An aged and trusted advisor to the duke, left second in command when the duke goes into disguise. Escalus’ chief role is to act as a foil to Angelo, arguing mercy against Angelo’s determination for strict enforcement of the law.
Read more Character Analysis EscalusCharacter Analysis Lucio
A gentleman of birth who keeps company with pimps, bawds, and whores. Lucio is a flip, light-minded young man, more interested in tossing off a quip than in justice, friendship, or honesty. Although he comes to Claudio’s assistance by making his difficulties known to Isabella, he seems to enjoy his […]
Read more Character Analysis LucioCharacter Analysis The Duke
Vincentio, Duke of Vienna. He leaves Vienna in Angelo’s charge and returns disguised as Friar Lodowick to watch developments while incognito. Of some 2,600 lines in Measure for Measure, the duke speaks nearly 800, only slightly less than one-third. He acts as a deus ex machina to turn the play […]
Read more Character Analysis The DukeCharacter Analysis Angelo
Deputy to the duke. Angelo is subject to two main interpretations. He can be viewed as a thoroughly evil man, hypocritical in his pose of morality, whose lust for Isabella is true to character; or he can be seen as a basically moral man who succumbs to temptation upon one […]
Read more Character Analysis AngeloCharacter Analysis Isabella
A novice, sister to Claudio. When she first appears, Isabella is about to enter the order of Saint Clare. Shakespeare portrays her as very pure and strictly moral. The audience first hears of her from her brother, who tells Lucio that she has “a prone and speechless dialect, / Such […]
Read more Character Analysis IsabellaSummary and Analysis Act V
Summary In a confrontation at the gates of the city, the duke reveals the truth and administers merciful justice to all. Isabella accuses Angelo, but Mariana comes forward to claim that she was with him herself. The duke charges the two, along with Friar Peter, with being persuaded to their […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act VSummary and Analysis Act IV
Summary Upon his entry, the duke finds Mariana at her home at Saint Luke’s, listening to a boy singing a love ballad. Isabella soon arrives, and Mariana leaves the two to discuss their plans. She returns to meet Isabella and then goes aside with her while Isabella outlines the duke’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act IVSummary and Analysis Act III
Summary In the prison, the duke, disguised as a friar, attempts to comfort Claudio and prepare him for his death with assurances of the ephemerality of life. The duke exits when Isabella arrives on the scene to tell Claudio of Angelo’s treachery and her inability to save him. When he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act IIISummary and Analysis Act II
Summary Escalus attempts to convince Angelo that he should treat Claudio’s case with mercy, but Angelo remains adamant. Calling in the provost, he orders him to see to Claudio’s execution early the following morning. At this point, Elbow, a constable, enters with the pimp Pompey and Froth, a gentleman bawd. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act IISummary and Analysis Act I
Summary The duke of Vienna meets with his aged advisor, Escalus, to discuss his own imminent departure and a commission that he has for Escalus. The duke’s appointment of Angelo to take his place is mentioned, Escalus agreeing that Angelo is worthy of the honor. The latter arrives and is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I