In act of one of Measure for Measure, the Duke sets up a test. One way one can perceive this test is a test of the people of Vienna. The Duke is possibly questioning how the people of Vienna will react to the new ruler, Angelo. The second test the Duke puts into place in on Angelo himself. I believe that the Duke is attempting to see if power corrupts rulers, and this is why we find out later on he plans on observing Angelo, disguised as a Friar, when he puts Angelo in charge.
In act one, The Duke speaks very highly of Angelo. When The Duke asks Angelo to rule Vienna in his absence the duke says:
“Angelo,/ There is a kind of character in thy life,/That to the observer doth thy history/Fully unfold. Thyself and thy belongings/Are not thine own so proper as to waste/Thyself upon thy virtues, they on thee./Heaven doth with us as we with torches do,/Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues/Did not go forth of us, 'twere all alike/As if we had them not. Spirits are not finely touch'd/But to fine issues, nor Nature never lends/The smallest scruple of her excellence/But, like a thrifty goddess, she determines/Herself the glory of a creditor,/Both thanks and use. But I do bend my speech/To one that can my part in him advertise;/Hold therefore, Angelo:--/In our remove be thou at full ourself;/Mortality and mercy in Vienna/Live in thy tongue and heart: old Escalus,/Though first in question, is thy secondary./Take thy commission (1.1.26-47)”
In this speech we see how highly the Duke perceives Antonio to be. This is the main question of my blog. If the Duke thought so highly of Angelo, then why did he give Isabella the information that would allow her to ruin Angelo’s name and authority in act three? In act three, the Duke disguised as a friar, tells Isabella about a woman that Angelo was engaged to, and how he broke off the engagement when her dowry was lost due to a ship wreck. The Duke tells Isabella this information to set Angelo up, that way her brother will be freed and Angelo will have to marry this woman whom he already had sexual relations with. The question that comes to my mind is why would the Duke set up the man he left in charge of Vienna? Why would the Duke set up the man he spoke so highly of in act one of Measure for Measure?
The only possibility that came to my mind when thinking about these questions is the idea that possibly the Duke does not approve of the way Angelo has used his power. The Duke originally wanted Angelo to be a strict ruler, but maybe after hearing about how Angelo was using his authority to the fullest, he changed his mind on how he believe Vienna should be ruled.
I’m interested to see how this entire situation plays out in the remaining act of Measure for Measure. Does the Duke really turn on Angelo? And if he does, what were his motives?
1 comment:
Amy raises some good questions here, particularly pointing to the Duke and whether or not he was setting up Angelo from the beginning. I wonder, Amy, what you think of the long passage you quote here? Does this reveal anything to us? I also think that it is clearly ironic to look back on these words and think about the Duke himself spending most of his time in disguise!
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