Tragicomedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, produced in
1604-05 and published in the First Folio of 1623. The play
examines the nature of mercy and justice, proposing that a
good government is one that is flexible and based on common
sense. The play opens with Vincentio, the Duke of Vienna,
telling his deputy Angelo to govern his duchy while he
travels to Poland. In actuality, the duke remains in Vienna
disguised as a friar. Following the letter of the law,
Angelo passes the death sentence on Claudio, a nobleman
convicted for impregnating his betrothed, Juliet. Claudio's
sister Isabella, a novice in a nunnery, pleads his case to
Angelo, who offers to spare Claudio in exchange for her
favors. On the advice of Vincentio, Isabella schedules the
rendezvous but secretly arranges for Angelo's spurned
fiancee, Mariana, to take her place. Afterward, Angelo
reaffirms the execution. Vincentio comes to the rescue, and
in the end Claudio is saved and wed to Juliet, Angelo is
discredited and ordered to marry Mariana, and Vincentio asks
Isabella to be his wife.
The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
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