The Duke Quotes Flashcards
The Duke to Angelo about why he is leaving
Start of Play
‘I love the people, But do not like to stage me to their eyes. Though it do well I do not relish well their loud applause and aves vehement.’
Translation (Act 1 Scene 1)
I love the people, but I don’t like being watched all the time. Though it does good in the long run, I don’t really enjoy their loud applause and shouting, “Hail!”
What does the Duke say about life away from power?
To Friar Thomas, while he explains the reasoning for his beginning acts
‘I have ever loved the life removed.’
Full Context and Translation (Act 1 Scene 3)
No, holy father; throw away that thought;
Believe not that the dribbling dart of love
Can pierce a complete bosom. Why I desire thee
To give me secret harbour, hath a purpose
More grave and wrinkled than the aims and ends
Of burning youth.
DUKE VINCENTIO
No, holy father, don’t even think of that. You can’t believe that silly old love would win over a man as steadfast as me. There’s a reason for my asking you for a secret hiding place—an old man’s reason, serious reason as far from lusty youth’s desires and goals as possible.
FRIAR THOMAS
May your grace speak of it?
FRIAR THOMAS
Can you tell me, your Grace?
DUKE VINCENTIO
My holy sir, none better knows than you
How I have ever loved the life removed
And held in idle price to haunt assemblies
Where youth, and cost, and witless bravery keeps.
I have deliver’d to Lord Angelo,
A man of stricture and firm abstinence,
My absolute power and place here in Vienna,
And he supposes me travell’d to Poland;
For so I have strew’d it in the common ear,
And so it is received. Now, pious sir,
You will demand of me why I do this?
DUKE VINCENTIO
Holy father, no one knows better than you how much I’ve loved living in isolation, and how little I’ve valued the gatherings where young people, wealth, and stupid acts of bravery take place. I’ve given my absolute power and position here in Vienna to Lord Angelo, a man of upstanding discipline and strict abstinence. He thinks I’ve traveled to Poland, since I’ve spread that rumor in public and it’s come back to him. Now, devout sir, do you want to know why I’m doing this?
FRIAR THOMAS
Gladly, my lord.
FRIAR THOMAS
Yes, please, my lord.
DUKE VINCENTIO
We have strict statutes and most biting laws.
The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds,
Which for this nineteen years we have let slip;
Even like an o’ergrown lion in a cave,
That goes not out to prey. Now, as fond fathers,
Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch,
Only to stick it in their children’s sight
For terror, not to use, in time the rod
Becomes more mock’d than fear’d; so our decrees,
Dead to infliction, to themselves are dead;
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.
DUKE VINCENTIO
We have strict statutes and extremely harsh laws. I’ve let the necessary bits and restraints for unruly citizens slip in the last nineteen years, like an overgrown lion in a cave who doesn’t go out to hunt. It’s like fathers who make threatening switches out of twigs not to use them, but only to scare their children. Over time, these sorts of fathers are ridiculed more than they’re feared. So my decrees—which I haven’t enforced—are essentially useless. Freedom takes advantage of justice, the baby beats the babysitter, and all order goes to pieces.
What does the Duke say about the nature of Vienna’s statutes/law?
‘We have strict statutes and most biting laws, the needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds’
The lines “We have strict statutes and most biting laws, the needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds” are from William Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure,
Act 1, Scene 3, spoken by the Duke.
Context:
The Duke is reflecting on the state of Vienna, specifically the lax enforcement of laws.
Meaning:
He laments that while they have harsh laws in place (the “bits and curbs”), they haven’t been used to control the “headstrong weeds” (those who break the laws).
Imagery:
The Duke uses the imagery of a lion in a cave, suggesting that the laws, like a lion, have become overgrown and inactive because they haven’t been used to control the people.
Full quote:
“We have strict statutes and most biting laws, The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, Which for this nineteen years we have let slip; Even like an o’ergrown lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey.”
Translation:
I’ve let the necessary bits and restraints for unruly citizens slip in the last nineteen years, like an overgrown lion in a cave who doesn’t go out to hunt.
What is the lion metaphor the Duke uses about the law in Vienna?
‘like an o’ergrown lion in a cave that goes not out to prey.’
the law is fierce and scary but does not hunt and so is not feared
What metaphor about beating children does the Duke use about the law in Vienna?
‘as fond fathers, Having bound up the threatening twigs of birch, only to stick it in their children’s sight for terror, not to use, in time the rod becomes more mocked than feared.’
the naughty children of Vienna do not fear the law
To Friar Thomas when explaining the reasoning of his plot (robe-donning)
Act 1, Scene 3
Translation: It’s like fathers who make threatening switches out of twigs not to use them, but only to scare their children
What does the Duke say about liberty and justice?
‘liberty plucks justice by the nose.’
Context and Translation:
And liberty plucks justice by the nose;
The baby beats the nurse, and quite athwart
Goes all decorum.
Freedom takes advantage of justice, the baby beats the babysitter, and all order goes to pieces.
The Duke’s description of Vienna as a den of iniquity helps to establish the play’s key themes related to justice and the mismatch between crime and punishment. As things currently stand, crimes are going unpunished in the city, resulting in an upswell of injustice. In other words, the moral order has been upset, and with this speech the Duke makes a tacit indication of his intention to restore the moral order. How precisely he will achieve this goal is what the remainder of the play will reveal. However, in the true spirit of a Shakespearean comedy, in order for the moral order of Vienna to be restored, it will first have to fall even further out of balance. As we will see in subsequent acts, the Duke’s elaborate plan to save Vienna from itself will involve many deceptions and substitutions, beginning with his own transformation. Indeed, the Duke addresses the above words to Friar Thomas, who is assisting him in donning the monk’s cowl he’ll wear to disguise his identity.
What quotes show the way that the Duke as a priest tries to convince Claudio that life is pointless and he might as well accept death?
‘thou art Death’s fool, For him thy flight to shun And yet runs’t toward him still’
-you try to run away from death but actually you are continually running towards it
‘Thou hast nor youth, nor but as it were an after-dinner’s sleep Dreaming on both, for all thy blessed youth Becomes as aged and doth beg the alms of palsied eld; and when thou art old and rich, thou hast neither heat, affection, limb, nor beauty to make thy riches pleasant. What’s in this that bears the name of life?’
- you never live fully and contentedly in the present as young people lack money to enjoy their pleasures and old people lack the ability to extract pleasure from their money
‘If thou art rich thou’rt poor, / For like an ass whose back with ingots bows / Thou bear’st thy heavy riches but a journey / And death unloads thee.’
-Riches mean nothing since they cannot be carried/used when one is dead
‘Yet in this life / Lie hid moe thousand deaths’
~One should be much more fearful of life as there in more suffering/pain in it
Translation (1): You lose out to Death every time. You do everything you can to get away from him, but every second you get closer to Death
Translation (3): If you’re rich, you’re poor, because, like a donkey carrying heavy gold on his back, you can only carry your riches in life. You will have to leave them behind when you die.
After secretly listening to Claudio and Isabella speak what does the Duke lie about to Isabella?
‘I am confessor to Angelo.’
The line “I am confessor to Angelo” is spoken by the Duke, disguised as a friar, in Shakespeare’s play Measure for Measure, Act 3, Scene 1, to Claudio, who is facing a death sentence.
Context:
Claudio is facing execution for a crime he committed, and his sister, Isabella, is pleading for his life.
The Duke’s Role:
The Duke, disguised as a friar, is trying to manipulate the situation to his advantage, and he uses this information to convince Claudio to prepare for death.
The Line’s Purpose:
By stating “I am confessor to Angelo,” the Duke establishes his authority and credibility, suggesting he knows the truth about Angelo’s actions and the nature of Claudio’s sentence.
Significance:
This line highlights the Duke’s cunning and manipulative nature, as he uses his perceived spiritual authority to control the situation.
Full Line:
“I am confessor to Angelo, and I know this to be true; therefore prepare yourself to death: do not satisfy your resolution with hopes that are fallible: tomorrow you must die; go to your knees and make ready.”
What does the Duke say to Isabella about her beauty and morality?
Prior to proposing the bed-trick within the same scene
‘The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good.’
Full Context & Translation: Act 3, Scene 1
DUKE VINCENTIO
The hand that hath made you fair hath made you good:
the goodness that is cheap in beauty makes beauty
brief in goodness; but grace, being the soul of
your complexion, shall keep the body of it ever
fair. The assault that Angelo hath made to you,
fortune hath conveyed to my understanding; and, but
that frailty hath examples for his falling, I should
wonder at Angelo. How will you do to content this
substitute, and to save your brother?
DUKE VINCENTIO
The same God that made you beautiful has also made you good. The little good that’s in beauty means that goodness is hardly ever beautiful. **But grace—which is the core of your being—will keep you beautiful forever. **I’ve found out about how Angelo propositioned you. And if there weren’t so many who’ve fallen before him, then I’d be surprised at Angelo. What happens if you agree to his trade and save your brother?
How does the Duke disguised as a Friar describe to Isabella the way Angelo treated Mariana?
‘swallowed his vows whole, pretending in her discoveries of dishonour.’
-pretends she has been in sexual misconduct, the real reason is financial for him breaking off their engagement
‘he, a marble to her tears.’
-he was cold, hard and unaffected by her sadness at him doing this, her tears did not permeate his stone
Context and Translation: (Act 3 Scene 1)
ISABELLA
Can this be so? did Angelo so leave her?
ISABELLA
Is this true? And did Angelo leave her like that?
DUKE VINCENTIO
Left her in her tears, and dried not one of them
with his comfort; swallowed his vows whole,
pretending in her discoveries of dishonour: in few,
bestowed her on her own lamentation, which she yet
wears for his sake; and he, a marble to her tears,
is washed with them, but relents not.
DUKE VINCENTIO
He left her in tears, and he didn’t stick around to comfort her. He went back on his vows, and made up a story about her having an affair. In short, he sent her into a period of mourning, which she’s still in for his sake. He hasn’t taken pity on her at all. He’s not even sympathetic to her constant tears.
ISABELLA
What a merit were it in death to take this poor maid
from the world! What corruption in this life, that
it will let this man live! But how out of this can she
avail?
ISABELLA
It would have been better for him to kill this poor girl, and take her out of the world! Life is horrible if it lets this man live! But how can she get out of this?
How does the Duke (as Friar) describe to Isabella Mariana’s feelings for Angelo?
As a precursor to proposing the bed-trick
‘His unjust unkindness, that in all reason should have quenched her love, hath, like an impediment in the current, made it more violent and unruly.’
-Her love and passion has grown now that he doesn’t want her
Full Context and Translation (Act 3, Scene 1)
DUKE VINCENTIO
It is a rupture that you may easily heal: and the
cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps
you from dishonour in doing it.
DUKE VINCENTIO
It’s a break which you could easily fix. Fixing it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonoring yourself while you do it.
ISABELLA
Show me how, good father.
ISABELLA
Show me how, good father.
DUKE VINCENTIO
This forenamed maid hath yet in her the continuance
of her first affection: his unjust unkindness, that
in all reason should have quenched her love, hath,
like an impediment in the current, made it more
violent and unruly. Go you to Angelo; answer his
requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with
his demands to the point; only refer yourself to
this advantage, first, that your stay with him may
not be long; that the time may have all shadow and
silence in it; and the place answer to convenience.
This being granted in course,—and now follows
all,—we shall advise this wronged maid to stead up
your appointment, go in your place; if the encounter
acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to
her recompense: and here, by this, is your brother
saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana
advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled. The maid
will I frame and make fit for his attempt. If you
think well to carry this as you may, the doubleness
of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof.
What think you of it?
DUKE VINCENTIO
The woman I mentioned, Mariana, is still in love with Angelo. The wrong he did her—which, all things considered, should have ended her love—has only made it stronger and wilder, like a rock in a stream. Go to Angelo. Answer his request obediently and convincingly. Agree to his demands completely. Only ask him this: that your first visit to him is short, that it stays dark and silent the entire time, and that the place is convenient. If he grants all this—and now it all comes together—we’ll get the abandoned woman to go to the appointment in your place. If the encounter is acknowledged afterward, it might convince him to marry her. And with all that, your brother is saved, your reputation is clean, the poor Mariana is helped, and the corrupt deputy gets his just deserts. I’ll talk to the girl and get her ready for his attempt. If you don’t mind doing this, the benefit to everyone will make your lie inconsequential. What do you think?
How does the Friar convince Isabella of his plan? why does she go along with it
‘your brother saved, your honour untainted, the poor Mariana advantaged, and the corrupt deputy scaled’
scaled, weighed up
she trusts him because she believes he is an actual friar and everything seems like a win win situation.
Where does the Duke (as Friar) tell Isabella to make Angelo go to have sex?
The bed-trick plot description (Act 3 Scene 1)
‘a place may have all shadow and silence in it.’
Context and Translation (Act 3 Scene 1)
Go you to Angelo; answer his
requiring with a plausible obedience; agree with
his demands to the point; only refer yourself to
this advantage, first, that your stay with him may
not be long; that the time may have all shadow and
silence in it; and the place answer to convenience.
Go to Angelo. Answer his request obediently and convincingly. Agree to his demands completely. Only ask him this: that your first visit to him is short, that it stays dark and silent the entire time, and that the place is convenient
The Duke’s Utilitarian justification of the bed-trick
‘doubleness of the benefit’
~doubleness- Mariana and Isabella
~Doubleness as carrying two meanings/ambiguous, it also means deceitfulness, perhaps the Duke is describing the action as a beneficial trickery (Link to Geckle’s third criticism of Isabella)
In Shakespeare’s “Measure for Measure,” the Duke, disguised as a friar, uses the phrase “the doubleness of the benefit” to justify the bed-trick (Mariana taking Isabella’s place), arguing that the two benefits (Angelo’s punishment and Mariana’s relief) defend the deceit from criticism.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Context:
The Duke, in his role as a friar, is trying to find a way to resolve the situation involving Angelo, who is a corrupt and hypocritical figure of authority, and Claudio, who is sentenced to death.
The Bed-Trick:
The Duke proposes a plan where Mariana, Angelo’s jilted fiancee, will take Isabella’s place in bed with Angelo.
The “Doubleness of the Benefit”:
The Duke argues that this deceit is justified because it serves two beneficial purposes:
Angelo’s Punishment: By having Angelo believe he is having intercourse with Isabella, the Duke can expose Angelo’s hypocrisy and punish him for his actions.
Mariana’s Relief: By having Angelo marry her, Mariana’s long and lonely vigil is concluded.
The Duke’s Justification:
The Duke claims that “the doubleness of the benefit defends the deceit from reproof,” meaning that the positive outcomes of the plan outweigh the negative aspect of the deception.
Isabella’s Response:
Isabella, initially horrified by the plan, is eventually swayed by the prospect of Claudio’s life being spared and the possibility of Angelo’s downfall.
How does the Duke contrast Angelo’s hypocrisy in virtue with Pompey’s honesty in sin.
‘That we were all, as some would seem to be, Free from our faults as faults from seeming free.’
were all men as free from sin as Angelo seems or as Pompey is free from hypocrisy
Human Hypocrisy – Many people appear faultless (“as some would seem to be”), but no one is truly free from sin.
The Illusion of Moral Superiority – Angelo acts like he’s morally perfect, yet soon proves himself a hypocrite.
The Irony of “Seeming” – “Faults from seeming” suggests that the very act of pretending to be sinless is itself a fault.
Paired Quotations:
“O that we were all, as some would seem to be,/From our faults, as faults from seeming, free!“ Duke Vincentio, Measure for Measure, Act III Scene II
“O, what may man within him hide,/Though angel on the outward side!” Duke Vincentio, Measure for Measure, Act III Scene II
Meaning and context
In this climactic scene Elbow pleads with the Duke to intervene on behalf of Pompey:
He says Angelo will be harsh on Pompey
The Duke replies that everyone has faults but not all of them can be seen
Later in the scene, the Duke becomes distressed as he realises Angelo’s reputation for morality is not true:
The Duke says that Angelo is an “angel on the outward side”
Analysis
It could be argued that the Duke’s exclamation conveys his deep concerns regarding crime and punishment
The alliterative and ambiguous message about visible and hidden sin explores the play’s themes of human fallibility in the enforcement of a moral code
Later, his reflections on Angelo reveals he has been deceived by Angelo’s reputation:
He uses a pun to connect the idea of an “outward” angel with Angelo’s name
The exclamation here suggests his distress that Angelo’s puritanical code of morality appears to be false in reality
This is ironic as the audience knows the friar himself is also only “an angel on the outward side”
How does Lucio comment on the Duke while speaking to his disguised self?
‘your beggar of fifty; and his use was to put a ducat in her clack dish.’
this sexual innuendo suggests the Duke sleeps with beggar women, he alternatively may have just been being charitable
‘he would mouth with a beggar, though she smelt brown bread and garlic.’
-bad breath
Meaning of the Phrase:
“Mouth with a beggar” suggests the Duke would befriend or talk to someone of low status.
“Though she smelt of brown bread and garlic” emphasizes that the Duke’s willingness to converse with a beggar is not affected by the beggar’s perceived unpleasant odor.
The phrase highlights the Duke’s perceived lack of social snobbery or pretentiousness.
Shakespeare’s Purpose:
Shakespeare’s work uses this phrase to show the Duke’s character and his willingness to interact with people of all social classes, even those who are perceived as lowly.
Other interpretations:
Some scholars suggest that the phrase also has a double meaning, with “mouth” potentially referring to both speaking and kissing, which would further emphasize the Duke’s perceived lack of social boundaries.
Trnaslation: Who, the Duke? He’d see a fifty-year-old beggar woman and put a coin in her bucket; he had his quirks.
How does Lucio suggest the Duke is unbalanced? How does the Duke (as Friar) respond to this?
‘a very superficial, ignorant, unweighing fellow.’
Responds stating Lucio’s analysis could be ‘envy in you, folly, or mistaking.’
Duke as Friar describes himself as ‘a scholar, a statesman, and a soldier.’ He sees himself as fitting the Renaissance ideal of being both a man of action and of learning
Although Lucio says he ‘knows and ‘loves’ the Duke this is very questionable and may fit into Lucio’s extravagance
How does Lucio describe the Duke’s attitude towards dark/immoral deeds?
‘The Duke yet would have dark deeds darkly answered.’
~sexual implication (use of sex/immoral deeds to rectify/punish such deeds)
~ Link to bed-trick: sexual acts performed in Darkness (‘all shadow and silence’)
‘The Duke would eat mutton on Fridays’
-eating mutton on Fridays breaks the ecclesiastical laws that forbade eating meat on Friday but is also a pun on ‘mutton’ as prostitute.
How does the Duke articulate, after speaking to Lucio as Friar, that neither political power nor nobility of character can escape hostile criticism?
‘no might nor greatness in mortality can censure scape.’
Comes in Act 3 Scene 2, where Lucio discusses all manner of rumours and criticism of the Duke to his disguised self
~Thus, possible hypocrisy relative to treatment of Angelo?
What does the Duke say at the end of Act 3 about how severe those who administer justice should be?
‘He who the sword of heaven will bear/ Should be as holy as severe.’
-sword is an emblem of legal authority to punish wrongdoers (link to divine right of kings)
The Duke has no theoretical objection to capital punishment but feels that keepers of justice should have degree of holiness (mercy-ref to Romans 9:16) if they wish to be severe
How does the Duke end his soliloquy at the end of Act 3?
Crazy good quote
‘Craft against vice I must apply/With Angelo tonight shall lie/ His old bethrothed, but despised;/ So disguise shall by the disguised/ Pay with falsehood false exacting/ And perform an old contracting.’
The verbal balance in these lines despise- disguise falsehood- false reflects the plays concern for measure for measure
disguise- trickery
Characterising/Describing the bed-trick in reference to Angelo
Full Context and Translation (Act 3 Scene 2)
Craft against vice I must apply:
With Angelo to-night shall lie
His old betrothed but despised;
So disguise shall, by the disguised,
Pay with falsehood false exacting,
And perform an old contracting.
I have to be clever to put an end to this evil.
Tonight, Angelo will sleep with Mariana,
his one-time fiancée whom he abandoned.
Her disguise, and she herself,
will give Angelo exactly what he deserved
—and make good on an old promise.
How does the Duke suggest he is scrutinised by millions of people in a soliloquy?
DUKE VINCENTIO
O place and greatness! millions of false eyes/Are stuck upon thee: volumes of report/Run with these false and most contrarious quests/Upon thy doings
Context:
The Duke is speaking in Act 4, Scene 1, after Isabella and Mariana have left, and he is reflecting on the nature of power and how it attracts both admiration and criticism.
Meaning:
“O place and greatness!” - The Duke acknowledges the inherent challenges and pressures that come with being in a position of power.
“millions of false eyes are stuck upon thee” - He emphasizes the constant scrutiny and judgment that those in positions of power face.
“volumes of false report run with these false and most contrarious quests” - He highlights the spread of rumors and misinformation that can damage reputations.
“Upon thy doings” - The Duke emphasizes that even the actions of those in power are subject to interpretation and misrepresentation.
Themes:
This speech touches on several key themes in “Measure for Measure,” including:
The corrupting influence of power: The Duke’s words suggest that power can lead to both good and evil, and that those in positions of authority are constantly tempted by it.
The nature of justice: The play explores the question of what constitutes true justice, and whether it is possible to achieve it in a world where people are constantly judging each other.
The importance of appearances: The Duke’s words suggest that appearances can be deceiving, and that people should not be judged solely on their outward actions.
Shakespeare’s Purpose:
By having the Duke deliver this speech, Shakespeare is reminding the audience of the challenges and complexities of power and the importance of judging people fairly.
Provides nuance to The Duke’s (and general) attitudes towards governance
Translation: Act 4 Scene 1
Oh, rank! Oh, power! Millions of eyes are on you at all times. The history books are full of misleading, misguided attempts to secure you
How does the Duke describe Angelo’s life?
Not so, not so; his life is parallel’d
Even with the stroke and line of his great justice:
The duke enters to assure himself that Angelo’s end of the bargain has been carried out. The reprieve has not yet arrived, but the duke ironically defends his deputy by telling the provost that “his life is parallel’d / Even with the stroke and line of his great justice . . . were he meal’d with that / Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous” (82-87). The truth, of course, is that the duke is well aware of Angelo’s own shortcomings in the vice he is so determined to punish.
~ paralleled- Angelo’s private life and his behaviour as a judge as compared to a set of paralleled lines, they do not cross over.
~ The lines also refer to Angelo writing out legal judgements
~ stroke also can indicate capital punishment. stroke could be the axe of execution and line like the hanging
Context and Translation: Act 4 Scene 2
PROVOST
It is a bitter deputy.
PROVOST
Angelo is a terrible deputy.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Not so, not so; his life is parallel’d
Even with the stroke and line of his great justice:
He doth with holy abstinence subdue
That in himself which he spurs on his power
To qualify in others: were he meal’d with that
Which he corrects, then were he tyrannous;
But this being so, he’s just.
[Knocking within]
Now are they come.
DUKE VINCENTIO
Not true, not true! His life holds up to the standard of his extreme justice. He keeps his own desires at bay with holy discipline; that’s what gives him the authority to correct faults in others. If he were the same as the people he corrected, he’d be a tyrant. But, because of his good character, he’s just. [The sound of knocking comes from offstage] Now they’re here.
What does the Duke say to justify him lying to Isabella about her brother being saved?
‘I will keep her ignorant of her good, To make her heavenly comforts of despair When it is least expected.’
he wants to surprise her and make her happy, could also argue he feels she will be more likely to accuse Angelo is her brother is in her mind dead
Full Context and Translation (Act 4 Scene 3)
ISABELLA
[Within] Peace, ho, be here!
ISABELLA
[Offstage] Hello! Peace be with you!
DUKE VINCENTIO
The tongue of Isabel. She’s come to know
If yet her brother’s pardon be come hither:
But I will keep her ignorant of her good,
To make her heavenly comforts of despair,
When it is least expected.
DUKE VINCENTIO
That’s Isabella’s voice. She wants to know if her brother’s pardon has gotten here. I won’t tell her the good news yet. I’ll wait and tell her once she gets upset and she least expects it.
