Look again at Act II, Scene IV which begins "When I would pray and think".. How does Shakespeare control our changing responses to Angelo throughout this scene?

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Look again at Act II, Scene IV which begins  “When I would pray and think”..  How does Shakespeare control our changing responses to Angelo throughout this scene?

At the beginning of this scene we see Angelo in a way we haven’t seen him before. He is feeling very trapped by his exterior and wishes he could be a different type of person. This gives us the feeling of pity towards this usually harsh and cold man. Angelo is being very honest with himself in this soliloquy; and he realizes his thoughts for Isabella are of pure lust. This being the main reason as to why he can’t pray, he can’t stop thinking about Isabella. However, he desires her only for the things, which make her good, which is why his prayers are so very hollow:

        “…Heaven hath my empty words,

             Whilst my invention, hearing not my tongue,

             Anchors on Isabel…”

This language mirrors the grossness of exactly what Angelo is considering doing. He becomes aware that he is actually a human being and that so very often his outer appearance belies what is inside him.

Angelo is really beginning to understand exactly what Isabella said to him previously. The person he seems to be is not the person he is at all; he would love to get rid of this “idle plume”, which is there just for vanity as its becoming a burden:

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        “…I take pride,

             Could I with boot change for an idle plume...”

During this soliloquy Angelo also realizes the disgust of what he is contemplating. He knows it is evil and corrupt and his language portrays this:

        “And in my heart the strong and swelling evil

          Of my conception”

Due to the way Angelo is so open and honest in his soliloquy; one feels pity for him and it could be thought that perhaps he could really have true, ...

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