Abstract:When the Friar’s plan to have Barnardine beheaded instead of Claudio fails in Act 4 Scene 3 of Measure for Measure, bringing the play’s regime of substitution to a halt, the dead body of ‘One Ragozine, a most notorious pirate’ (4.3.70) opportunely supplies the much-needed head. On this occasion, the play moves away from the earlier barter trade typified by the bed trick to engage in (counterfeit) money economy. A combination of piracy, coining and debasement inaugurates a new regime of economic exchange as an … Show more
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