Critics for M4M

Question 1

William Hazlitt

Answer 1

The Duke is “more absorbed in his own plots and gravity than anxious for the welfare of the state”

Question 2

John Mullan

Answer 2

“As ever, in Shakespeare’s comedies, it takes mistakes to teach the characters the truths of their own hearts.”

Question 3

Trevor Nunn

Answer 3

“an eminent judge can argue that it doesn’t matter if innocent individuals suffer as long as the idea of the law is upheld”

Question 4

Maurice Charney

Answer 4

“Lucio…is a satirical malcontent who vilifies the Duke and everyone he comes in contact with. But there is an underlying idea that he sometimes speaks the bitter truth…”

Question 5

Jonathan Dollimore (Lucio)

Answer 5

“Lucio strikes at the heart of the ideological legitimation of power”

Question 6

William Lawrence

Answer 6

“his function is…to furnish, by his eccentric behaviour, a contrast to romantic comedy”

Question 7

J.W. Lever

Answer 7

“Claudio, easily affectionate, easily guilt-stricken, dependent on others for his ethical standards, is the average man of his time, and all times”

Question 8

F. J. Furnivall (Claudio)

Answer 8

‘self-indulgent, life-loving’ character, for whom ‘death is the greatest terror’

Question 9

Mrs Jameson

Answer 9

“moral granduer”

Question 10

Schlegel

Answer 10

“angel of light”

Question 11

Juliet Stevenson

Answer 11

“recognise Isabella’s dilemma as opposed to merely observing”

Question 12

Roger Allam

Answer 12

“realise completely his own skeptical fatalism. But somehow this can only be expressed through someone else’s situation.”

Question 13

michael Pennington (Duke)

Answer 13

“he comes to learn something… about the entire system by which he has governed and lived. He now has to question all that.”

Question 14

Anthony Miller

Answer 14

“Though the Duke’s efforts are well-intentioned, they are also problematic in their almost desperate improvisations, double standards, and risible misjudgements.”

Question 15

Gospels (adultery)

Answer 15

“that whoever looketh on a women to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”

Question 16

Gospels (measure for measure)

Answer 16

“for with the same measure that ye met with, it shall be measured to you again”

Question 17

John Dryden

Answer 17

“grounded on impossibilities”

Question 18

Catholic Company (Sainthood/Martyrdom)

Answer 18

“may their zeal be a reminder that purity is a treasure to be guarded and protected at any cost”

Question 19

Jonathan Dallimore (prostitutes)

Answer 19

“the most exploited group in the society which the play represents , are absent from it”

Question 20

F.S.Boas

Answer 20

“problem play”

Question 21

Michael Billington

Answer 21

“A man floundering in unfamiliar emotional territory”

Question 22

Michael pennington (Angelo)

Answer 22

“very adolescent and uncertain kind”

Question 23

The common pursuit 1962

Answer 23

His “attitude is meant to be ours- his total attitude, which is the total attitude of the play”

Question 24

Daniel Mossey (power)

Answer 24

“not just the symbol of power , but, the human face behind it”

Question 25

John Mortimer

Answer 25

“a great play doesn’t answer questions, it asks them”

Question 26

Aristotle (tragic hero)

Answer 26

“not by vice and depravity but by some error of judgement”

Question 27

Penelope Wilton (religious maniac)

Answer 27

“her vilification of her brother .. shows her as an hysteric as a neurotic, and it shows her as a religious maniac”

Question 28

Juliet Stevenson (use of “if”)

Answer 28

“it is a doorway, leading to empathy, identification, recognition”

Question 29

Daniel Mossey

Answer 29

“God, in shakespeare’s time, was a living presence….a dilemma such as isabella faces … is seething with painful irony and hair-raising moral danger”

Question 30

The Duke is “more absorbed in his own plots and gravity than anxious for the welfare of the state”

Answer 30

William Hazlitt (Duke plot)

Question 31

“As ever, in Shakespeare’s comedies, it takes mistakes to teach the characters the truths of their own hearts.”

Answer 31

John Mullan (mistakes/teach)

Question 32

“an eminent judge can argue that it doesn’t matter if innocent individuals suffer as long as the idea of the law is upheld”

Answer 32

Trevor Nunn (The Law)

Question 33

“Lucio…is a satirical malcontent who vilifies the Duke and everyone he comes in contact with. But there is an underlying idea that he sometimes speaks the bitter truth…”

Answer 33

Maurice Charney (Lucio and truth)

Question 34

“Lucio strikes at the heart of the ideological legitimation of power”

Answer 34

Jonathan Dollimore (Lucio and power)

Question 35

“his function is…to furnish, by his eccentric behaviour, a contrast to romantic comedy”

Answer 35

his fucntion is…

William Lawrence (Lucio)

Question 36

“Claudio, easily affectionate, easily guilt-stricken, dependent on others for his ethical standards, is the average man of his time, and all times”

Answer 36

J.W. Lever (Claudio)

Question 37

‘self-indulgent, life-loving’ character, for whom ‘death is the greatest terror’

Answer 37

F. J. Furnivall (Claudio)

Question 38

“moral granduer”

Answer 38

Mrs Jameson (Isabella)

Question 39

“angel of light”

Answer 39

Schlegel (Isabella)

Question 40

“recognise Isabella’s dilemma as opposed to merely observing”

Answer 40

Juliet Stevenson (sympathy for Isabella)

Question 41

“realise completely his own skeptical fatalism. But somehow this can only be expressed through someone else’s situation.”

Answer 41

realise completely..

Roger Allam (Claudio and the Duke)

Question 42

“he comes to learn something… about the entire system by which he has governed and lived. He now has to question all that.”

Answer 42

he comes to learn ….

michael Pennington (Dukes development)

Question 43

“Though the Duke’s efforts are well-intentioned, they are also problematic in their almost desperate improvisations, double standards, and risible misjudgements.”

Answer 43

Anthony Miller (Dukes intentions)

Question 44

“that whoever looketh on a women to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”

Answer 44

Gospels (adultery)

Question 45

“for with the same measure that ye met with, it shall be measured to you again”

Answer 45

Gospels (measure for measure)

Question 46

“grounded on impossibilities”

Answer 46

John Dryden

Question 47

“may their zeal be a reminder that purity is a treasure to be guarded and protected at any cost”

Answer 47

Catholic Company (Sainthood/Martyrdom)

Question 48

“the most exploited group in the society which the play represents , are absent from it”

Answer 48

Jonathan Dallimore (prostitutes)

Question 49

“problem play”

Answer 49

F.S.Boas

Question 50

“A man floundering in unfamiliar emotional territory”

Answer 50

Michael Billington
(Angelo’s sexuality)

Question 51

“very adolescent and uncertain kind”

Answer 51

Michael pennington (Angelo’s sexuality)

Question 52

His “attitude is meant to be ours- his total attitude, which is the total attitude of the play”

Answer 52

The common pursuit 1962 (Dukes attitude)

Question 53

“not just the symbol of power , but, the human face behind it”

Answer 53

Daniel Mossey (power)

Question 54

“a great play doesn’t answer questions, it asks them”

Answer 54

John Mortimer (great plays)

Question 55

“not by vice and depravity but by some error of judgement”

Answer 55

Aristotle (tragic hero)

Question 56

“her vilification of her brother .. shows her as an hysteric as a neurotic, and it shows her as a religious maniac”

Answer 56

Penelope Wilton (religious maniac)

Question 57

“it is a doorway, leading to empathy, identification, recognition”

Answer 57

Juliet Stevenson (use of “if”)

Question 58

“God, in shakespeare’s time, was a living presence….a dilemma such as isabella faces … is seething with painful irony and hair-raising moral danger”

Answer 58

Daniel Mossey (God and Isabella)

Question 59

Globe 2004

Answer 59

Duke was a “floundering Bungler”, who improvised everything.