Measure for Measure: A Society Obsessed with Sex

From the opening of Measure of Measure, it is clear that the society which the characters inhabit is completely obsessed with sex. This obsession, much like our modern day American society, stems from authorities who attempt to stifle a humans natural urges. What results from giving something the aura of being taboo, is our unconscious tendency to gravitate towards the subject in question simply because, the forbidden is enticing.
In our modern day America, we are monitored and censored throughout every moment of every day. From strict school dress codes that rigidly punish all violators, to FDA on air regulations limiting free speech, to images we aren’t supposed to be viewing, it seems that authorities in American society love to restrict our contact with all things raunchy. The problem with such restriction is that, the more you try to enforce rules that the people don’t agree with, the more they will fight against them.
The same can be said of the society Shakespeare has created in Measure for Measure. From the opening, it is clear that the Duke of Vienna is struggling with the responsibilities of ruling. Though the audience is not immediately informed why, the Duke takes a leave of absence and surrenders control of Vienna to Angelo. Angelo’s ruling style is a sudden dramatic shift for all the people of Vienna. His method seems to involve strict rules and even stricter punishment. Though his intentions are good, all he seems to succeed in doing is aggravating the people of Vienna, and ruining Claudio’s life.
In the second scene, the reader is further convinced of Vienna’s obsession with sex from the conversation that takes place between Lucio and two gentleman who are with him. They banter on about venereal diseases and how much money they have spent on prostitutes as Mistress Overdone joins their conversation. Mistress Overdone is the head of the brothel, and it can be concluded from her conversation with these men that she is well acquainted with them and their frequenting of her brothel. With the entrance of the Mistress, a new plot point is introduced to the audience. Apparently the character Claudio was arrested for impregnating his lover Juliet. This is yet another plot point driven by sex. To further the audiences certainty that sex is a prominent topic in this play, we are then informed that Angelo, in an effort to control the city, is closing down all the brothels in the suburbs. We also learn that although he may have tried to shut down the brothels in the city of Vienna, a wealthy investor prevented it.
Act one then concludes with the introduction of a character who lies at the other end of the sexually driven spectrum. Isabella is Claudio’s sister, and she is currently trying to become a nun. Such restrictive behavior is only another form of obsession. The conscious decision to join a nunnery and end all contact with men is Isabella’s way of contending with her society. The audience can assume that her philosophy about Vienna may closely parallel Angelo’s who also practices restricting behaviors that he deems unacceptable. Isabella is asked to plead with Angelo for her brothers sake, and so the plot of Measure for Measure is well underway.