Power is more than a word; in all areas of life power is able to shift the balance between good and evil. When we look at the written works, he is able to create and destroy heroes, open doors to evildoers and further their intentions or crush them where they stand. In works such as Shakespeare's Measure for Measure we see that the power of the word is the deciding factor in deciding whether a play can be a tragedy or a comedy. The villain and heroes of this play each have their own power, but throughout the story this changes. As a villain's power builds, we see the heroes' power diminish over time leaving them in situations where they can seem almost helpless. However the opposite can also happen where we see towards the end of the play when the heroes have all the power while the villain remains powerless. While the shifting balance was a side effect of the power of words, it also came at a cost to both heroes and villain. The morals of some heroes were weakened while the villain became corrupt and obsessed, ultimately regretting his poor choices. In examining the word power we must look to its origins during Shakespeare's time to see the definitive meanings of the word. According to the Oxford English Dictionary in the 1300s power meant “Ability to act or influence something forcefully; physical or mental strength; Could be; vigor, energy; effectiveness." (OED, power). This seems to be the most common definition that comes to mind when we imagine power and this definition is seen within the confines of Measure for Measure. Yet this is not the only form of power defined in Measure for Measure, another meaning is “Control or authority over others; rule, rule, influence.” (OED, power). , can still be seen. The power of persuasion is something that is always passed on through religion and is a valuable power usually used for good. The book is one of Topsell's best, as seen in the biography which says: "Insistence on a spiritual reading of the book of nature is featured prominently in the introductory material, and less prominently in the text, of Topsell's most celebrated publications, The History of Four-legged Beasts (London, W. Jaggard, 1607)” ( G. Lewis, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography). This information in the article is something that I believe has very important meaning for all authors. Topsell insisted on a spiritual reading of the book, meaning that he wanted people to look at it in a certain way. It makes you think about what other authors wanted in the way we read their text since some haven't left