Measure For Measure

Character Analysis of Angelo in Regard to Genre

The comedy Measure for Measure is a play in which a leading political power tries to chastise the city of Vienna for its alleged overabundance of illegitimate sexual behavior. The ruler Angelo, who has assumed temporary jurisdiction over the city, has the goal of single handedly extracting all promiscuity not only out of the city, but out of the primal desires of the human libido. In the course of trying to execute his plan, he discovers that his own lust and promiscuity begin to intensify beyond his control, which not only makes him a hypocrite, but perhaps a tragic hero as well.

When first introduced to Angelo, he seems like a noble and loyal follower of the law. He is given provisional rule of Vienna solely due to his great moral character and virtue. His jurisprudential qualities are illuminated when he states in Act II, scene 1 "We must not make a scarecrow of the law, setting it up to fear the birds of prey, and let it keep one shape till custom make it their perch and not their terror." Initially he seems to be a strict, but perhaps benevolent asset to the city of Vienna. As the play progresses he begins to seem like more of a tyrant when he sentences Claudio to death for partaking in pre-marital sex. When the older, wiser, perhaps more judicious Escalus asks if Angelo has ever been tempted by a woman, he replies "Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, another thing to fall....when I that censure him do so offend, let mine own judgment pattern out my death and nothing come in partial. Sir, he must die" (II.i.17-31.) What he meant by this is that it is one thing to be tempted and another to act, and if he himself was ever guilty of promiscuity, then he would deserve death also. It is this statement that backfires on him and turns him not only into a hypocrite, but perhaps into man with multiple personas.

Angelo's soliloquy in Act II, scene 2, lines 169-194 represents the side of himself that he tries to keep out of the public eye. He suddenly questions himself for being unable to suppress his human desires. When reflecting on Isabella's visit, he confesses "Dost thou desire her foully for those things that make her good? Oh, let her brother live!" (181-82.) He is attracted