About this book
William Shakespeare's Maaß für Maaß delivers a brilliant exploration of power, justice, and moral compromise in this enduring comedy. When the Duke of Vienna mysteriously departs his realm, he entrusts the strict Angelo with absolute authority to restore order to a lawless city. What unfolds is a masterwork of intrigue as Angelo's ruthless enforcement of forgotten laws collides with human frailty, desire, and the question of whether justice can ever truly be blind.
At the heart of this drama stands Isabella, a woman of unwavering principle forced into an impossible choice when her brother Claudio faces execution under Angelo's draconian regime. Shakespeare weaves together themes of corruption, redemption, and the dangerous gap between appearance and reality, creating a comedy that cuts to the very soul of institutional power. The play's central moral question—how do we measure fairness when those in authority abuse their positions?—remains startlingly relevant centuries after its composition.
This German translation by Christoph Martin Wieland brings Shakespeare's Vienna to vivid life, capturing the wit and philosophical depth of the original while making it accessible to audiences seeking something beyond conventional comedy. Perfect for listeners interested in Shakespeare's problem plays, those exploring questions of ethics and governance, or anyone curious about how the Bard tackled society's most persistent contradictions.
