William Shakespeare`s - `measure For Measure`

'Measure for Measure' is traditionally known as a problem play, yet some critics believe that it is best described as a tragedy. Isabella is the central protagonist in the play, and upon arrival the audience quickly recognises that she is a strong character, 'I'll see what I can do.' This shows a dedication to set her brother free, yet the tone suggests that she would do anything, as it is very sinister. Her character as a whole would have shocked a 17th century audience, as they lived in a patriarchal society, yet her resolute character is prominent throughout. At first Isabella is characterised as being a very moral character, yet this declines during the play, 'Yes, truly; I. of Saint Clare.' She is shown as very moral, and the use of 'Saint Clare' makes her appear as innocent. Her name means 'devotion to God' and that is just what she is, she has a passion to become a nun. 'O, were it but my life' here Isabella has said that being a nun is her world, and she is willing to lose anything to get it. This would play a large role in how people at the time would perceive the play, because life after death was a strong belief held sacred by most, this is the pivoting issue in the play, and is echoed in the title 'Measure for Measure'. Her morals are put to the test during an interchange with Angelo, who is the antagonist of the play, 'What would you do?' he is hinting towards Isabella surrendering the 'treasures of your body' to him. By saying 'treasures' he realises that she values her virginity, and wants to take away all that is held dear by her: Claudio; and her life. The topic of the exchange, which is death, is juxtaposed by the sexual connotations used by both parties, 'the impression of. to a bed.' This is used to heighten the drama as it is the defining point in the play, here Shakespeare has used anagnorisis which makes the scene more dramatic, and it is the sudden realisation of what Isabella needs to do that heightens it further. The most tragic element is that Angelo is aware of her vulnerability and manipulates it, 'Who will believe thee, Isabel?' this highlights the importance of social status, and because she's a woman no one would believe her echoing the patriarchal society. It is tragic for Isabella, because it shows the inevitability of the situation, Isabella's argument is better than Angelo's yet the circumstances are against her. Angelo constantly refers back to sexism during the debate, 'Nay woman are frail too.' The use of the word 'frail' is ironic because his argument is just as frail, and reinforces the importance of social status. Angelo's morals have changed with his power and therefore reiterate the Dukes statement, 'That his blood. bread than stone.' He uses his powers to get what he wants, rather than what God wants. This is ironic because his name alludes to angels, something that he is far from being. At the end of Act 2 Scene 4, Isabella is left alone, and for the first time her tragic character is shown, 'To whom should I complain?' she feels isolated, in that a man of God is the perpetrator, so God will not listen. 'To whom should. his soul's est.' The use of stichomythia at the beginning of the speech shows that she doesn't know what to say, however throughout her soliloquy she gets progressively more angry, and the lack of punctuation nearer the end shows how it comes naturally to her, forcing the audience to think whether she's saying this out of spite towards Angelo. This is the plays desis, as she has been left with the choice, and the decisions that she now makes will lead to the climax of play. Isabella is a very tragic character as she has been placed in an impossible position, where she can save her brother by sacrificing her virginity, however she is so blinded by religion that she accepts that Claudio is going to die, 'I'll pray a. to save thee.' This is Isabella's hamartia; she is so focused on becoming a nun that she can't make a simple moral decision. She is clearly frustrated by the situation, 'O, you beast! ... O dishonest wretch!' the rule of three has been used here to create a more dramatic scene, and seems a tad over the top, as Claudio just wants freedom, and emphasises that she will not help. This makes Claudio appear as a tragic character as well as his sister, this is because originally he is awaiting his execution with acceptance, 'If I must. in mine arms.' However 'if' implies that he is weary that there is a way out, and as soon as Isabella informs him of it he changes his view, 'Sweet sister, let. becomes a virtue.' The use of sibilance at the start of the sentence is used to make him seem more vulnerable, and the word 'sweet' is just like a child asking for something from their parents. The comma shows how, he stops before asking, which creates tension between the two characters. He tries to manipulate his sister's emotional weakness, 'Death is a fearful thing.' This is supposed to make her feel bad, and he intends for it to change her actions. Near the end of the interchange Isabella says, 'it is no. all but charity', this echoes the title of the play, which in itself insinuates tragedy with the balance between right and wrong. In terms of Aristotle's theory of tragedy; morality plays a large role in 'Measure for Measure; the Duke is instantly portrayed as being immoral, 'of government the.you of it!' this shows weakness and that he would rather pin his troubles on Angelo than take them himself. 'Now, good my. stamped upon it' This is tragic of Angelo because he doubts himself and the Duke anticipates his failing, this gives a sense of inevitability and whether Angelo was ever in control of his own fate, as a result making him seem tragic. Angelo is bullied by the Duke, and an impending attack was foreseeable, 'Only this one. bread than stone.' The Duke says that he will say one more reason yet gives a list of them, showing the audience that he sees Angelo as a potential threat. The Duke is very scheming 'When evil deeds. not the punishment.' The alliteration of P's is very harsh, the use of 'pass' is soft juxtaposing 'punishment', this makes the scene very dramatic. In my mind the most tragic character is Mariana because of how easily manipulated she is by other characters, 'tis no sin' she is foolishly led to believe that what she is going to do is for good, reiterating the Duke's immoral nature, as he poses as, 'a man of comfort' who wishes to betray Marianas innocence. She's also tragic because she can't move on, 'I have sat here all day' perhaps indicating that she is obsessed with Angelo or she's desperate, because she needs a man in her life. Isabella also uses Marianas because despite the fact that she doesn't want to do it herself, she is more than willing to let Mariana take the fall. Trust is Mariana's hamartia, as she believes in the kindness of strangers, just like Blanche in 'A Streetcar Named Desire', 'here comes the. my brawling discontent' showing this isn't the first time that she has been approached by the Duke disguised as a friar, implying she confides her troubles within others, yet is let down by the Duke. In Act 5 Scene 1 Line 452 Isabella says her last line, she is the first of the main characters to stop speaking, showing how she has been overshadowed by her male superiors. This is tragic because it is the climax of the play, yet the main character has nothing to say, showing how she has been overpowered. During the catharsis, Angelo comes under fire again, 'Where Claudio stopped. Away with him.' The Duke's immoral nature is shown again, as he pretends that Claudio has been executed so that he can give Angelo the same fate, 'haste' implies that it isn't going to stay secret forever, so before anyone discovers the truth. Isabella has her brother is saved, and with the opportunity of marrying the Duke 'What's mine is. all should know.' The Duke does this to show Angelo that he has won. Mariana ends up with Angelo, although he has been sentenced to death. As a result of the catharsis I do not believe that the female characters are the most tragic, because it is Angelo who ends up with the worst punishment, and it is he who is used throughout the play. Isabella ends up where she started, and Mariana ends up with her dream man. Words: 1484 Bibliography: William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, 1604 Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire