Measure for Measure: The fault of Isabella is that she is excessively pious and too proud. Isabella is a symbol for virtue and chastity and a champion of mercy. How do you respond to these different views of Isabella?
Liam O’Donnell
“The fault of Isabella is that she is excessively pious and too proud”
“Isabella is a symbol for virtue and chastity and a champion of mercy”
How do you respond to these different views of Isabella?
What is your opinion of the way Shakespeare present Isabella in the play?
Isabella’s character blossoms in debate, on a number of occasions throughout the play she can be perceived as being excessively pious and too proud. This perception of Isabella is evidenced in the play when she puts her virginity and spiritual life ahead of her brother’s life which hangs in the balance, this view is emphasised when she refuses Angelo’s proposal to save Claudio’s life. However it can also be argued that Isabella’s actions and decisions can also support the view that Isabella is a symbol for chastity and virtue. Thus Isabella’s character is a perfect example of body versus soul as her actions and decisions can be debated and argued thoroughly. Isabella can also be seen as a champion of mercy by the way she begs for Angelo’s life in the final scene of the play.
The view that Isabella is excessively pious is supported the instance we meet her character as she ‘rather wishes a more strict restraint on the sisterhood’. This gives the audience the idea that Isabella believes the sisterhood is too lenient and she believes there should be more rules and restrictions. The use of ‘wishes’ is effective as it shows that Isabella hoped to have more rules and restraint posed on her as a nun; therefore supporting the view that Isabella is excessively pious. Isabella can also be seen as excessively pious when she puts her chastity ahead of her brother’s life ‘More than our brother is our chastity’. Isabella can be seen as too proud as a result of this decision as many of the audience will disagree with the view. The use of ‘our brother’ is effective as Isabella is associating the view with all of the audience. However it can also be argued that Isabella’s decision to put her chastity ahead of her brother’s life shows that she is a symbol for virtue and chastity as she values her spiritual life more than her brother’s physical life. Isabella shows how serious her spiritual life is to her when she becomes distraught as a result of Claudio’s proposal to agree with Angelo’s demands. ‘O you beast! O you faithless coward! O you dishonest wretch!’ This attack on Claudio will be seen as severe by the audience as Claudio fears death and the unknown, but ultimately he wants to live ‘O please sister let me live’. However Isabella appears to be ignorant of his desires and emotions ‘O, fie, fie, fie!’, therefore the audience will feel sympathetic for Claudio but will also view Isabella as single minded and inflexible as she only seems to consider the effect the illegitimate sex will have on her character. Thus Isabella can easily be viewed as being too proud.
