Shakespeare – Section 1 – Part (a)
“Discuss the following passage from Act 2 Scene 1, exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatic effects”
In the extract from Act 2 Scene 1, Shakespeare gives us some insight into the character of Angelo. We have found out that Claudio is to be killed due to his betrothed becoming pregnant before marriage. The Duke’s deputy, Angelo has decided to kill him for disobeying the law. We have previously been told in Act I scene iii that Angelo is “a man of stricture and firm abstinence”. Also, we are told that Angelo is “a man whose blood Is very snow-broth; one who never feels The wanton stings and motions of the sense” in Act I scene iv. Angelo is presented to us as being a man of strict virtue, who seems to be living an exemplary life himself and, as he demands the highest standards of himself, judges others by the same criteria. Also, in this scene, the deep differences between Angelo’s and Escalus’ philosophies of rule are made clear. Angelo is loyal to rules and doctrine above all else, while Escalus subscribes to a more human-oriented philosophy of civic morality, which values the overall spirit of the law more than the letter of the law.
In the first part of dialogue in the extract which is said by Angelo, “We must not make a scarecrow of the law, Setting it up to fear the birds of prey, And let it keep one shape till custom make it Their perch and not their terror.”, Angelo suggests that the ‘law’ is currently at the mercy of criminals (the birds of prey) and that the law must not be a static, empty threat that people may grow to ignore. As the play's second act opens, Angelo closely echoes the Duke's supposed reason for placing him in charge of Vienna. He describes the difficulties of enforcing laws and decrees; these rules become a mere empty framework, an impotent "scarecrow," unless human individuals are able to actively enforce them. Angelo seems willing to carry out this enforcing and ensure that "custom" does not continue to stray far from legal action. Angelo suggests that he will place law over mercy and reason over spontaneous human passion. This declaration is unsurprising given the prior events of the play, yet it will itself become a "scarecrow" in the upcoming act. It is a comment on the image of a scarecrow, which of course is designed to intimidate birds, but often looks a little pathetic when it no longer serves its purpose. Shakespeare starts this scene seemingly ‘in medias res’ (in the middle of a conversation) between Angelo and Escalus. Shakespeare sets this conversation in a not entirely private scenario, with the Provost and servants there.
In Escalus’s reply to Angelo, Escalus says “Let us be keen, and rather cut a little Than fall and bruise to death.” After Angelo declares that he will enforce justice, striving against sinful "custom" and ensuring that the very letter of the law is carried out, Escalus takes an antagonistic approach to this idea. Escalus advocates for mercy, suggesting that law enforcement must be balanced with forgiveness and care should be paid to each individual case. Escalus believes that there is more to consider than an individual's actions; intention and internal development are significant as well. This exchange between Angelo and Escalus reminds us that Measure for Measure deals with intellectual tensions and philosophical issues as well as the struggles and successes of individual characters. As a "problem play," it is a comedy with intellectual force in addition to its romantic conventions and devices (which have not yet appeared in the play). As such, it does not let Escalus's comment rest without a response. Angelo immediately replies.
Shakespeare then in Angelo's reply to Escalus's suggestion for greater mercy and forgiveness uses this to unpack many tensions. In the speech “Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus, Another thing to fall. I not deny The jury, passing on the prisoner’s life, May in the sworn twelve have a thief or two Guiltier than him they try. What’s open made to justice, That justice seizes. What knows the laws That thieves do pass on thieves? ’Tis very pregnant, The jewel that we find, we stoop and take’t, Because we see it; but what we do not see We tread upon, and never think of it. You may not so extenuate his offense For I have had such faults; but rather tell me, When I, that censure him, do so offend, Let mine own judgment pattern out my death, And nothing come in partial.”, we are introduced to the notion that temptation and sin are two separate phenomena; again, the inconsistencies between the internal and the external figure prominently. Angelo’s view of justice here is strikingly similar to the view that Claudio espouses in Act 1, Scene 2. In both men’s opinions, earthly justice is an imperfect institution that hands out punishments arbitrarily. And despite this fact, both men also seem to have enough faith in the system to resign themselves to its often-haphazard operation. Angelo trusts that any serving of justice is a good thing, despite the impossibility of ensuring just treatment for all, and Claudio has more or less accepted that he has fallen victim to one of worldly justice’s less-than-fair imperfections. Angelo also directly addresses the prevailing concern that justice can only be partial, and humans cannot punish all sinners, in order to fully act out heaven's rulings. To Angelo, this is certainly reality. Yet, he suggests that individuals who enforce justice are duty-bound to punish all sins which are revealed. Although a human society cannot fully act out heaven's justice, it can fully act out its own to the best of its abilities. It can fully enforce all wrongdoings it sees, undiluted by merciful tendencies, so that it completely acts out its own justice and "nothing" will "come in partial."
In conclusion, Shakespeare, in this extract, has reinforced the characters of Angelo and Escalus. This scene exists primarily for comic relief, Shakespeare wanted to distract the audience momentarily from the issues at stake, particularly Claudio's imminent execution. Escalus is a noble character who acts as a straight-man to the dim-witted constable and the foolish clown. Elbow is a frivolous addition to the cast of characters, amusing because of his use of malapropisms, or misspoken phrases and words. He is sent to retrieve the criminals of Vienna, and he appears at various intervals performing this task and providing more pure comedy.
At the end of the scene, the tone shifts back to seriousness, as Escalus expresses his pity for Claudio. It is important that Escalus, as well as the provost, does not approve of the punishment to be administered to Claudio, and yet sees no way to convince Angelo to be more merciful. Angelo appears to be narrow-minded and stern; the other characters seem to fear him. There is a sense of apathy among the characters generally; it takes the Duke's intervention to promote movement, discussion, and action in them.
Word Count – 1164