Measure for Measure Flashcards
What shows Angelo is given absolute power
‘Morality and mercy in Vienna live in thy tongue and heart’
How does Angelo try to appear more measured and judicious
Let there be some more test made of my metal before so noble and so great a figure be stamp’d upon it
How does claudio vent his frustration that justice is ambiguous and subjective
Thus can the demigod authority make us pay for our offence by weight, the words of heaven, on whim it will it will on whom it will not, so. Yet still ‘tis just.
Claudio says that Angelo’s command emanates from a desire to assert his authority or to bolster his own reputation
The body public be a horse whereon the governor doth ride, who, newly in the seat, that it may know he can command, lets it straight feel the spur.
Duke is conducting a study on human nature
Hence we shall see if power changes purpose what our seemers be
Duke says we have a responsibility to share our virtues
For if our virtues did not go forth of us, twere alike as if we had them not
How does the duke abdicate responsibility
Sith twas my fault to give the people scope, it would be my tyranny to strike and gall them
Who is responsible for sinning, according to Angelo
is this her fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most? still doesn’t accept responsibility for his corruption
Angelo’s guilty anxiety
This deed unshaped me quite, makes me unpregnant and dull to all proceedings
How is angelo self reflective and acknowledges he has strayed on the wrong path
When once our grace we have forgot, nothing goes right, we would and we would not (lawful evil)
How does angelo use evasive and circumlocutory language to avoid taking responsibility
A deflowred maid and by an eminent body that enforced the law against it
How does the duke encourage self reflection from angelo
In this ill be impartial: be you judge of your own cause
Angelo’s pardon is problematic/cowardly as he appears to lament being caught than committing the crime
I crave death more willingly than mercy
Lucio insults the duke. Suggests he wasn’t recognising the need for balance
A very superficial, ignorant, unweighihg fellow
What shows it is acceptable to distort morals in favour of self preservation
twas a commandment to command the captain and all the rest from their function: they put forth to steal
Duke’s opinion of Angelo:
A man of stricture and firm abstinence
Angelo is so moral and strict to the point where he is inhuman
A man whose blood is very snow broth, one who never feels the wanton stings and motions of the sense but doth rebate and blunt his natural edge
Angelo desires Isabella for her goodness, wants to corrupt her
Dost thou desire her foully for those things that make her good
A child born out of wedlock is sinful in the context of a conservative catholic world
the sin you carry is ‘of a heavier kind than his’
Angelo encourages isabella to reconsider her sense of morals. Claudio also says
- might not there be a charity in sin to save this brothers life
- what sin you do to save a brother’s life nature dispenses with the deed so far this it becomes a virtue
If she gives in to angelo what will happen to her sould
a sister by redeeming him should die forever. More than our brother is our chastity
Isabella favours the sanctity of her soul over bodily punishments
o were it but my life id throw it down for your deliverance as frankly as a pin
Taking away life, crime otherwise, is excused when its under the name of justice
Pompey would rather be a lawful bawd than an ‘unlawful hangman
Laws will not impede pompey
Though you change your place you need to change your trade
Lucio’s priorities centre around pleasure than morals, representing the state of vienna
I has as lief have the foppery of freedom as the morality of imprisonment
Law in vienna have been dormant
- Nineteen zodiacs have gone round and none of them have been worn
- We have strict statutes and most biting laws, the needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, which for fourteen years we have let slip
When people are free they disregard authority and results in social decay
Liberty plucks justice by the nose, the baby beats the nurse
Pompey’s defiance
The valiant heart’s not whipped out of his trade
Angelo on how the law is being mocked
We must not make a scarecrow of the law, setting it up to fear the birds of prey till custom make it their perch and not their terror
Escalus supports a more measured approach
Let us be keen and rather cut a little than fall and bruise to death
Angelo says justice seizes whatever opportunity it can
Whats open made to justice, that justice seizes
Escapes says that justice is uncertain and relative
‘Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall. Some run from breaks of ice and answer none, and some condemned for a fault alone
Escapes says that being merciful may in face encourage further wrongdoing
pardon is still the nurse of second woe
Duke bring mariana and isabella together
to bring you together thus tis no sin, sth that the justice of your title to him doth flourish the deceit
-he is your husband on a pre contact
Every action has a consequence
Haste still pays haste, and leisure answers leisure, doth quit like and measure still for measure
Angelo uses confrontational aggressive language to describe juliet
See you the fornicatress be removed, let her have needful but not lavish means.
Isabella and the patriarchy
- ‘men their creation mar in profiting by them’
- ‘destined livery’
Dowry values more than women
she lost the portion and sinew of her fortune, her marriage dowry
The duke is in charge and the women are not
‘be ruled by him’ and ‘i am advised to do it’
Limited roles available for women
wife nor maid nor widow ‘why you ar nothing then’
Duke is certain he wont get distracted by love
believe not that dribbling dart of love can pierce a complete busom
Isabella thinks mercy is the most valuable trait of a leader
the kings crown nor the deputed sword becomes them with one half so good a grace as mercy does
Angelo view on mercy is not individualistic and favours the greater good
‘i show [pity] most of all when i show justice, for then i pity those i do not know. PUNITIVE JUSTICE
TO isabella angelo’s proposition is paradoxical
‘Theres a devilish mercy in the judge that will free your will but fetter you until death
Moral blackmail in order to educate isabella and teacher her mercy and forgiveness
tis a physic thats bitter to a sweet end
Claudio suggests that humanity has an intrinsic morbid desire for harmful things
our natures do pursue like rats that ravine down their proper bane, a thirsty evil and when we drink we die
Humans can never be satisfied
happy thou art not for what thou hast not still thou striv’st to get and what thou hast, foret’st
Macrocosm/existentialism
a breath thou art, servile to all the skyey influences that dost this habitation where thous keep’st hourly afflict
Isabella held in high regard by lucio
i hold you as a thing ensued and sainted by your renouncement , an immortal spirit and to be talked in sincerity as with a saint
Escapes says pompey attempts to deceive others but still is a bawd
you are partly a bawd, howsoever you colour it in being a tapster`
Angelo’s outward experience reflects his heavenly persona
heaven hath my empty words while my invention anchors on isabel
Duke’s final speech spoken in iambic tetrameter. greek chorus, makes him seem omnipotent
He who the sword of heaven will bear 1770
Should be as holy as severe
