What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play?

. 'Angelo is an arrogant hypocrite'. 2. 'Angelo is a vulnerable and confused man, deserving of our sympathy'. What evidence is these in the play to support these opinions? How do you think that Shakespeare has presented Angelo in the play? If you ask any critic of the play 'Measure for Measure' by William Shakespeare, to give you a simple description of the character of Angelo, they will tell you that he is the villain of the play. He is a man who rules strictly, without mercy, summarised by the Duke, "strict and most biting laws". Yet his hypocrisy was his downfall in the end. Originally classified in the first Folio as a comedy, Measure for Measure is one of the three problem plays, as there are many question raised by the writer. Shakespeare deliberately gives the audience three different characters opinions of Angelo before we can make formulate one ourselves. This is deliberately done to primarily give us a clouded view of the character, and therefore prolong the mystery and uncertainty. This in itself is foreshadowing the actions of the play, as our opinion of Angelo does change throughout the play. The title of the play is a key theme throughout. Originally coming from the bible, "what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2-3). Which translated means, what you do to others, they will do to you. Which is what Angelo finds out in act V,

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the theme of deception and disguise in the play "Measure for Measure."

Discuss the theme of deception and disguise in the play Measure for Measure. 'Measure for Measure' by William Shakespeare has many important themes depicted throughout the play. These themes are presented through actions, decisions, character's speech and personalities. Two of the key themes in the play are deception and disguise. This play is full of instances of trickery and deceit. Because of this we can see there is a severe lack of trust and honesty in 'Measure for Measure' between the characters. Theatricality is heavily emphasised during the play by all. 'Measure for Measure' is a problem play written by William Shakespeare in 1604. It is a problem play because it does not fall into any of the usual groups of Shakespeare's plays. It is not a historical play nor singularly a tragedy or comedy. It, in fact, falls in both of the later two groups. The play is about a Duke who pretends to leave the city of Vienna and leaves a young man called Angelo to run the city. Angelo acknowledges that the crime in the city is getting out of control, particularly sexual crimes, and decides to enforce the laws. The Duke however never actually leaves Vienna but instead disguises himself as a holy friar and watches as Angelo tries to rule the city. This is where the first instance of deception occurs in the play. The play opens with the Duke explaining to Escalus he is about to go away

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Isabella defines Angelo as an arch-villain(TM). To what extent do you agree with her that Angelo is the villain of the play?

Measure for Measure Isabella defines Angelo as an 'arch-villain'. To what extent do you agree with her that Angelo is the villain of the play? Though he displays many villainous traits and commits some seemingly irredeemable acts of cruelty, it would be unfair to judge Angelo outright as an 'arch villain' All of Shakespeare's plays contain at least one character who displays villainous characteristics. These vary greatly from the remorseless evil of Iago in Othello to the more comedic antagonists whose main role is act as a block against true romance. Angelo poses a problem as does not fit seamlessly into either group. The dictionary defines the term 'Villain' as a wicked person or evil person. Certain actions that Angelo undertakes certainly would lead some to regard him as that. The most obvious of these would be the seemingly cruel act of ordering Claudio's execution for the human act of impregnating his lover/wife Juliet. This from the outset is an extreme and unjust measure for a crime that even in Jacobean times would not warrant death. This highly puritanical approach to justice can easily be deemed as villainous especially to a more liberal thinking twenty-first century audience. However it is important to note that Angelo is only putting in place the law "it is the law who condemns your brother not I" and his severity only stems from the necessity to reinforce

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare show the theme of hypocrisy up to Act 4, Scene 3?

How does Shakespeare show the theme of hypocrisy up to Act 4, Scene 3? Three of the main characters in this play; Angelo, Isabella and the Duke, are seen as being hypocritical. This hypocrisy centres on the theme of pre-marital sex. This theme is started by Claudio having sex with his bride-to-be, Juliet. This was usually seen as acceptable behaviour, but as Angelo, who is strict, moralistic and unwavering in his decision-making, has been put in charge by the Duke, he is starting to run things his way. He is going to punish Claudio with death for having sex with, and impregnating, Juliet. The only way that Claudio can be saved from death is if Isabella, his sister, has sex with Angelo. By attempting to bribe Isabella into fornication, Angelo is committing the same 'crime', if not a worse one, than Claudio. Which had you rather... As she that he hath stained? (Angelo, II.4, 51-55) Isabella argues to Angelo that many have committed the same offence, but have not been punished for it, to which Angelo replies; These many had not dared to do that evil... Had answered for his deed (Angelo, 11.2, 91-93) With this quote Angelo is contradicting himself, as he claims to believe that if the first one who had committed this offence had been punished, and then no others would have done the same. But Angelo is hoping to have sex with Isabella, out of wed-lock and only as a bribe to

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Measure for Measure - 'It is comedy and trickery in the play that engages the audience', 'What intereststhe audience about the play is a serious chance to judge its characters'

"It is comedy and trickery in the play that engages the audience" "What interests the audience about the play is a serious chance to judge its characters" What evidence is there in the play to support both views? What interests and engages you in the play? There are many aspects of the play that engage and interest the audience, two main aspects being comedy and trickery. There are many characters in the play which contribute to the comedy and trickery which is abundant in the play; in particular Lucio is a character who is often seen as comical due to his lack of restraint in his speech and his ignorance of other characters. He is often associated with bawdy humour but is also associated with noblemen; which brings his character into debate. The main source of trickery which engages the audience is the 'bed trick' which is cunningly devised by the Duke, which again brings his and also Isabella's character into debate. Lucio is one of the main sources of comedy in 'Measure for Measure', his humour and almost careless speech engages the audience which will result in the audience liking his character. His speech on occasions appears to possess no restraint which is evident from his conversation with the two gentlemen when he proudly proclaims 'I have purchased as many diseases under her roof as come to'. Lucio's tone suggests the he is proud of this achievement which in

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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presentation of Isabella in Measure for Measure

Throughout the Measure For Measure Shakespeare presents Isabella as an innocent victim of male desires and exploitation. However, some may argue that she is a worldly woman who is capable of taking care of herself and not been dependant on others. This essay will discuss these assertions and how far they can be justified by the text of the play and it will show the judgement, which I have made towards Shakespeare's choice of character. In his attempt to exploit Isabella, Angelo uses blackmail to get her to sleep with him in return for the rescue of brother from his proposed execution. She does motivate his lust towards her, but does not physically do anything to provoke it, he Angelo admits himself in his soliloquy at the end of act two scene two; "Nor she nor doth she tempt; but it is I That, lying by the violet sun, Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season..." (pg36) In contrast to this, it is suggested that Isabella uses language, which in some cases can sometimes unconsciously be erotically charged and this could be one of the things that Angelo is attracted too. "...To strip myself to death as to a bed That longing have been sick for..." (pg 46) In act two scene four, Isabella tries to assert herself against Angelo by saying; "...my brother Or with an outstretched throat I'll tell the world Aloud what man thou art" (pg45)

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Explain how Baz Lurhmann uses film language to make the audience respond to this scene in a particular way.

Explain how Baz Lurhmann uses film language to make the audience respond to this scene in a particular way. Moulin Rouge tells the story of Christian (Ewan McGregor), a young writer in Paris who begins a doomed romance with the city's most famous courtesan, Satine (Nicole Kidman). Satine is the star of the eponymous nightspot, whose future depends on her marrying a wealthy patron (Richard Roxburgh) the duke. In a plot twist borrowed from "La Bohème" (which Baz Luhrmann (director) filmed for Australian television in 1993), she is also suffering from tuberculosis. Although it takes place in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century (1900) it uses dance and music from the contemporary pop culture. Some elements of film language that is used in the scene that I will be looking at are special effects, music and sound and many more. When I first saw the scene I was indulged by the use of red and gold in santine room where the whole scene was based, the use of these colours made it portray a romantic scene ahead along with the romantic pose that Satine and Christian began the scene with, which shows Christian leaning over Santine in a clinch, but this scene was completely the opposite and it was a scene of comedy, tension and bizarre actions. The scene that I have looked at was based in Santines room in the house of Moulin Rouge, the sets main colours of the room where

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare interest his audience with both the moral debate and the action on stage in Measure for Measure?

How does Shakespeare interest his audience with both the moral debate and the action on stage in Measure for Measure? In his play Measure for Measure, Shakespeare chooses to explore many moral issues such as human weakness, sexual temptation and above all justice against mercy. However these moral debates are intrinsically linked to the action on stage portrayed by Shakespeare's characters. Therefore to say 'both' is not appropriate or relevant to the question. The word debate suggests a 'prolonged discussion' which may lead an audience to associate Measure for Measure with dull trials and legal language something that may not of been of huge interest to Shakespeare's contemporary working class audience. Yet Shakespeare is able to capture all the previously mentioned debates vibrantly and dramatically through the characters of Angelo and Isabella. The conflict between these two absolute values, the 'precise' and 'snow-broth' Angelo against the restrained novice Isabella open the debates not just of justice and mercy but also of the male-female relationships of Jacobean England. The contrast of Isabella's enlightened, elegant speeches on mercy "The marshals truncheon, nor the judges robe become them with one half so good a grace as mercy does" against Angel's dry, blunt and inflexible responses "He's sentenced tis too late" highlight the inhumanity of the justice system and

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Consider Act II of "Measure for Measure", with regard to ideas of Justice and Mercy

Aman Thakar 7T Consider Act II of "Measure for Measure", with regard to ideas of Justice and Mercy Right at the start of the Act we are provided with a distinct definition of Angelo's view of justice in regard to what has happened with the law concerning illegitimate fornication. The law has in effect been made a joke an in Angelo's view justice is not being served. In this scene that battle of Justice and Mercy is fought between Angelo And Escalus with Escalus holding the flag of mercy arguing that Claudio's fault is one innate in human nature. "Whether you had not sometime in your life err'd in this point, which now you censure him", terror should be exercised with view to mercy. The mockery that is endured by Justice sometimes is also expressed by Angelo in his speech spanning from lines 17-31, "The jury passing on the prisoners life may in the sworn twelve have a thief or two, Guiltier then him they try", this is seen as perfectly reasonable by Angelo, oblivious to the contradiction within this. Over the majority of Scene I in this act the wide repercussions of Angelo's tyranny are revealed. From lines 133-6 we see what little patience Angelo actually has for this issue. He shows little regard for the Bawds telling Escalus simply to whip them away and walk away from the scene. With such restrictions in place it is something that Angelo would have had to deal with

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  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare use representations of speech and other dramatic techniques to present the theme of power in the extract from "Measure for Measure"?

How does Shakespeare use representations of speech and other dramatic techniques to present the theme of power in the extract below? Shakespeare uses the theme of power throughout the play, Measure for Measure, in order to show a character's place in society or relationships between other people. This essay will explore how Shakespeare uses the theme of power in the extract to show Duke Vincentio's power from being Duke, his power over Angelo and Angelo's manipulation of power through structure, grammar, imagery, lexis and phonology. Duke Vincentio clearly has some sort of power due to his position of Duke, and this is evident throughout the play. As the Duke of Vienna, he should have an authority over most citizens in Vienna and this is shown in the extract. The first technique Shakespeare uses to display the dominance of the Duke is an iambic pentameter; an iambic pentameter is used throughout the first paragraph such as "There is a kind of character in thy life, that to the observer doth thy history...". The way Shakespeare utilizes the structural feature of iambic pentameter exhibits the Duke's status and power as iambic pentameter, in literature, is used to represent authority. Another way Shakespeare shows the Duke's authority is through the Duke's line "...old Escalus, though first in question, is thy secondary." This demonstrates that the Duke has the power to

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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