Verse and Pros Flashcards
1
Q
How is verse and prose used in Measure for Measure, and why is it important?
A
Verse (usually iambic pentameter) is used by nobles like Angelo, Isabella, and the Duke, showing status, control, and morality.
Prose is used by lower-status characters like Pompey and Mistress Overdone, often for comedy, realism, or critique of society.
A shift from verse to prose (or vice versa) can reflect a change in emotion, power, or truth.
→ e.g., when Angelo gets more lust-driven, his language becomes more disordered, showing inner conflict.
→ Pompey using witty prose exposes the hypocrisy of Vienna’s justice system.
