Changes

The ruler of the city of Vienna, Duke Vicentio, has decided to go on a journey. Vicentio announces that while he is away, his place will be filled by two [[courtier]]s, the aged counselor Escalus and the young Angelo. Angelo has the reputation of being both morally upright and zealous, and Vicentio entrusts him with the full authority of the Duke himself, but appoints Escalus to advise him. The Duke then goes to a [[monastery]], where he disguises himself as a monk in order to sneak back into Vienna and secretly observe Angelo’s performance.  Vicentio explains to a [[friar]] of the monastery the reason for this ruse: although Vienna has very harsh laws, the Duke has always been a man of mercy, and as a result, the criminals have become scofflaws, and crime has run out of control. The Duke believes that if he was to start enforcing the laws himself, the public would feel that he had become a tyrant, and so he intends to let the strict Angelo put the law into action. Vicentio also expresses an interest in seeing if political power corrupts the seemingly moral Angelo.

The ruler of the city of Vienna, Duke Vicentio, has decided to go on a journey. Vicentio announces that while he is away, his place will be filled by two [[courtier]]s, the aged counselor Escalus and the young Angelo. Angelo has the reputation of being both morally upright and zealous, and Vicentio entrusts him with the full authority of the Duke himself, but appoints Escalus to advise him. The Duke then goes to a [[monastery]], where he disguises himself as a monk in order to sneak back into Vienna and secretly observe Angelo’s performance.  Vicentio explains to a [[friar]] of the monastery the reason for this ruse: although Vienna has very harsh laws, the Duke has always been a man of mercy, and as a result, the criminals have become scofflaws, and crime has run out of control. The Duke believes that if he was to start enforcing the laws himself, the public would feel that he had become a tyrant, and so he intends to let the strict Angelo put the law into action. Vicentio also expresses an interest in seeing if political power corrupts the seemingly moral Angelo.

Back in Vienna, Angelo does indeed begin to enforce the law. He has the [[brothel]]s pulled down, and takes [[pimp]]s and their customers and other criminals into custody. Among those arrested is Claudio, a young man who got his fiancée pregnant. Angelo sentences Claudio to death for this offence. Claudio sends his friend Lucio, a “rake” or playboy, to take a message to Claudio’s sister Isabella, asking for her help. Isabella is a novice (or [[nun]] in training), in an order so strict that once she takes her final vows she will be forbidden to speak to a man unsupervised, and even then subject to a rule that if she speaks to a man she must hide her face, and that if she shows her face, she must not speak. Isabella obtains permission to go to court to plead for her brother’s life.

Back in Vienna, Angelo does indeed begin to enforce the law. He has the [[brothel]]s pulled down, and takes pimps and their customers and other criminals into custody. Among those arrested is Claudio, a young man who got his fiancée pregnant. Angelo sentences Claudio to death for this offence. Claudio sends his friend Lucio, a “rake” or playboy, to take a message to Claudio’s sister Isabella, asking for her help. Isabella is a novice (or [[nun]] in training), in an order so strict that once she takes her final vows she will be forbidden to speak to a man unsupervised, and even then subject to a rule that if she speaks to a man she must hide her face, and that if she shows her face, she must not speak. Isabella obtains permission to go to court to plead for her brother’s life.

At court, Angelo is at first unwilling to help Isabella. But before long, he displays a sexual obsession with her, an obsession he realises is perverse, and which he speculates is based upon her very devotion to God: “Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary and pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? Dost thou desire her foully for those things that make her good?” (Act II, scene 2). Eventually, Angelo offers Isabella a deal: if she will submit to him sexually, Angelo will pardon her brother. Isabella is appalled by this offer, and refuses. She then visits Claudio in prison, to explain that he must die because she has refused this arrangement. But to Isabella’s horrified disappointment, Claudio tells her that she should accept the offer and save his life.

At court, Angelo is at first unwilling to help Isabella. But before long, he displays a sexual obsession with her, an obsession he realises is perverse, and which he speculates is based upon her very devotion to God: “Having waste ground enough, Shall we desire to raze the sanctuary and pitch our evils there? O, fie, fie, fie! What dost thou, or what art thou, Angelo? Dost thou desire her foully for those things that make her good?” (Act II, scene 2). Eventually, Angelo offers Isabella a deal: if she will submit to him sexually, Angelo will pardon her brother. Isabella is appalled by this offer, and refuses. She then visits Claudio in prison, to explain that he must die because she has refused this arrangement. But to Isabella’s horrified disappointment, Claudio tells her that she should accept the offer and save his life.