Mercy versus Justice in Measure for MeasureTheme: Mercy versus Justice. Allusion to justice = an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth [measure for measure]; allusion to mercy = let he who is without sin cast the first stone [esp. sexual sin. Summary: Duke wants to reinstate fornication/adultery laws. He instructs Angelo to do it, while pretending that he will be absent. However, it remains to check on Angelo and the town (Vienna). Angelo goes ahead and closes the brothel of Overdone and the others, and puts Claudio in prison, condemned to die the next day, for having impregnated Giulietta. Isabella, Claudio's sister and about to enter the convent, begs Angelo for mercy for him. Lucio advises her to be affectionate with him, and she is affectionate enough to inspire Angelo to seduce her: seduction in exchange for Claudio. The Duke, posing as a friar, listens to her exchange with Claudio in which he advises her to carry out the deed. He enters and prepares a plan: Angelo should have married Mariana but didn't: Mariana will therefore go in Isabella's place. Angelo, after the act, asks for Claudio's head even more quickly. The Duke (as Frate) postpones: now Angelo is two steps behind (he knows neither about Mariana nor Claudio). The Duke returns, as Duke, and demands that someone speak against Angelo. Isabella does so: it is finally revealed that the Friar was behind Isabella's dress. The Friar is called, then the Duke disappears and returns as the Friar, but turns out to be the Duke. The exchange is revealed and Angelo must marry Mariana; Claudio turns out to be alive and is pardoned by the Duke. Lucio (a subplot) also gets what he deserves. Moral: Mercy trumps justice, yet there is a strong sense of justice having been done. Symbolically accomplished by the Duke (justice) by donning the habit of the "true friar" (mercy but with a sense of justice) starting from I.iii.48.II.i.17 ff, Angel on justice without mercy: "'Tis una what is it to be tempted, Escalus,/ another thing to fall justice,/That justice takes: what do the laws know/That thieves pass on to thieves?”--this is absolute justice, just like II.i.30-31 : "Let my own judgment shape my death, [which Angelo is willing to accept once captured, in V.