Angelo quotes

Question 1

‘We must not make a scarecrow of the law… till custom makes it their perch and not their terror’

Answer 1

• Metaphor - the law must be enacted and actually enforced. The law must be feared in order for it to be effective.

Question 2

‘Let mine own judgement pattern out my death and nothing come impartial. Sir,he must die.’

Answer 2

• Use of modal auxiliary word in ‘sir, he must die’, highlights Angelo’s extraordinary moral certainty.
• No preferencial treatment - if Angelo committed fornication, he should be executed too

Question 3

‘Lord Angelo is severe’ - Justice

Answer 3

• Personification of justice highlights how justice is passive and observing Angelo’s severe, harsh laws.
• Justice calls Angelo ‘severe’, extremely ironic.

Question 4

‘She speaks and tis such sense that my sense breeds with it’

Answer 4

• Sexual connotations - Isabella’s logical rhetoric causes Angelo to lust over her.
• Divide between Angelo’s outward appearance of piety and his inward moral corruption.
• Situational irony - Isabella’s logic and rationality stimulates his sexual desire.

Question 5

‘I that lying by the violet in the sun, do as the carrion does, not as the flower, corrupt with virtuous season’

Answer 5

• Use of metaphor highlights Angelo’s internal corruption.
  -He starts to corrupt due to his feelings of desire that he desperately tries to repress.
• ‘Flower’ can be associated with chastity, virtue - embodying Isabella.
  -Angelo is aware of and is disgusted by his actions.

Question 6

‘When I would pray and think, I think and pray to several subjects’

Answer 6

• Emphasises his desperation however highlights the lack of sincerity within his words.

Question 7

‘Heaven hath my empty words, whilst my invention anchors on Isabella’

Answer 7

• Views sexual desire as an external force that is out of his control.
  -Views it as dangerous and corrupting.
• ‘Anchors’ may have sexual connotations, highlighting the discord between his outward appearance of piety and inward feelings of sexual desire.

Question 8

‘Give up your body to such sweet uncleaness’

Answer 8

• Juxtaposition between ‘sweet’ and ‘uncleaness’.
• Highlights how Angelo is aware of the corruption that he would do to Isabella’s reputation and purity yet this is what fuels him.

Question 9

‘Who will believe thee Isabel?’

Answer 9

• Angelo feels protected by his reputation, authority and power, which completely overpowers Isabella.
  -Highlights the vulnerability of women within a patriarchal society as those in charge abuse their power and oppress women.

Question 10

‘My false overweighs your true’

Answer 10

• Imagery of justice scales flipping towards Angelo, highlighting the institutionalised discrimination of women and partiality towards men.
  -Tone of bleakness in the use of the metaphor.

Question 11

‘Now I give my sensual race the rein’

Answer 11

-Allows his [Angelo] sexuality to flow freely. His sexuality gives him control and he’s ruled by desire.
- Ultimatum; if Isabella doesn’t have sex with him, her brother will get executed.

Question 12

‘A deflowered maid and by an eminent body that enforced the law against it’

Answer 12

• Metaphor ‘deflowered maid’ highlights a particular degree of disbelief surrounding his actions.