Source: "The Measure of Law and Equity: Tolerance in Shakespeare's Vienna," in Law and I.iterature Perspectives, edited by Bruce 1. Rockwood, Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 1996, pp. 193-207.

[Levin clarifies the distinction between "law' and "equity" explaining that while law fives a civilization a set of impartial rules by which to govern its peop1£, equity allows for the sub jective but necessary qualities of mercy, faimess, and tolerance. Levin then examines how Measure for Measure treats the issues of law and equity by revealing through the course of the action that each is inadequate without the other; for examp1£, at the start of the play the Duke's Vienna is described as libertine and ungovernab1£, but during the course of the play, Angelo's Vienna is shown to be unfairly rigid. Levin points out that by the end of the play, there are signs that the Duke's...