Month: November 2008

Main actions

By Eric Houdek

Alright, I think it might be a good idea to post some of the important actions that occured during the play, some of them coming directly from our discussion. 

-The Duke grants Angelo temporary leadership of Vienna. 

-Claudio is taken to prison for having sexual involvement outside of mariage. 

-Claudio asks Lucio to find his sister Isabella, so Isabella can appeal for him on Claudio’s behalf. 

-The Duke goes to a monastary and asks Friar Thomas to hide him so he can observe Angelo. 

-Isabella agrees to leave the monastery to help Claudio.

-Isabella goes to Angelo to beg for forgiveness.  Mentions that she wishes to bribe him. 

-Angelo realizes he has desire for Isabella.  Tells Isabella to return the next day.

-Angelo makes his proposal to Isabella-to have sexual relations with him to save Claudio’s life. 

-Isabella denies Claudio’s proposal. 

-Isabella visits Claudio in jail, tells him about Angelo’s proposal. 

-Angelo asks Isabella to follow the proposal, Isabella rebukes him.   

-Duke hatches plan involving Mariana, and tells Isabella about it. 

-Duke introduces Mariana to Isabella, the three discuss the plan. 

 * I still need to add more actions, feel free to ammend, add, or disagree.

Things Theatrical – Measure for Measure

By Glenn Things Theatrical are what “illicit a strong audience response”.  Following that definition Angelo’s desire of Isabella is certainly theatrical, because this behavior is so unexpected, coming from such a straight-laced deputy. Not only that, but the simple juxtaposition of the nobleman lusting after the soon-to-be nun is in and of itself, unusual, creating once again a strong response. A very strong “thing theatrical” occurs when Angelo demands Claudio be killed even after he thinks he’s slept with Isabella. I myself as a reader was not expecting that level of treachery from Angelo, making the surprise element of this action supremely theatrical. But perhaps one of the most theatrical moments occurs when the Provost enters with Ragozine’s chopped-off head to give Angelo in place of Claudio’s head. Freshly cut heads on stage seems pretty theatrical to me. However, one of the interesting variances in this scene is the almost lightheartedness that goes along with the dismembered head. Instead of it seeming gross or horrifying, the head is looked upon as God’s saving grace. This subtle inequity between what we expect the character’s reaction to be, and what it really is, is in and of itself, theatical.Finally the end scene is chockablock full of ‘things theatrical’. The Duke’s entrance, the Duke’s reveal, Angelo’s marriage and saved life, Claudio’s appearance, Lucio’s end, and the Duke’s proposal to Isabella are all exciting and surprising. Because of this, the audience responds very strongly to what can be considered the finale of “Measure for Measure”.