Measure for measure quotes Flashcards
1
Q
What does the Duke mean by ‘We have with special soul elected him… lent him our terror, dress’d him with our love’?
A
It highlights the irony of ‘terror’ as the Duke lacks absolute power and uses imagery of clothing to suggest Angelo is in disguise. The term ‘lent’ implies a temporary sharing of power, while ‘special soul’ connotes Divine Right.
2
Q
What does the Duke express about his feelings towards the people?
A
‘I love the people,/But do not like to stage me to their eyes’ suggests discomfort with crowds, similar to James I, who was said to have spied on people in disguise.
3
Q
What is the significance of the Duke’s statement ‘I will, as ‘twere a brother of your order,/Visit both prince and people’?
A
It indicates the Duke’s disguise and raises questions about the morality of using friar clothes for deception.
4
Q
What does the Duke mean by ‘Be absolute for death; either death or life shall thereby be the sweeter’?
A
This imperative suggests the Duke is telling Claudio to prepare for death, which is ironic as it conceals his true intention to prevent Claudio’s death.
5
Q
What does ‘The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good’ imply?
A
It suggests the Duke’s attraction to Isabella’s virtue and foreshadows a potential proposal.
6
Q
What is the audience’s perception of the Duke’s motives in ‘the love I have in doing good’?
A
The audience questions whether the Duke is genuine in his intentions.
7
Q
What does the Duke’s list in ‘by this, is your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled’ signify?
A
It suggests that the Duke’s plan works on multiple fronts, bringing justice to Angelo, helping Mariana, and saving Claudio, while not acknowledging the problematic nature of the bed trick.
8
Q
What does the Duke mean when he says to Pompey, ‘Go mend, go mend!’?
A
It reflects the Duke’s opposition to Pompey’s behavior while condoning the bed trick and manipulating other characters.
9
Q
What does Lucio’s comment ‘The duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered; he would never bring them to light’ suggest?
A
It critiques the Duke, implying that all rulers are corrupt, with dramatic irony as Lucio speaks to the disguised Duke.
10
Q
What does Escalus mean by describing the Duke as ‘a gentleman of all temperance’?
A
It indicates that Escalus holds the Duke in high esteem.
11
Q
What is the significance of the Duke’s soliloquy ‘He who the sword of heaven will bear/Should be as holy as severe’?
A
It comments on leadership, with ‘sword of heaven’ connoting Divine Right, presenting an ironic image of the Duke as an ideal ruler.
12
Q
What does the Duke’s line ‘Come, let us go/Our corn’s to reap, for yet our tithes to sow’ signify?
A
It ends the scene with a rhyming couplet and natural imagery, creating a sense of finality and fruition.
13
Q
What does the Duke mean by ‘This is his pardon, purchased by such sin/For which the pardoner himself is in’?
A
It shows the Duke as a manipulator, indicating he is not fully in control as he expects a pardon that does not come.
14
Q
What is the implication of the Duke’s readiness to have Barnardine executed in ‘Call your executioner, and off with Barnardine’s head’?
A
It shows the Duke trying to act as a Duke despite giving up his role, which is unusual behavior for a ‘friar’ to condemn someone to death.
15
Q
What does the Duke’s line ‘O, ‘tis an accident that heaven provides! Dispatch it presently; the hour draws on’ reveal?
A
It is an imperative statement where the Duke acts as a leader while in disguise, reveling in manipulation, which is morally questionable.
16
Q
What does ‘I will keep her ignorant of her good, To make her heavenly comforts of despair, When it is least expected’ indicate about the Duke’s actions?
A
It shows the Duke manipulating Isabella by not informing her that her brother is still alive, raising questions about his motives.
17
Q
What does the Duke’s statement ‘I am bound to enter publicly’ suggest?
A
It indicates a shift from the beginning of the play, where the Duke desires a large public reception, questioning his true intentions.
18
Q
What does the Duke say to Angelo that reveals dramatic irony?
A
‘we hear/Such goodness of your justice, that our soul/Cannot but yield you forth to public thanks’ elevates Angelo’s status, making his fall more climactic.
19
Q
What does the Duke tell Isabella regarding justice?
A
‘Lord Angelo shall give you justice’ implies irony in Isabella’s unawareness of the true nature of justice in the play.
20
Q
What does the Duke’s comment ‘Away with her! Poor soul,/She speaks this in the infirmity of sense’ imply?
A
It reveals the Duke’s cruel suggestion about Isabella’s sanity, setting up for his later actions against Angelo.
21
Q
What does the Duke mean by ‘Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense’?
A
It indicates the Duke’s manipulation of the conversation, beginning to turn against Angelo.
22
Q
What does Lucio call the Duke that adds a comic element?
A
‘meddling friar’ exposes the Duke’s behavior in a humorous light.
23
Q
What does the Duke mean by ‘In this I’ll be impartial; be you judge/Of your own cause’?
A
It forces Angelo to be his own judge, raising questions about the Duke’s questionable methods of rule.
24
Q
What does the Duke’s metaphor ‘My business in this state/Made me a looker on here in Vienna,/Where I have seen corruption boil and bubble/Till it o’er-run the stew’ summarize?
A
It summarizes the injustices of Vienna, highlighting the irony of the Duke’s responsibility while remaining a passive observer.
25
What does the Duke's statement 'I protest I love the duke as I love myself' reveal?
It showcases dramatic irony and the role of disguises and deception in the play.
26
What does the Duke's imperative 'Give me your hand and say you will be mine' suggest?
It indicates that the Duke arguably manipulates Isabella in a similar way she does, silencing her and linking to the MeToo movement.
27
What does the Duke's statement to Lucio reveal about his pride?
'Whipt first, sir, and hanged after….Slandering a prince deserves it' shows weakness in the Duke's rule, as he reacts to Lucio's insults.
28
What does the Duke mean by 'So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show/What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know'?
It indicates a problematic ending, suggesting there is more to be revealed about the Duke's plans and intentions.
29
What does Escalus say about Angelo in Act I?
'If any in Vienna be of worth/To undergo such ample grace and honour,/It is Lord Angelo' sets Angelo on a pedestal, suggesting a fall due to his name's connection to a fallen angel.
30
What does Angelo mean by 'Let there be some more test of my metal/Before so noble and so great a figure/Be stamped upon it'?
It indicates that Angelo is not prepared for his role, evoking sympathy as he is young and impressionable.
31
What does the Duke's comment 'your soul seems so good' imply about his judgment?
It raises questions about the Duke's morality and spirituality as a judge of character.
32
What does Angelo mean by 'demigod Authority'?
It suggests that rulers act as God's mouthpiece on earth, questioning the justice of such authority.
33
What does Angelo's statement 'A man of stricture and firm abstinence' reveal?
It shows the Duke's perception of Angelo's qualities, which is ironic as Angelo fails to uphold them.
34
What does Angelo mean by 'scarce confesses/That his blood flows'?
It depicts him as lacking empathy and humanity.
35
What does Angelo suggest with 'We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey'?
It implies that people become complacent when the law is constant.
36
What does Angelo mean by 'Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall'?
It reflects on human fallibility, suggesting he resists temptation while ironically 'falls' himself.
37
What does Angelo's command 'Dispose of her/To some more fitter place, and that with speed' indicate?
It shows his harsh and callous attitude towards Juliet, reflecting an archaic view on sexual deviance.
38
What does Angelo mean when he says 'It is the law, not I condemn your brother'?
He tries to detach himself from the law, indicating a problematic stance.
39
What does Angelo's statement 'The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept' suggest?
It reveals his lack of courage in convictions and insight into the law under the Duke.
40
What does Angelo command Isabella with 'Be satisfied/Your brother dies to-morrow; be content'?
It reflects his harsh enforcement of the law.
41
What does Angelo mean by 'She speaks, and 'tis/Such sense, that my sense breeds with it'?
It indicates Isabella's influence on him, both intellectually and sexually.
42
What does Angelo's rhetorical question 'What's this, what's this? Is this her fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?' reveal?
It shows his internal conflict and uncertainty about responsibility.
43
What does Angelo's plea 'O, let her brother live' indicate?
It reflects his indecision and suggests Isabella's influence on him.
44
What does Angelo mean by 'When I would pray and think, I think and pray/To several subjects. Heaven hath my empty words'?
It juxtaposes 'pray' and 'think', showing his struggle between logic and religious ideals.
45
What does Angelo's statement 'in my heart the strong and swelling evil/Of my conception' imply?
It reveals his sexual desire, even while he is praying.
46
What does Angelo mean by 'Might there not be a charity in sin/To save this brother's life?'?
He manipulates Isabella, appealing to her charitable nature while subverting Christian morality.
47
What does Angelo's comment 'either you are ignorant,/Or seem so craftily; and that's not good' suggest?
It shows his uncertainty about Isabella's intentions and recognizes her as his intellectual equal.
48
What does Angelo mean by 'You must lay down the treasures of your body'?
It indicates his objectification of Isabella.
49
What does Angelo's statement 'We are all frail' reveal?
It shows his awareness of human fallibility and the impossibility of complete repression.
50
What does Angelo's declaration 'Plainly conceive, I love you' indicate?
It shows his directness with Isabella, no longer suppressing his desire.
51
What does Angelo mean by 'He shall not [die], Isabel, if you give me love'?
It reflects his manipulation of Isabella, using his power for sexual gain.
52
What does Angelo's statement 'Who will believe thee, Isabel?/My unsoil'd name, the austereness of my life,/My vouch against you, and my place i' the state' reveal?
It highlights his hubris and the imbalance of power, linking to the MeToo movement.
53
What does Angelo mean by 'now I give my sensual race the rein'?
It indicates he is no longer denying his humanity.
54
What does Angelo's statement 'Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true' imply?
It reflects his position of power and abuse of authority.
55
What does the Duke's comment 'This well seeming Angelo' suggest?
It reveals the theme of deception and highlights Angelo's mistreatment of Mariana.
56
What does Lucio's statement 'his urine is congealed ice; that I know to be true' imply?
It further emphasizes Angelo's inhumanity.
57
What does the Duke mean by 'O, what may man within him hide, Though angel on the outward side!'?
It reflects on the imagery of deception and corruption, linking to Angelo's name.
58
What does Angelo's command 'for my better satisfaction, let me have Claudio's head sent me by five..' reveal?
It shows his cruelty and insistence on Claudio's execution.
59
What does Angelo's exclamation 'A deflower'd maid! And by an eminent body that enforced/The law against it!' indicate?
It reveals his guilt and hypocrisy regarding his own behavior.
60
What does Angelo's statement 'He should have lived' imply?
It shows his regret in a modal verb.
61
What does Angelo mean by 'My lord, her wits, I fear me, are not firm'?
It indicates his attempt to degrade Isabella by questioning her sanity.
62
What does Isabella's statement 'He would not, but by gift of my chaste body/To his concupiscible intemperate lust,/Release my brother' reveal?
It exposes Angelo's manipulation.
63
What does the Duke's comment 'his integrity/Stands without blemish' suggest?
It indicates the Duke's ulterior motive in defending Angelo.
64
What does Isabella mean by 'with ripen'd time/Unfold the evil which is here wrapt up/In countenance'?
It uses imagery of inner corruption being revealed.
65
What does Angelo's statement 'These poor informal women are no more/But instruments of some more mightier member/That sets them on' imply?
It reveals dramatic irony as Angelo points out the manipulation of women, linking to the Duke.
66
What does Angelo mean by 'Immediate sentence then and sequent death/Is all the grace I beg'?
It shows his lack of sincere defense, only demanding death.
67
What does Angelo's statement 'I crave death more willingly than mercy/'Tis my deserving, and I do entreat it' reveal?
It shows his acceptance of justice upon himself.
68
What does the Duke mean by 'We do instate and widow you withal, To buy you a better husband'?
It reflects the transactional nature of marriage.
69
What does the Duke's imperative 'Give me your hand and say you will be mine' suggest?
It silences Isabella and raises questions about his motives.
70
What does the Duke's closing line 'So, bring us to our palace; where we'll show/What's yet behind, that's meet you all should know' imply?
It suggests a problematic ending with more to reveal.
71
What does 'proper bane/A thirsty evil; and when we drink we die' signify?
It reflects original sin, indicating man's predisposition to fallibility and self-destruction through sin.
72
What does 'upon a true contract/I got possession of Julietta's bed' imply?
'True contract' shows their relationship is genuine, with their love reiterated by the nickname 'Julietta'.
73
What is suggested by 'she is fast my wife/Save that we do the denunciation lack/Of outward order'?
It refers to hand-fast marriages, questioning the importance of ceremony and depicting marriage as a transaction.
74
What does Escalus's endorsement of Claudio's character indicate?
It shows constant endorsement from various social classes, appealing to Angelo in front of many people.
75
What does 'The miserable have no other medicine/But only hope' convey?
The language of medicine elicits pity.
76
What is the significance of 'Sweet sister, let me live/What sin you do to save a brother's life...becomes a virtue'?
It mirrors A’s language and appeals to Isabella, showing a disregard for the repercussions of sleeping with Angelo.
77
What does Provost's statement 'I hope it is some pardon or reprieve/For the most gentle Claudio' suggest?
The superlative highlights a positive view of Claudio's character, making his punishment seem unjust.
78
What does Isabella mean by 'I speak not as desiring more;/But rather wishing a more strict restraint'?
She desires more discipline, seeking peace and sanctity of religious order, possibly to protect herself from her own desires.
79
What is implied by 'Hail, virgin, if you be, as those cheek-roses/Proclaim you are no less!'?
Lucio recognizes Isabella's innocence, with 'cheek-roses' said to be a sign of virginity.
80
What does Isabella's response 'All hope is gone,/Unless you have the grace by your fair prayer/To soften Angelo' indicate?
Lucio pressures Isabella to use her virtue and femininity to influence Angelo, ironically using 'prayer' to oppose religious doctrine.
81
What does Isabella's line 'I'll see what I can do' signify?
The short line demonstrates urgency.
82
What does Isabella implore with 'I do beseech you, let it be his fault/And not my brother'?
She asks Angelo to punish Claudio's act but not himself, highlighting the difficulty in applying laws.
83
What is Isabella's view on the law with 'O just but severe law!'?
She believes the law is right, but its severity upsets her.
84
What does Isabella mean by 'O, it is excellent/To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous/To use it like a giant'?
She criticizes Angelo’s misuse of power, questioning the Duke’s rule and the Divine Right of kings.
85
What does Isabella's 'Go to your bosom/Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know' reveal?
It shows her self-awareness and empathy, calling on Angelo to recognize his own faults.
86
What is the implication of 'Hark how I'll bribe you...Ay, with such gifts that heaven shall share with you.'?
It reflects questionable morality as Isabella uses religious language to 'bribe' Angelo.
87
What does Isabella mean by 'Sir, believe this/I had rather give my body than my soul'?
Her decision to preserve chastity is linked to social expectations, suggesting a selfish motive.
88
What does Isabella express with 'were I under the terms of death/The impression of keen whips I'ld wear as rubies,/And strip myself to death'?
She sees death as martyrdom, accepting physical death but not the loss of her virginity.
89
What argument does Isabella make with 'My brother did love Juliet/And you tell me that he shall die for it'?
She points out Angelo's hypocrisy, arguing against his declaration of Claudio's punishment.
90
What does 'stoop/To such abhorred pollution' imply?
'Stoop' connotes strict beliefs around status, while 'pollution' may allude to James I’s proclamation about keeping the body clean.
91
What does Isabella mean by 'More than our brother is our chastity.'?
Her virginity is worth more than Claudio's life, as her purity connects her to God.
92
What does Isabella reveal with 'Yes, brother, you may live:/There is a devilish mercy in the judge'?
She exposes Angelo’s 'devilish mercy' to Claudio, expecting him to understand her decision.
93
What does Isabella express with 'O, were it but my life/I'd throw it down for your deliverance/As frankly as a pin'?
To Isabella, her life is as valuable as a 'pin', and she would give it for her brother, but not her chastity.
94
What does Isabella's 'O you beast!/O faithless coward! O dishonest wretch!' indicate?
It shows her anger at Claudio for suggesting she should sacrifice her virginity.
95
What does Isabella mean by 'I'll pray a thousand prayers for thy death,/No word to save thee'?
This shows a cruel side to her character, problematic in relation to her religious beliefs.
96
What does Isabella express with 'I had rather my brother die by the law than my son should be unlawfully born'?
She seems selfish in preserving the dignity of a hypothetical child over her brother’s life.
97
What does Isabella's 'O, I will to him and pluck out his eyes!' signify?
It reflects her irreligious, violent rage towards Angelo, highlighting his hypocrisy.
98
What does Isabella mean by '[to Duke]: I am directed by you.'?
It shows her trust in the Duke, who she believes to be a friar, using religion to manipulate her.
99
What does Isabella's plea 'Justice, O royal duke!..dishonour not your eye...Till you have heard me in my true complaint/And given me justice, justice, justice, justice!' convey?
The repetition of 'justice' shows her emotional reaction to injustice, causing it to lose meaning.
100
What does Isabella's statement 'That Angelo’s forsworn...a murderer...an adulterous thief...a virgin-violator' indicate?
It showcases her anger and rhetorical skill, contrasting with her later submission.
101
What does Isabella's '[kneeling] Look, if it please you, on this man condemn'd/As if my brother lived...Let him not die' reveal?
It appears to betray Claudio and shows her submission to male authority, shocking given Angelo's treatment of her.
102
What does Isabella mean by 'For Angelo,/His act did not o'ertake his bad intent/And must be buried but as an intent'?
She struggles with the idea of differentiating between intent and act while begging for Angelo’s life.
103
What does Lucio mean by 'Grace is grace, despite of all controversy: as, for example, thou thyself art a wicked villain, despite of all grace'?
It highlights the subjectivity of morality, where gentlemen may not follow religious doctrine but can still be good.
104
What does Lucio imply with 'impiety has made a feast of thee'?
It links to corruption, suggesting that humans cannot avoid their natural inclinations.
105
What does Lucio mean by 'Your brother and his lover have embraced:/As those that feed grow full'?
He acts as a go-between, using language of fertility to emphasize the injustice of Claudio’s punishment.
106
What does Lucio suggest with 'when they weep and kneel,/All their petitions are as freely theirs/As they themselves would owe them'?
It suggests women can use femininity to manipulate men, despite Isabella's desire for restraint.
107
What does Lucio imply with 'You are too cold'?
He suggests Isabella must be more provocative to persuade Angelo, contradicting her principles.
108
What does Lucio mean by 'if the old fantastical duke of dark corners had been at home, he [Claudio] had lived'?
It vindicates the Duke, exposing him as a corrupt leader with no sense of justice.
109
What does Lucio express with 'Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death, whipping, and hanging'?
It reflects his problematic view of punishment through marriage, highlighting the harshness in his eyes.
110
What does Mariana's 'this dejected Mariana' signify?
It indicates her fallen woman status, defined by how Angelo treated her.
111
What does Mariana's statement '[Angelo] Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole' imply?
It depicts Angelo as cruel, paralleling the handfast marriage of Claudio and Juliet.
112
What does Mariana mean by 'I have sat here all day'?
It reflects her lack of agency, showing she has a static function in the play.
113
What does the Duke's question 'Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor wife?' reveal?
It exemplifies the categories women are expected to fit into, demonstrating issues within the comedy.
114
What does Mariana mean by 'I have known my husband; yet my husband/Knows not that ever he knew me'?
It reveals the bed-trick and her gained agency in deceiving Angelo.
115
What does Mariana express with 'O my most gracious lord,/I hope you will not mock me with a husband'?
It shows her attempt to preserve status by preventing Angelo’s execution.
116
What does Mariana mean by 'They say, best men are moulded out of faults;/And, for the most, become much more the better/For being a little bad'?
It presents a compassionate viewpoint that love cannot exist without faults, highlighting the balance between good and bad.
117
What does Mariana's plea 'O my good lord! Sweet Isabel, take my part; Lend me your knees' signify?
It shows her powerless state, requiring her to plead with Isabella.
118
What does Mistress Overdone mean by 'Behold, behold, where Madam Mitigation comes! I have purchased as many diseases under her roof'?
It reflects lowlife’s mitigation of moral standards, indicating acceptance of sexual promiscuity.
119
What does Mistress Overdone's statement 'Mistress Kate Keepdown was with child by [Lucio]...I have kept it myself; and see how he goes about to abuse me!' imply?
It depicts her as selfless in raising Lucio’s child, while he is unappreciative.
120
What does Escalus mean by 'Well, heaven forgive him! and forgive us all! Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall'?
He comments on the moral complexities of characters like Angelo and Isabella.
121
What does Escalus express with 'It grieves me for the death of Claudio;/But there's no remedy.'?
He disapproves of Angelo’s rule but does not act against it, showing weakness.
122
What does Elbow mean by 'I do lean upon justice, sir, and do bring in here before your good honour two notorious benefactors.'?
His malapropisms make the law appear mockable, altering the tone to prose comedy.
123
What does Justice mean by 'Lord Angelo is severe.'?
Justice speaks briefly before disappearing, delivering a verdict on Angelo.
124
What does Juliet mean by 'the fornicatress'?
It shows how Juliet is defined by her actions, reflecting Angelo’s harsh attitude.
125
What does Juliet express with 'I do [repent]; and bear the shame most patiently'?
It highlights the shame associated with sexual acts, contrasting audience reactions.
126
What does Juliet mean by 'Love you the man that wrong'd you?' 'Yes, as I love the woman that wrong'd him'?
It emphasizes the mutuality of their relationship and the complexities of their hand-fast marriage.
127
What does Pompey mean by 'if he be a married man, he's his wife's head, and I can never cut off a woman's head.'?
It jokes about the implications of taking virginity.
128
What does Pompey mean by 'Sir, I have been an unlawful bawd time out of mind; but yet I will be content to be a lawful hangman'?
It reflects the irony of being a 'lawful hangman'.
129
What does Pompey imply with 'I am as well acquainted here [prison] as I was in our house of profession: one would think it were Mistress Overdone's own house, for here be many of her old customers'?
It highlights issues within the justice system, as prisons house those who defy the law.
130
What does Provost mean by 'The one has my pity; not a jot the other,'?
It shows disparity in attitudes towards Claudio and other prisoners.
131
What does Barnadine mean by 'careless, reckless, and fearless of what's past, present, or to come; insensible of mortality, and desperately mortal'?
He epitomizes the flaws of human nature, governed only by his own impulses.
132
What does Barnadine express with 'I will not consent to die this day, that's certain'?
He defies the law, showcasing the difficulty in applying it.
133
What does the Duke mean by 'Unfit to live or die: O gravel heart!'?
Barnadine challenges both religious and legal authority.
134
What image is portrayed by the phrase 'beats the nurse, and quite athwart'?
It symbolizes anarchy and reversal of power, indicating a need for some kind of rule, while Shakespeare explores different forms this can take.
135
What is the significance of the quote 'You may, I may not; you are yet unsworn.'?
It highlights the prominence of vows in the play and raises questions about their value and meaning.
136
What does Lucio mean by 'Which have for long run by the hideous law, / As mice by lions'?
Lucio comments on how people have not followed laws, leading Angelo to make Claudio an 'example'.
137
What issue does the dialogue 'What do you think of the trade, Pompey? is it a lawful trade?' raise?
It brings issues of law and order into discussion, questioning the futility of law in determining inherent good or bad.
138
What does the Provost's quote 'All sects, all ages smack of this vice; and he / To die for't!' suggest?
It reveals the cruelty and hypocrisy of Angelo’s rule, as he punishes Claudio for a vice that many engage in.
139
What does the Duke mean by 'He is your husband on a pre-contract: To bring you thus together, 'tis no sin'?
The Duke highlights the hand-fast marriage situation, manipulating Mariana's trust by suggesting it is 'no sin'.
140
What is exposed by the quote 'If you will take it on you to assist him, it shall redeem you from your gyves'?
It exposes the hypocrisy and chaos within the law, as Pompey escapes a death sentence by becoming the hangman.
141
What does Lucio's quote 'Cucullus non facit monachum' imply?
It means 'The hood doesn’t make the monk', highlighting the irony of the Duke’s disguise and manipulation through religious guise.
142
What is the significance of the Duke's statement 'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death...and Measure still for Measure'?
It is a formal condemnation of Angelo to death, suggesting a Biblical assertion of just rule, with irony in 'death for death' as Claudio is still alive.
143
What does Dryden say about the play?
He dismisses it as 'grounded on impossibilities'.
144
What is Coleridge's view on Angelo’s pardon and marriage?
He states it 'baffles the strong, indignant claim of justice, degrading to the character of woman'.
145
How does Schlegel describe Isabella?
'Angel of light'.
146
What does Stoll criticize about the Duke?
'Unreasonable, implausible, sensational and stagey'.
147
What does Leavis say about the audience's perception of Angelo?
'If we don’t see ourselves in Angelo...we have taken the play very imperfectly.'
148
What does Leavis say about Claudio's actions?
'Committed a serious offence'.
149
What is Raleigh's view on moral judgments in the play?
'The play condemns no one high or low'.
150
How does Nosworthy relate the play to Shakespeare’s other works?
'Probably the most complex and even the most contradictory of Shakespeare’s works'.
151
What does Stead say about Isabella's character?
'Neither saint nor hypocrite, but a girl overwhelmed by an appalling dilemma'.
152
What is Bennett's basis for the play?
'The play is, from beginning to end, pure comedy, based on absurdity'.
