Measure for Measure, Act 4
533Lines
6Scenes
13Speakers
89% / 11%Male / Female Lines
Act 4 of Measure for Measure belongs to Duke Vincentio, who delivers 40% of the act’s dialogue (215 of 533 lines) across 6 scenes.
Opens (Scene 1) — Mariana: “Break off thy song, and haste thee quick away:”
Closes (Scene 6) — Friar Peter: “The duke is entering: therefore, hence, away!”
The 6 scenes of Act 4
| Scene | Lines | Speakers | Share of act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scene 1 | 76 | 3 | 14.3% |
| Scene 2 | 215 | 6 | 40.3% |
| Scene 3 | 177 | 7 | 33.2% |
| Scene 4 | 34 | 2 | 6.4% |
| Scene 5 | 14 | 2 | 2.6% |
| Scene 6 | 17 | 3 | 3.2% |
Who speaks in Act 4
Leading voice: Duke Vincentio with 40% of Act 4’s dialogue (215 lines).
| Character | Lines in act | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Duke Vincentio ♂ | 215 | 40.3% |
| Provost ♂ | 105 | 19.7% |
| Pompey ♂ | 53 | 9.9% |
| Isabella ♀ | 43 | 8.1% |
| Angelo ♂ | 27 | 5.1% |
| Abhorson ♂ | 19 | 3.6% |
| Lucio ♂ | 19 | 3.6% |
Characters first heard in Act 4
| Character | Lines in play |
|---|---|
| Mariana ♀ | 68 |
| Friar Peter ♂ | 36 |
| Abhorson ♂ | 19 |
| Barnardine ♂ | 14 |
| Messenger ♂ | 6 |
Pacing across the 6 scenes
Scene lengths in Act 4 range from Scene 5 (14 lines, the shortest) to Scene 2 (215 lines, the longest), averaging about 89 lines per scene.
Who carries the voice in Act 4
Act 4 reflects the play’s overall balance — 11% female dialogue (play average: 19%).
Act 4
Male 475 · Female 58
How Act 4 of Measure for Measure compares to other problem plays
| Play | Act 4 lines | Scenes |
|---|---|---|
| Troilus and Cressida | 691 | 5 |
| All's Well That Ends Well | 637 | 5 |
| Measure for Measure (this act) | 533 | 6 |
About Act 4 of Measure for Measure
How many lines are in Act 4 of Measure for Measure?
533 lines spread across 6 scenes.
Who dominates Act 4?
Duke Vincentio delivers 40% of the act’s dialogue (215 lines).
Which scene is the heaviest in Act 4?
Scene 2, at 215 lines — well above the act’s scene average.