Please Mark - Measure for Measure

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Booklet Topic: Angelo is an honorable man who succumbs to temptation

Shakespeare’s classic ‘Measure for Measure’ centralizes over the problematic virtues of characters in the settings of a distressed city of Vienna. Though the play is considered part comedy, it is evident that the author has mixed characters with different morals and temptations which is argued rather than comedy; it is a dark comedy for it’s depiction for cynicism. Certain characters with distinguished sets of morals had been revealed to hold a secret hidden identity no one could of judged, which acts as catalysts to different scenes to the play. One character, who was misjudged early on in the play by most audiences is the “virtuous” man Lord Angelo. Given the power to temporarily rule over Vienna in spite of the Duke’s pretentious leave, Angelo soon reveals his degrading of personal morals, and the lack of dedication to resist temptation. Angelo is not considered an honorable man, through immoral acts that betray honor where he had called off the marriage with Marianna for her lost of her dowry. Angelo is also a man who succumbs to temptation, he who is willing to change the law in exchange for sex with Isabella, a virtuous virgin of the play.

   Shakespeare’s representation of Angelo at the beginning of the play hints that Angelo is a man of honor, reliability and trustworthy. With the ruling power over Vienna delegated to him, Angelo shows kind refusal to the Duke, suggesting “some more test made of my metal” which suggests Angelo, an honest man is not ready “before so noble and so great a figure” of a task. The authenticity of Angelo was also supported by Lord Escalus, who believes the only person able to “undergo such ample grace and honor” is the one and only Angelo. This reveals some honorable qualities of Angelo, an honest man depicted by Shakespeare. This early on in the play leaves the audience in belief that Angelo would be an honorable man. However, it is quite evident that Angelo reveals some of his hidden identity as he changes in moral into a “strict, unmerciful” ruler, upon accepting such great control and responsibility.

Angelo’s strong reinforcement of the Duke’s laws and dormant punishment bestows him as a man of honor. The enforcement of “strict statutes and most biting laws”, strict laws that had been established by the Duke but has remained unpunished can be seen early on in the play, when Angelo turns unmerciful in order to demonstrate power to Vienna by executing Claudio, as an example, for a crime considered minor. Shakespeare represents Angelo in the way of dedication in turning the corrupt state of Vienna back towards peace and prosperity, to demonstrate that Angelo seeming as an honorable man. However, Angelo has previous immoral acts which contradicts the statement of an honorable man he is. It is not revealed until later on the play where Angelo has committed a wrong doing to Marianna, his bride-to-be. “Her brother Frederick was wrecked at sea, having in that perished vessel the dowry of his sister.” Angelo called off the wedding with Marianna due to superficial reasons which resulted in the miserable life of Marianna. Still, Marianna only “crave for no other nor better man” but suffers psychological consequences from Angelo’s dishonorable act.

   During the temporary reign of Angelo, it is evident that Angelo, who is full of twisted virtues is a man who submits to self-desire and temptation. Angelo succumbs to his sexual desires when he is first introduced to Isabella, the “perfect woman”. Through Isabella’s irrefutable feministic features as a “virgin sanctity”, Angelo is willing to bend the law and negotiate with Isabella, which leads to the play’s most famous question: whether to have sex and be sinned to save my brother or not? It is very evident that Angelo is not an honorable man – as he failed to hold the end of his bargain, having slept with Isabella, he is fearful of his own immoral acts. It is obvious that the audience can tell at this point that Angelo is a “vicious and hypocritical” and fundamentally flawed character, delivered with intent as the antagonist which demonstrates Shakespeare’s brilliant portrayal of hidden identities.

   Through exploring the central morals and context of Angelo, Angelo is not considered an honorable man. Given evidence of his previous immoral acts towards his bride-to-be Marianna and his failure to resist temptation as a ruler of Vienna. With the audacity to bend the rules for his own cynicism, Shakespeare portrays Angelo as a man of hidden identities and morals which had revealed Angelo to be quite the antagonist in Measure for Measure.