Measure for Measure Themes + Quotes

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  • Religion
    • 'Supply me with the habit, and instruct me How I may formally in person bear me Like a true friar.' - Duke
      • Iambic Pentameter - gives the Duke's words more authority
      • Use of imperatives in 'supply' and 'instruct' - although he's pretending to become a humble Friar, he's retaining his authority. Shows the corruption of power in a person
      • Simile - He has every intention to look like a true friar, however whether or not his actions are what a friar would do (if they are deceiving) is a different thing
    • 'Not with fond sicles of the tested gold......but with true prayers......From fasting maids whose minds are dedicateTo nothing temporal' - Isabella
      • Her bribery empowers herself
      • The comparison between monetary riches and the religious wealth of prayers shows how religiously Isabella is very wealthy
      • She almost teases Angelo with the idea of herself as a 'fasting maiden' - using her sexuality to change his mind
    • 'Let's write good angel on the devil's horn' - Angelo
      • Religious reference and juxtaposition between the good angel and the bad devil
        • Which is Angelo?
      • Metaphor - Angelo admitting that he's going to pretend to be a 'good' person while he is actually the devil - admitted corruption
    • Themes + Quotes
      • Justice
        • 'Let's not make a scarecrow of the law' - Angelo
          • Opening line of scene 2
          • Metaphor - the law must be enforced if there is to be a point to it
          • This is what happened to the law under the Duke, and now Angelo must correct it - shows the varying power of the Duke and Angelo
        • 'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death......and Measure still for measure' - Duke
          • Main line of the play - 'eye for an eye' system of judgement
        • It is the law, not I, condemn your brother.' - Angelo
          • The law is a power in itself which cannot be challenged
          • Angelo refuses to take the blame
          • Personifying the law and giving it the power which Angelo has. Making It seem as though the law is controlling him rather than him controlling the law
      • Sex
        • 'From too much liberty, my Lucio, liberty.' - Claudio
          • Repetition - emphasises sex as a gluttony (also a religious aspect)
          • Possessive pronoun 'my' shows the brotherly relationship between Claudio + Lucio
        • 'Our natures do pursue, Like rats that raven down their proper bane, A thirsty evil, and when we drink we die.' - Claudio
          • Simile - comparison to vermin shows that he believes he has committed a horrible deed (a sin)
          • Use of the noun 'bane' shows he already recognizes that he will die - maybe he believes that he should die for what he's done
          • 'A thirsty evil' - personification shows how this list may have taken over Claudio
          • Short clause of 'when we drink we die' - to the point and unemotive - shows Claudio's acceptance of it
        • 'lying by the violet in the sun, Do as the carrion does, not as the flower, Corrupt with virtuous season.' - Angelo
          • Simile of Angelo comparing himself to  road kill rotting in the sun for lusting after Isabell
            • Shows he believes this to be a sin
          • Simile of Isabelle as a delicate flower - virtuous
            • Angelo is attracted to her virtue
          • Power of the sun rotting him rather than raising him up
            • Symbol of light revealing his thoughts - if they were revealed he would be dead
        • 'Give up your body to such sweet uncleanness' - Angelo
          • Oxymoron of 'sweet uncleanness' - shows Angelo's recognition that this deed is sinful - but he wants it too badly to not do it
            • Imperative of 'give' - Angelo exerting his power as a man and acting Duke
      • Corruption
        • 'Hence we shall see if power changes purpose' - Duke
          • Alliteration of 'power' and 'purpose' emphasises the danger which the Duke poses to Angelo's rule
            • The Duke is using his power to dress up as a Friar (heresy) to spy on Angelo
              • Shows the corruption and what those with power can get away with
        • 'it is excellent to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant' - Isabella
          • Repetition of 'giant' emphasises the view of Angelo as a giant - and the choice which Angelo has to make between being a villain or a saviour
            • Two similes - Isabella here brings out the moral arguments of what Angelo should do with his new power - and not to become a villain
          • 'That Angelo's an adulterous thief, an hypocrite, a virgin-violator, is it not strange, and strange?' - Isabella
            • Alliteration of 'virgin-violator' and the sibilance of the repetition of 'strange' emphasises his unholy qualities
            • Listing - elongates how much Angelo has done as a corrupt official and adds authenticity to Isabella's claim
            • Rhetorical question - adds a sense of urgency to her remark
        • It is the law, not I, condemn your brother.' - Angelo
          • The law is a power in itself which cannot be challenged
          • Angelo refuses to take the blame
          • Personifying the law and giving it the power which Angelo has. Making It seem as though the law is controlling him rather than him controlling the law
        • 'There is a devilish mercy in the judge' - Isabella
          • There is a chance of saving Claudio but  it's sinful
            • Juxtaposition of 'devilish mercy' shows the corruption of what Angelo is offering
          • Calling Angelo a judge - like he is playing God and he gets to decide if Claudio lives or dies
    • 'Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.' - Escalus
      • Juxtaposition between 'sin' and 'virtue' - 'rise' and 'fall'
      • Irony of rising through sinning and falling through being  virtuous
        • Foreshadow of Angelo doing what he thinks is the right thing and it being his downfall

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