grievances to Angelo through delegating the monarch’s authority to correct the legal order in Vienna. Furthermore, it can be seen that the Duke is favored by citizens as a generous monarch through ordering marriage instead of punishment for those who should be punished by because of their crime. Thus, the duke is thought to have a facet of a Machiavellian monarch who is clever and politically skillful. From this perspective, we can say that Angelo was a political scapegoat for the Duke. The duke declares a very unusual and lenient punishment to marry Mariana instead, even though Angelo committed a felony of abuse of power. It is clear that Angelo did not want to marry Mariana, so the order can be said to be a kind of punishment. The author believes that the duke did not want to punish Angelo for bringing him political benefits, which is why Angelo secretly receives a gift from the duke, a relatively light punishment of marriage orders. In that sense, the duke’s marriage order as a way of reconciliation can be interpreted in a double sense.