Animals
Characters make frequent and elaborate references to various types of animals throughout the play. The descriptions of animals are almost always used as figurative representations of the relationship between a ruler and their citizens. That is, characters consider the extent to which a ruler should "tame" or "reign in" their subjects, meditating on what benevolent and effective leadership looks like.
Death
While Measure for Measure is considered one of Shakespeare's comedies, it certainly is one of the darker plays in the genre. Characters frequently ruminate on death, and the play includes both potential and real executions throughout. Most notably, however, is Claudio's speech about humanity's fear of mortality in Act Three. In this speech, he eloquently imagines all the forms that death could take and weighs whether it is better to live or die. Many agree that this speech was a precursor for the famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet.
Indulgence
Throughout the play, there are a number of references to indulgence and overindulgence among the people of Vienna. These indulgences are largely physical, including the network of brothels (which is eventually shut down by Angelo), and frequent references to drinking and being hungover. While often providing levity to an otherwise dark comedy, these depictions of pleasure also underscore the fallen state that Vienna has experienced under the leadership of the Duke.
Sex
Sex plays an important role in the play, as it is the impetus behind Claudio's execution (he is charged with committing fornication, or sex outside of marriage, with his betrothed Juliet, who is pregnant). As the plot develops, sex becomes an increasingly dangerous and threatening enterprise, with some worrying that sex could produce illegitimate children and others anxious that sex could kill them – both literally and figuratively. Often, references to sex are paired with descriptions of death, underscoring how, after Angelo takes over for the Duke, the policing of physical intimacy becomes a new concern for the citizens of Vienna.
