The Significance of Barnadine in Measure for Measure

Barnadine in the play Measure for Measure does not play a major part in the play yet, he is a significant figure that stands apart from the rest of the characters. Barnadine is a long-term prisoner and is merely a drunk. He is encountered in the play when he is sentenced to be executed with Claudio. Barnadine's attitude towards death is significantly different than how death is conceived in the play. He creates a situation which is laughable and quite ironic in the play also.
In the play the duke that is in disguise as a friar concocts a plan to save Angelo from his near execution. He dec…