Isabella's Plea to Angelo from Act 2, Scene 2 of Measure for Measure

In Act 2, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Isabella pleads with Angelo for her brother Claudio's life. The following monologue is an amalgamation of her lines from this scene, edited for continuity. Readers should consider whether this edited version maintains the integrity of the original text.

Synopsis:

Isabella, a novice nun, appeals to Angelo's sense of mercy to spare her brother Claudio, who has been sentenced to death for fornication. She argues against the abuse of authority and emphasizes the importance of compassion over rigid enforcement of the law.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Claudio has been arrested and sentenced to death by Angelo, the strict deputy governing Vienna in the Duke's absence, for impregnating Juliet, his betrothed. Lucio has persuaded Isabella to intercede with Angelo on Claudio's behalf.

Original Text:

ISABELLA:

So you must be the first that gives this sentence,

And he, that suffer's. O, it is excellent

To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous

To use it like a giant.

Could great men thunder

As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet,

For every pelting, petty officer

Would use his heaven for thunder;

Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven,

Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt

Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak

Than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man,

Drest in a little brief authority,

Most ignorant of what he's most assured,

His glassy essence, like an angry ape,

Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven

As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens,

Would all themselves laugh mortal.

We cannot weigh our brother with ourself:

Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them,

But in the less foul profanation.

That in the captain's but a choleric word,

Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.

Because authority, though it err like others,

Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself,

That skins the vice o' the top. Go to your bosom;

Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know

That's like my brother's fault: if it confess

A natural guiltiness such as is his,

Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue

Against my brother's life.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

ISABELLA:

So, you must be the first to pass this sentence, And he, the one who suffers. Oh, it's admirable To have the strength of a giant; but it's tyrannical To use it like a giant. If great men could thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would never be quiet, For every insignificant, petty officer Would use his power to thunder; Nothing but thunder! Merciful Heaven, You prefer with your sharp and sulfurous bolt To split the unyielding and gnarled oak Rather than the soft myrtle: but man, proud man, Dressed in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured, His fragile nature, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep; who, if they had our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal. We cannot compare our brother to ourselves: Great men may jest with saints; it's clever in them, But in the less, it's foul profanation. That which in the captain is but a choleric word, In the soldier is flat blasphemy. Because authority, though it errs like others, Has yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice on the surface. Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it knows That's like my brother's fault: if it confesses A natural guiltiness such as his, Let it not utter a thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

• Pelting: Paltry; insignificant.

• Jove: Another name for Jupiter, the king of the gods in Roman mythology.

• Myrtle: A symbol of love and peace; a delicate plant.

• Glassy essence: Fragile nature or substance.

• Spleens: Refers to emotions or passions; in this context, the capacity for laughter.

• Choleric: Bad-tempered or irritable.

• Err: To make a mistake or commit a sin.

• Skins the vice o' the top: Conceals the vice superficially.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

1. The Responsibility of Judgment:
   So you must be the first that gives this sentence, And he, that suffers.
   Isabella emphasizes Angelo's role as the arbiter of her brother's fate, highlighting the gravity of his decision and its direct impact on Claudio's life.

2. The Abuse of Power:
   O, it is excellent To have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.
   She acknowledges that possessing great power is admirable, but warns that wielding it oppressively is tyrannical, cautioning against the misuse of authority.

3. Divine Versus Human Judgment:
   Could great men thunder As Jove himself does, Jove would ne'er be quiet, For every pelting, petty officer Would use his heaven for thunder; Nothing but thunder!
   Isabella suggests that if mortals had the power of the gods, they would overuse it, leading to constant punishment and chaos, contrasting divine restraint with human impulsiveness.

4. Selective Punishment:
   Merciful Heaven, Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt Split'st the unwedgeable and gnarled oak Than the soft myrtle:
   She observes that divine justice targets the stubborn and unyielding (the "gnarled oak") rather than the gentle and innocent (the "soft myrtle"), implying that human justice should similarly be discerning.

5. The Folly of Human Authority:
   but man, proud man, Drest in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he's most assured, His glassy essence, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep; who, with our spleens, Would all themselves laugh mortal.
   Isabella criticizes those who, clothed in temporary power, act foolishly and arrogantly, ignorant of their own fragile nature, causing sorrow to the divine beings who witness their antics.

6. Empathy and Judgment:
   We cannot weigh our brother with ourself: Great men may jest with saints; 'tis wit in them, But in the less foul profanation. That in the captain's but a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy.
   She argues that actions are judged differently based on one's status; what is considered witty or minor in the powerful is deemed offensive or blasphemous in the common, highlighting the double standards in moral judgments.

7. The Nature of Authority and Mercy:
   Because authority, though it err like others, Hath yet a kind of medicine in itself, That skins the vice o' the top.
   Isabella notes that those in authority have a way of superficially covering their faults, suggesting that their positions allow them to mask their vices.

8. Introspection and Compassion:
   Go to your bosom; Knock there, and ask your heart what it doth know That's like my brother's fault: if it confess A natural guiltiness such as is his, Let it not sound a thought upon your tongue Against my brother's life.
   She urges Angelo to examine his own conscience and recognize any similar faults within himself, advocating for empathy and suggesting that acknowledging one's own imperfections should lead to mercy towards others.

Journey Keypoints:

• Hook: Isabella confronts Angelo with the weight of his authority and the consequences of his judgment.

• Turning Point: She challenges the misuse of power, drawing parallels between divine restraint and human impulsiveness.

• Climax: Isabella critiques the arrogance and folly of those in temporary authority, highlighting the disparity in moral judgments based on status.

• Resolution: She appeals to Angelo's conscience, advocating for introspection and compassion, and urging him to show mercy towards her brother.

This monologue showcases Isabella's eloquence and moral reasoning as she navigates the complexities of justice, authority, and mercy, appealing to Angelo's humanity in her plea for her brother's life.