Dowry Problem in Measure for Measure

Measure for Measure gives us a gloomy picture of society in which dowry system was in vogue. This is proved by the stories of Juliet and Mariana. Claudio, a young man had fallen in love with Juliet and decided to marry her. But her relatives refused to give her dowry to which she was entitled by right. Being a greedy man, Claudio postponed the idea of marriage without dowry but he began to live with Juliet as her husband. Consequently she became pregnant. Her pregnancy being visible and Claudio being obviously responsible for it, the authorities swung into action and took both of them into custody.

Mariana, another victim of dowry system was the sister of a great soldier named Frederick who was shipwrecked. Mariana had been engaged to Angelo and would have got married to him, if this misfortune of Fredericks shipwreck had not occurred. Frederick at the time of the shipwreck was carrying with him, the entire marriage dowry of Mariana. When Frederick was reported as having been lost at sea, Angelo, finding that he would not now receive the dowry which he had been promised, broke off his engagement to Mariana. Thus Shakespeare indicated the evil of dowry system in Measure for Measure.