The job of Duke however is not so important to Angelo when the lower classes need dealing with as he cannot make a name for himself in the higher social circles, therefore in Act 2 Scene 1, Escalus is given the job of sorting out Froth, Pompey and Elbow. With this scene, it shows the audience how good a Duke Escalus would have been if he was left in the position. He was going to be the Duke’s first choice; however the Duke may have wanted to test Angelo’s loyalty and honesty. The name ‘Escalus’ itself refers to the scales of justice, a judgment without prejudice which is balanced and fair. Escalus is therefore the only character with a real sense of justice, for example he gives Pompey a fair warning, that if he ever gets caught again ‘I shall have you whipped.’ The character ‘Justice’ is therefore symbolically to represent the lack of justice in the play.
Claudio is a victim of the law being pulled back and therefore looks on society as unjust and corrupt with those laws. He sees sex as a natural thing, however ‘when we drink, we die.’ That ‘liberty’ turns to ‘restraint’ as he feels that too much freedom has been given to just take it away again without warning. Claudio loves Juliet and thinks he has been condemned wrongly, that he is a victim of injustice. Angelo however, even though his name comes from the word ‘angel’ does not show mercy; ‘Tis one thing to be tempted…another thing to fall.’ However when Angelo falls for Isabella, it is not love he feels, but lust and even though he was in a confused state, in Act 2 Scene 4 he questions himself and his feelings about it however he was tempted and he fell. Claudio and Angelo are opposite in the play, Claudio has the conscience and compassion that Angelo lacks, but represent the victim and the abuser of power.
Isabella is introduced in Act 1 Scene 4, and the audience is immediately aware that she has not only strong religious feelings, but also a strong will and self control, she claimed that she was ‘rather wishing a more strict environment’ in the nunnery. This shows her devotion to God and her beliefs in comparison to Angelo’s lack of devotion to his beliefs when the lower classes are involved. When Isabella and Angelo are arguing for Claudio it is clear the differences between them, and between immorality and morality. Isabella in helping her brother is torn between her own morality and her love for her brother as he committed a sin that she really disliked.
Morality and immorality is a strong theme in the play and characters such as Angelo who show a deep immorality can be compared with Isabella who not only have their own morals to uphold, but have to cope with the morality and immorality of the laws.
Injustice and justice are also strong themes in ‘Measure for measure’ and are shown by different characters in the play, for example, the Duke, while he shows injustice by letting Angelo rule which therefore leads to the arrest of Claudio, at the end of the play he saves Claudio and Angelo gets his comeuppance by having to marry Marianne who he deserted. The Duke however falls under immorality by disguising himself as a Friar using a false power of confession that all characters are a victim to.
Isabella shows a sense of justice and injustice also, by allowing her brother Claudio to be killed instead of sacrificing her virginity is an injustice; however justice pulls through when Marianne takes her place. Isabella constantly also seeks justice and begs for her brother’s life.
Lucio is a character that has gone out of his way to help Claudio, however in Act 1 Scene 4 when he tells Isabella Claudio’s fate, he shows no respect for religion or the nunnery when he says: ‘Hail virgin if you be…’ His sense of justice for Claudio however is very strong and he encourages Isabella to continue to beg for her brother. The audience likes Lucio for standing by Claudio as well as his easy and casual attitude to different issues that arise. He knew that the Duke has lied about where he was, which is closer than any of the other character’s got to the truth.
The characters therefore represented and acted on different circumstances in the play which resulted in the introduction of different themes in the play, such as justice, morality, power and corruption.