In what ways does Shakespeare present Isabella up until the end of Act 2?

In what ways does Shakespeare present Isabella up until the end of Act 2? Shakespeare presents Isabella as a key character in Measure for Measure. Isabella is the sister of Claudio who has been condemned to die under the power of Lord Angelo, so she is vital to the plot as she attempts to persuade Angelo to pardon her brother. Interestingly, at the beginning Isabella is joining a convent as a trainee nun. This makes her somewhat different from the other characters presented in Measure for Measure as religion primarily controls her life. At a time when Vienna is corrupt Isabella seems the one of the few characters who has genuine moral values, making her a likeable character. Isabella is the focus of male interest in the play and both of the two males in control; the Duke and Lord Angelo are entranced by her. Angelo finds himself overwhelmed with desire for the Isabella and in the dying moments of the play, the Duke proposes marriage to her. Her dramatic impact on these two, powerful men reflects Isabella's incorruptible charm, portraying how she can attract men with her innocence. There are often times when Isabella's religion is tested such as when Lord Angelo propositions her. However, his tyrannous use of power does not intimidate her and she maintains her principles. Although a modern audience, respect her moral values they cannot always understand how religion can

  • Word count: 3029
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What are the moral debates in Measure for Measure? How does Shakespeare make them interesting to an audience in the theatre?

What are the moral debates in Measure for Measure? How does Shakespeare make them interesting to an audience in the theatre? Measure for Measure, like the period in which it was written, is marked by the juxtaposition of two mismatched ideologies and their related dramatic forms. The play begins as a romantic comedy, but at the end of the second act, both its ideological perspective and its formal structure undergo a 'metamorphosis' and from this point on the play proceeds to its conclusion according to the form and ideas of the 'disguised monarch play'- where the Duke starts to take control of the situation. There are many different moral debates within the play, which are explored in different ways. 'Is fornication a bigger crime than killing?' - is the 'sexual debate', which also links in with the 'hypocrisy debate' of the play. It is an important one because the play evolves around the question - whether or not Isabella should sleep with Angelo. Shakespeare presents us with this overwhelming situation between her and Angelo - Isabella faces a moral uncertainty, where religion stands against fornication: - "Better it were a brother died at once than that a sister, by redeeming him, should die forever." Shakespeare makes this debate interesting to an audience by doing something he has often done before: he does not provide any kind of descriptions of Isabella.

  • Word count: 1194
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How far does Shakespeare make his characters represent his themes?

Hannah Dagnall 13P English Literature How far does Shakespeare make his characters represent his themes? Shakespeare's characters have been named and moulded carefully to represent different themes in the play. The character of the Duke holds the overall power in the play and his name Vincentio is only mentioned in the 'dramatis personae' at the beginning of the play. By calling him 'Duke' the audience is also continuously aware of this power. A Duke is supposed to have a divine right from God, when the Duke disguises himself as a Friar, he also has the right of confession which he abuses when other characters confess to him. One of the themes of 'Measure of Measure' is the abuse of power which many characters do in different circumstances. The Duke however does appear weak and somewhat cowardly by leaving Angelo to reinforce all of the laws and to do the so-called dirty work, while the Duke goes into hiding to see what the town's people think about him. Angelo abuses the power given to him by the Duke while he is in hiding, by first pulling back a fourteen year old rule that has not been in existence without any announcement, and then by bribing Isabella to save her condemned brother who was arrested for breaking the law Angelo wants to commit. Angelo actually wants to go against the law he brought back for the sake of lust. Angelo is an immoral and unjust

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Discuss the context in which Shakespeare(TM)s play Measure for Measure was written in.

Discuss the context in which Shakespeare's play Measure for Measure was written in. It is evidently clear that the events which occur in Measure for Measure were heavily influenced by the society of Shakespeare at the time. Even though the play is set in Vienna, the audience of that time would undoubtedly have seen many parallels between their society in England, in particular London, and Vienna in the play. James' ascension was incredulous; after Mary Queen of Scots was forced to abdicate in 1567 he was crowned as King James VI of Scotland at the age of only thirteen months. In 1603, approximately the same year Measure for Measure was written; he became King James I of England succeeding Queen Elizabeth I as Monarch. The appointment of a Monarch as inexperienced as King James VI can be compared to appointment of Angelo at the beginning of the play. Angelo, who is young, and unproven, is placed in a position in which he has no option to decline. Furthermore the two appointments of King James, one as King of Scotland, and the other as King of England can be seen to be parallel to the two appointments of the Duke. It has been said that James considered his rule of Scotland too lenient, and this can be collated against the previous 'fourteen year' rule of the Duke in Vienna, before his delegation of power to Angelo. His return to power analogises the ascension of King James I

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Measure for Measure -  Pg 121-127 script analysis.

Measure for Measure - Pg 121-127 script analysis By Parit Patel Angelo - Hello, beautiful maid, how may I help you? Isabella - I have come to see what conclusion you have arrived upon. Angelo - I must tell you that your brother cannot live. Isabella- Well if that is yours and Gods will, I feel I must depart. Angelo - However there might be the slightest chance for his survival... Isabella - Under your jurisdiction? Angelo - Yes Isabella - Well then I beg you, that how can he be officially pardoned? Angelo - For him to be pardoned, the person who decides if he is to be pardoned, is to be able to indulge in a certain lascivious pleasure. It is as easy as taking away a life, or faking the practice of the law. Isabella - This power, I have only heard spoken of in heaven, but never on earth Angelo - Well if that is what you believe then I must tell you how quickly. Would you give your brothers life or give up your body to redeem his sin. Isabella - I would definitely throw away my body, just as long I could keep my soul! Angelo - I would not want your soul. How we sin matters more than how many times we sin. Isabella- What do you mean by that? Angelo - I will tell you from the highest authority which is me that I can change any of my decisions. I can save your brothers life, but don't you think sin can be used as charity

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Measure For Measure - Staging Act II, Scene IV

MEASURE FOR MEASURE - Staging Act II, Scene iv Prior to Act II Scene iv, we have been finding out about the characters and their views of how life should be lived. These initial impressions will help us to understand how the characters would act in this scene. We first hear of Isabella from her brother Claudio. From him we discover Isabella's desire to be a nun, which tells us a little about her character and attitudes towards life and society. We can foresee that Isabella will have a spiritual and chaste character. When we first encounter her in Act I, she is arguing for stricter rules in her convent, giving the impression that she may be too severe and harsh towards herself. Also, the fact that she wants to spend her life enclosed in a convent could show us that perhaps she wishes to escape from the reality of life in the outside world. Her purity and piety should be reflected in her costume. The actress should wear a very simple long white concealing dress or a similar nuns habit to show her innocence and morality. Lord Angelo is presented to us as a ruthless self-important character. He appears to be the villain of the play, ruling Vienna harshly and without mercy. His confident arrogance makes him an unlikeable character and especially now that we see him to be hypocritical as well. In his last scene we saw him change from being stilted and unaffected by emotion to

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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"What themes are introduced in the first act of measure for measure? How is this done?"

"What themes are introduced in the first act of measure for measure? How is this done?" In the first act of measure for measure the main themes of the play are introduced. I intend to discuss the themes that I believe to be the most important ones in this play. There are quite a few themes that I can see after reading the first act. Firstly there is appearance vs. reality. This applies to Angelo especially, whose reputation and appearance of goodness do not match the reality of who he truly is. Many people have opinions of Angelo. Lucio for example says this: "Lord Angelo, a man whose blood is very snow broth." Lucio repeats the Duke's descriptions of Angelo's seeming invulnerability; his "blood is very snow broth," and he "never feels the wanton stings and motions of the sense." It will be very ironic, then, when this man who appears to be so very strict and pure falls to temptation, as all people tend to do. So we can see that even the common people of the city think Angelo is a decent character and this also seems to be the opinion of the duke, because he believes Angelo is good and trustworthy enough to rule Vienna. However, Angelo is not all that he seems. He appears to be a very strict man who believes very strongly in following the rules. His character seems to be questioned when we learn that he has arrested Claudio for getting Juliet pregnant, yet he lets the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does the balance of power change in pages 42-51? Trace the arguments, and look at the cliquey at the end of the scene.

Amy Kilman English Literature How does the balance of power change in pages 42-51? Trace the arguments, and look at the cliquey at the end of the scene. Within Measure for Measure, upon their first meeting Isabella goes to Angelo pleading for her brother's life to be spared. Lucio who is aiding Isabella tells her that she is 'too cold'. However, during their argument Isabella holds her position of authority and shows herself to be a figure of power. Instead of lowering herself she relies on her faith in god to help her argument along. Angelo's argument however, is that it is too late for her brother as he has already been sentenced. His job is to uphold the laws of society, and he therefore goes only by the rules, not compassion. Angelo divorces himself from the law; he is emotionless and just enforces the law, without passion. In his own eyes Angelo thinks of himself as a personification of the law itself. Isabella's key speech throughout this section explains in terms her feeling towards Angelo's actions. "I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! Should it then be thus? No; I would tell what' twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner." Isabella realises that Angelo is a figure of power but feels that justice should be done. She uses her Christianity to try help save her brother, and here, voices her opinion that if she were in his position

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What do you find interesting in the presentation of Isabella?

What do you find interesting in the presentation of Isabella? In Shakespeare's 'Measure for Measure', Isabella is a most complex character. Her nature showing often conflicting sides during different parts of the play. This ambiguity of her true character means Shakespeare can constantly keep his audience on edge, never truly defining Isabella as either good or bad, tying in with the genre as a whole, as a problem play. Isabella's character clearly reflects the complexity and diversity of 'Measure for Measure' whilst also being an important tool for Shakespeare, in allowing him to balance out parts of the play. Shakespeare first introduces Isabella in Act 1 scene 4. Here Shakespeare focuses on her religious qualities, on her absolute nature. Her piety is emphasised through her conversation with Francisca 'rather wishing a more strict restraint upon sisterhood, the votarists of St Clare.' Here Shakespeare is focusing the portrayal of Isabella on here strict religious principles, balancing the scene perhaps in that the audience have previously been told of all the immorality of Vienna. Even from this early stage in the play Isabella's character can already be interpreted and accepted by the audience in more than one way. Firstly her absolute nature may appeal to the audience and be seen as an admirable characteristic. However it may also be taken to the other extent, seen as

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Analyse Shakespeare's presentation of Angelo in Acts 1 & 2 of Measure for Measure.

Analyse Shakespeare's presentation of Angelo in Acts & 2 of Measure for Measure. In Acts one and two of Measure for Measure Shakespeare presents Angelo in several different ways and in this essay I will be analysing the various ways in which Shakespeare does this. In a play we have to remember that the characters are not real people, but we must think of them as such. We are influenced by their actions, their speech, what others say about a character (in this case what others say about Angelo,) and how others act around a character. Shakespeare uses all of these factors effectively in Measure for Measure. The first time we see Angelo he is summoned before the Duke, and told that he is going to be his deputy whilst he is away, "For you must know, we have with special soul, Elected him our absence to supply." This is a quote where the Duke tells Angelo he is going to take over the responsibility of the City. At first as a reader this gave me the impression that Angelo is well trusted and responsible. This sudden promotion surprises Angelo, he replies with, "Let there be some more test of my metal," In this quote we can see that Angelo isn't totally confident in his own ability, which is why he asks for some more of a test of his skill. As the Dukes' leave comes in to question, the audience starts to question why Angelo has been left in charge and not Escalus

  • Word count: 1445
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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