ACT 1 QUOTE ANALYSIS Flashcards
quotes and respective analyses of act 1
Duke- “Thyself and thy belongings
Are not thine own”
overt explanation: Angelo should not waste his talents, since they don’t just belong to him, they are to be used for the wider community. when mother nature gifts mortals with talents they are not for the sake of the mortal but herself for both in thanks and in use.
analysis: implies Angelo himself does not belong to the state, he belongs to his people. their personal interests cannot hamper with his conduction of stately affairs. (foreshadowing)
Angelo: “Let there be some more test made of my metal,
Before so noble and so great a figure
Be stamp’d upon it.”
in the 16th century, the value stamped on the coin was equal to the value of the metal used to make it, so Angelo feels that he should be tested to be sure he can fulfil the task.
Angelo feels he may not be up to the mark– displays nervousness. (foreshadowing) he is unsure if his value is equal to the responsibility being stamped on him.
this may also allude to the angel-noble coin, it was a gold coin bearing the image of the Archangel Michael defeating Satan in the form of a dragon
this possibly made Angelo feel like the Archangel, he should actively destroy the evil which infects the state thus, explains his severe decision to sentence Claudio to death for fornication in the latter act.
Duke- “I love the people,
But do not like to stage me to their eyes”
Similarity with King James I- he hated crowds and public acclaim
the visit of King James to the Royal Exchange in 1604 where he intended to watch unobserved but was recognized and the crowds pressed round him
Back and forth between Lucio and his friends- “Thou concludest like the sanctimonious pirate….
….impiety has made a feast of thee.”
Mundane yet quirky banter Shakespeare manages to make it interesting to listen to, tell-tale sign of good writing. on a surface level it does not add much to the plot, but it not only adds to the
- world building- has many sexual references- french crown, french velvet, etc. alluding to the promiscuous nature of the everyday citizens of vienna.
- enhances the overall experience for the audience. brings the feeling of eavesdropping on a conversation between an eccentric group of playful, humorous friends.
Claudio- “Thus can the demigod Authority
Make us pay down for our offence by weight
The words of heaven; on whom it will, it will;
On whom it will not, so; yet still ‘tis just.”
first criticization of both Angelo and Vienna’s justice system.
Claudio- “she hath prosperous art
When she will play with reason and discourse,
And well she can persuade.”
first impression of isabella to the audience.
the audience gets the impression of an intellectual, affluent and virtuous woman. a being of little flaw.
Duke- “We have strict statutes and most biting laws.
….Goes all decorum.”
duke owns up to his negligence, his speech consists of many analogies describing the moral decay of vienna along with unused laws.
- bits and restraints- comparing his loose control over his subjects like a loosened bit on a horse
- overgrown lion (ferocious king but too old to be feared) vs the strict laws which remain unimplemented.
- fathers who threaten beatings with sticks, never to use them- become a subject of ridicule than a sanction which serves its purpose. the laws are essentially a joke now
a lawless land just ends up as a breeding ground for chaos.
the duke’s language is notable, he speaks eloquently with lots of comparisons to put forth a satisfactory explanation for the friar. this speech shows remorse, regret and an understanding of the consequences of his actions- or lack thereof.
Friar Thomas- “It rested in your grace
To unloose this tied-up justice when you pleased:
And it in you more dreadful would have seem’d
Than in Lord Angelo.”
the friar makes a valid observation about the duke’s options and advises him against in his shallow, seemingly cowardly move.
duke- “‘twas my fault to give the people scope,
‘Twould be my tyranny to strike and gall them
For what I bid them do”
although the duke owns up to his mistake he still goes onto make a shallow excuse for his plan
James I had admitted in the Basilik Doron he had been too lax at the beginning of his reign.
the Dukes fear of being seen as a tyrant can also be related to his sensitivity to public perception and criticism similar to James I. he called his criticisms “the malice of the children of envy”
similarities can also be drawn between ‘The Prince’ by Machiavelli. :he gives absolute power to his deputy to reinstate the laws, the deputy does this cruelly and becomes very unpopular with the people (similar to the Duke and Angelo in MFM)
the duke then returns and tells the people this cruelty had not come from him, essentially the laws have been reinstated and he gets to retain the love of the people
this is essentially the Duke’s plan.
Duke- “Lord Angelo is precise”
hints at Angelo being a puritan.
Puritans were also called Precisionists.
Duke- “If power change purpose, what our seemers be.”
foreshadows Angelo’s future corruption
the duke refers to Angelo as almost inhuman- a lack of appetite, devoid of jealousy, hardly shows any human qualities. the duke is determined to know if his self inflicted strictness is a facade. this also hints to the fact that he is suspicious of Angelo. one of the reasons to hand him absolute power may be to out his true nature that he had pre-conceived doubts of. (in act 4, the duke having knowledge of Mariana and her state further develops/solidifies this idea)
Isabella- “I speak not as desiring more;
But rather wishing a more strict restraint”
introduces Isabella as incredibly virtuous, perhaps alluding to having a self inflicted sternness akin to Angelo, already drawing a parallel between the protagonist and the antagonist.
Isabella- “O, let him marry her.”
Even the extremely virtuous Isabella is willing to look past a grave sin committed by her brother- perhaps out of affection. her solution of marriage gives an impression that she believes Claudio will be forgiven and the blemish on his soul caused by fornication will promptly disappear, or at least save his blemished soul from an early judgement.
this can either be attributed to naivety or hypocrisy, once again drawing a parallel with Angelo. she is ready to compromise her beliefs for the sake of her love for Claudio and Angelo is ready to compromise his beliefs for the sake of his lust for Isabella.
