Month: November 2008

Obstacle, Conflict

  • GlennMary Carroll.  
  • Duke; wants a well governed state without being looked upon as a tyrant.
  •  Obstacles; state overrun with vice (especially sex), he hasn’t enforced laws in the past, therefore there is little precedent, the laws leave little room for interpretation making it difficult to  let some off the hook while others are punished.
  • Angelo; wants to have power over people (power over the people in the state, power over Isabella, power of his decision over the law, ect…)
  •  Obstacles; he’s too cruel, which creates fear in the state but not trust or love. To have more substantial power, like the Duke, your people must want to follow you instead of being coerced.  Also, he will not be inheriting a state, he has to work his way up. Lastly, his own fallible character which leads him to speak of the righteousness of law while leaving his fiancee and seducing Isabella.  
  • Claudio; wants everything to always be in his favor. For most of the play, we see him in some sort of requesting position. He begs not to go to jail, he wants his sister to sleep with Angelo, ect…
  • Obstacles; his arrest makes him unable to actually go or do anything, because he’s stuck in jail. This could be a reason for all of his “wanting via asking” because there’s not a lot else he can do in his position. Also, wanting everything to be in his favor tends to lead to unethical choices i.e. getting his girlfriend pregnant. 

Some Conflicts and Obstacles ActI-II

Geoffrey McQuilkin 

Conflicts and Obstacles: Act I

Claudio, who is well intentioned and virtuous, gives into his lust for Juliet and ends up impregnating her and getting sentenced to death for it.

Angelo seeks to right the city's wrongs by strictly enforcing punishment on violations of premarital sex, yet when he sentences Claudio to death, he is seen as unjust and unmerciful. 

The Duke does not want Angelo to have free reign because he knows that he is too strict although he does want his city to become a virtuous place.

Isabelle seeks shelter from the wicked ways of Vienna as a nun, however, Lucio brings her back into her discomfort zone where she must confront the sins that surround her.  She is repulsed in Act II, when Lucio encourages her to seduce Angelo (who feels drawn to her).

Isabelle makes the decision that family is more important than her religious virtues when she stands up for her brother because she believes that his punishment is too severe.

Conflicts and Obstacles: Act II: 

Characters such as Escalus and the provost believe that Angelo is narrow minded and that Claudius' punishment is too harsh.  However, they seem to fear Angelo and it takes the Duke's intervention in order to motivate them to act.

During their meeting, Angelo begins to have lustful thoughts for Isabelle, and he has an inner conflict in maintaining control over the sexual impulses that he has outlawed.

Isabelle is furious at the idea of having sex with Angelo, yet his attraction to her does give her some power in saving her brother's life.  Oddly enough, Angelo does not want to have sex with any other woman in Vienna.

Angelo says that he loves Isabelle, but would not marry her.  This lust turns Angelo into a hypocrite for enforcing the law that he would so easily break with Isabelle.  Yet, Isabelle decides that death is better than shame, and refuses to have sex with Angelo to save her brother's life.

But Do It Backwards- Act 3

By Eric Houdek

SCENE 1 STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE! 

-The Duke laments that Angelo “kills for faults of his own liking.”  He remarks that Angelo will be revealed as a hypocrite and suffer the consequences of his actions.   

-Escalus leaves to visit Claudio.   

-The Duke tells Escalus that he has been counseling Claudio, and Claudio is prepared for death. 

-Escalus tells the Duke that he has been pleading with Angelo for Claudio’s release, but if it is not granted, Claudio must be prepared for death. 

-Escalus says that Lucio will have to answer to Mistress Overdone’s claims.   

-Mistress Overdone accuses Lucio of getting Kate Keepdown pregnant.   

-Escalus, Provost, and Officers with Mistress Overdone enter.  

-Lucio leaves.

-Lucio responds that he would have no fear of doing so. 

-The Duke defends “The Duke.”  He asks Lucio if he would say these things to the Duke’s face.

-Lucio remarks about Angelo’s poor leadership and overuse of punishment.  He says that punishment will not deter sin, for it is in human nature.  Lucio makes remarks about the Duke. 

-The Duke responds he has no idea.   

-Lucio asks the disguised Duke if he knows where the Duke is.   

-Lucio enters. 

Scene 2

Original Statis and First Intrusion

Geoffrey McQuilkin 

 In the original stasis of the play, the Duke is the leader of Vienna.  Vienna is at war with Hungary.  Vienna is a hedonistic city which is full of brothels, unlawful sexual activity, and the pestering venereal diseases that accompany such behavior. Citizens frivolously engage in various debaucheries and have a disregard for the law which is rarely enforced.  Claudio's sister, Isabella, is in the process of joining a nunnery in order to separate herself from the sinfully saturated city.  Claudio has been having premarital, consensual sex with Juliet.  He intends to marry her but he is awaiting her parents' approval.  Juliet is pregnant with Claudio's child. 

The first major action which sets the plot of the story in motion is when the Duke leaves Lord Angelo in charge of ruling Vienna while he attempts to negotiate with the King of Hungary (although he actually remains in Vienna, disguised as a friar, in order to observe the city).  This intrusion alters the stasis of the play because Lord Angelo seeks to define his rule by strictly enforcing the laws that punish unlawful sexual activities.  When authorities notice Juliet's pregnancy, they arrest Claudio and take him to prison.  The intrusion which leaves Lord Angelo on the throne also sets up a major conflict in the play between the sinful pleasure-seekers and the virtuous saints of Vienna. 

THEMES 2

Adam B. Ferguson

Group 4

Vice vs. Piety: Several character in the play seem to over indulge or in things or either are too strict.  Measure for Measure attempts to punish those who are too lewd, and teach those who are too pious, by the time the end is reached.

Temptation: Whether a person can resist temptation is a sign of how good or wicked they actually are. Temptation plays on the tendency of human nature to be flawed and vulnerable, and those who allow themselves to be tempted too far are weak of character.

Disguise: Disguise allows all of the Duke’s plans to take place. Without disguise, and the way the Duke uses and abuses the privileges that this disguise affords him, many events in the play would not have taken place at all.

THEMES 3

Adam B. Ferguson

Group 4

Moderation and mercy: These  two things are the two necessary qualities of a ruler that Angelo lacks, and which also make him a poor judge. Every ruler must govern with an eye for human nature and its weaknesses.  He must also show mercy for those who commit the same sins as the ruler himself.

Manipulation:  Manipulation pays a huge role in the plot since most of the events in the throughout are manipulated by the Duke. Without his manipulation of people and events, Claudio would have died, Angelo have remained unexposed, and Mariana would not have gotten married.  Justice depends upon the Duke’s schemes and manipulations within the play, however self-serving his actions may turn out to be.

Exposition and Forward, Act 1, Scenes 3 & 4

Sam Beaver, Act 1, Sc. 3, Exposition 

  •  Duke is hiding out in a friar’s cell.(only Duke knows)
  • He has spread word that he left for Poland, but really remains in Vienna.  (Duke knows)
  • Says that he cannot handle the office, and wished to observe Angelo/ leave Vienna in the hands of someone more strict than he is.  (Duke knows)
  • He wants to see if Angelo will let the power go to his head.  (Duke knows)

Forward

  •  The Duke is spying on Angelo. What will become of the situation?  Will Angelo succeed?  Audience wants to know

This scene’s purpose is to introduce the forward of “Hence we shall see, If power changes purpose, what our seemers be.”  The Duke wishes to discover Angelo’s true character through giving him the powers of the duke.  This forward wants the audience to recognize that power may very well change purpose, and they need to wait and see what the change will be.Act 1 Sc. 4, Exposition

  •  Isabella is introduced; she is hopefully going to become a nun. (she knows)
  • Isabella is a virgin. (she knows)
  • She finds out that her brother has been imprisoned. (Everyone knows by now)
  • Angelo wishes to make an example of Claudio, prompts Isabella’s decision to go rescue her brother.(Only Isabella knows)

Forward

  •  Now that Isabella knows about her brother, will she succeed in saving him?
  • Again, we are wondering if Angelo will actually proceed in killing Claudio just to make an example.

THEMES

Adam B. Ferguson

Group 4

Actions vs. words: In Measure for many character say they are doing or will do one thing and then completely do the opposite.  The Duke often announces that he is doing one thing, and then acts completely different from what he said he is doing. This causes the reader to question why the Duke would be deliberately misleading, and what his overall intent for this deception of leaving the city is.

Appearance vs. reality: This is especially seen in the character of Angelo.  Angelo has the reputation and appearance of being good do not truly match who he is as an individual.  This idea can also be extended to the city of Vienna itself which appears to be pretty and serene but instead hides a lot of sin.

Corruption: The city in this play (Vienna) is corrupt on many different levels.  This corruption seems to spread from the city and affect Angelo who later becomes corrupt.  This corruption seems to be the result of too much indulgence, or a belief that one will get away with one’s crimes.

Exposition and Forward, Act 1, Scenes 1 & 2

Sam Beaver Act 1, Sc. 1Exposition

  •  Escalus is a trustworthy advisor and is very intelligent. (some know)
  • Angelo, who is currently a deputy, will be placed in charge of the government when the Duke is absent. (Duke knows, Escalus knows)
  • We are in Vienna (everyone knows)
  • The duke has decided to leave Vienna for reasons unknown to us. (Some know)
  • Duke is going to leave secretly; Angelo will take over immediately. (Angelo, Duke, and Escalus know)

Forward

  •  The Duke is leaving. The audience wonders why, wants to find out what will happen.
  • Angelo is put in charge, and is given FULL POWER over the people (“lent him our terror”).  How will he rule?  We want to see what he will do with the power that the Duke has given him.
  • It is stressed that Angelo is virtuous, makes the audience hungry to see if he will live up to the expectations of him.  The stress put upon Angelo’s virtue is an important set up to the realization that he is morally corrupt later in the play.
  • The Duke leaves with haste.  Why does he do this?

Essentially, this scene is presenting where we are and examining the first action of the play, which is the Duke’s decision to depart.  We want to know why he is leaving, and we also are anticipating the rule of Angelo, who up to this point has been described in a very positive manner.  Act 1, Sc. 2Exposition

  •  Lucio’s opening line tells us that there is governmental instability, even war. (everyone knows)
  • The men are not wealthy, upper class individuals, seen from their discussion of STDs and their disdain for religion.(everyone knows)
  • Overdone enters and we learn that she is a prostitute through the men’s joking.  (most people know)
  • She tells that Claudio has been arrested and is going to be executed in three days. (she knows, now they know)
  • Claudio got arrested for knocking up Juliet.(Overdone knows, now Lucio knows)
  • Angelo has decreed that all the brothels in the suburbs are getting shut down, Overdone goes to have sex with Pompey.(some know)
  • Claudio and Juliet are in love and basically married, but never had the ceremony because of their poverty.(Only Claudio and Juliet know)
  • Angelo is bringing back old laws that hadn’t been adhered to in the past several years; this is why Claudio was arrested.(Everyone knows?)
  • Claudio proposes using Isabella to stop his execution; Lucio goes to find her. (Only Claudio and Lucio know)

Forward

  •  Overdone says someone is in prison; we want to know who it is. (miniature forward)
  • Gives three days till his head is chopped off; the audience is eager to find out what will happen in those three days.
  • Lucio exits to find Claudio, we wonder what he will do for him.
  • It is revealed that Claudio and Juliet are in love; now he’s been condemned wrongfully.  We want to see resolution, so we continue to watch.
  • Lucio leaves to find Isabella.  Will she help?  Will he even find her?
  • Angelo’s rule is thrown into question with his arresting of Cluadio.  What will be done about him?

These opening scenes are a lot about setting up the play for things to come, which is why some of the larger plot points are opened in these first two scenes.  There is a lot that is left unresolved, so there is a lot for the audience to be hanging on to right now.  To use ball’s term, the audience is “hungry for the next.”

Using Others

One motif of Measure for Measure shows itself when characters use other people, or ideas of people, to achieve goals.

Some examples:

Angelo uses the idea of himself as a strictly pious ruler to demand sex from Isabella.

Claudio is willing to use Isabella to save his own life.

The duke uses the image of a friar, a virtuous and trustworthy person, to spy on others.

Isabella uses Mariana to save her virginity.

The duke attempts to use Barnardine to save Claudio; he then uses a dead pirate instead.

This motif ties in with the theme of the play, illustrated in the title.  Obviously the characters are forced to measure the value of their own virginity, happiness, or social position in terms of each other.  In addition, the characters are forced to measure each other.  Shakespeare uses this tactic to explore how and why we judge others’ actions and value certain people over others when it comes to achieving our personal goals.