Shakespeare's interpretation of women in Measure for Measure very much reflects society's opinion of women at the time, which was that men have more freedom and should be given more respect that women. The society of the time was a patriarchal one, where a male God was the ultimate leader, and below him came the king, then the nobles. However, although the society gave men more rights than women, Measure for Measure demonstrates that they also had more responsibilities. This is shown through the situation with Claudio and Juliet, as although they are both equally to blame for Juliet's pregnancy, it is Claudio facing the death penalty.

Shakespeare shows the Duke's opinion of women in act 5, scene 1, when the Duke talks to Mariana and says "Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow nor wife." This shows that a women is only something if she has either a...