How Does Shakespeare Use Deception

Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare is a play that revolves around deception and trickery. Much of the play involves the Duke of Vienna using deception to manipulate others and as an escape from his fears. He avoids the truth by disguising himself as a friar and no one questions him, not even the friar whose robe he borrows. Deception manipulates both the audience and the characters of the play. Deception has the ability to eradicate all sense of trust and faith in someone if they are found to be deceiving. Those with power are often the ones to use deception. The Duke in Measure for Measure uses deception to conquer the provocative nature that is starting to envelope Vienna due to his benevolent ruling and his ignorance towards the laws. There are many ways in which Deception can be employed. Deception is a veil that is used to mask the truth from others either linguistically or physically. When deception is used in speech it is often used to manipulate your audience with complex or irrational jargon which is

The Duke is interfering with the laws of Vienna by tolerating extortion, and Isabella displays selfish qualities because she does not care about the consequences that might prevail for Mariana. The Duke also appears selfish when he grasps for a way to deal with Claudio’s execution: “Let this Barnardine be this morning executed, and his head born to Angelo” (IV.ii.183-84). He does not think of what could happen to the Provost if Angelo discovers that his orders were disobeyed. The Duke deceives Provost with his apparent knowledge of death when his idea gets questioned and replies with “O, death's a great disguiser; and you may add to it. Shave the head, and tie the beard; and say it was the desire of the penitent to be so bared before his death. . .” (IV.ii.187-90). The Duke demonstrates the ways in which he uses his deception to manipulate others and the laws that he is trying to