Measure for Measure

The plot centers on Duke Vincentio of Vienna, who disguises himself to monitor the city’s governance under his strict deputy, Angelo. While Angelo's public persona is rigid and moralistic, he reveals a darker side by attempting to exploit Isabella, a woman he finds alluring. The play explores themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of human behavior, culminating in a resolution facilitated by the Duke's intervention, marking an early instance of the deus ex machina device in English literature.