Unfold Between Angelo And Isabella example essay topic

As this scene opens, we are shown Angelo speaking alone in a room in his house. Shakespeare's intention behind this setting was probably to offer us some vital insight into the current state of mind of Angelo, allowing us to analyse his thought process throughout the remainder of this vital scene. As a result, it is important that this scene is staged with the intention of revealing various elements of his character to the audience. This could be achieved by having him sat at a desk, under a spotlight, gazing objectively into space whilst speaking his lines. The main theme that comes across through this soliloquy is that of a contrast between good and evil. This is significant, as it lays the foundation of the conflict that we are about to see unfold between Angelo and Isabella.

In this typically Shakespearian display of foreshadowing, the main point of Angelo's speech is not easy to depict, though if we consider the scene as a whole, the context soon becomes clear. He is effectively demonstrating himself as a figure of high self-esteem; he believes that his actions are just and appropriate, as is made clear by his statement of "Heaven in my mouth". While the audience already perceives Angelo as the "villain" of the play, it is important to note that we are, for the first time, seeing that, in his own mind, Angelo is acting in the best interests of everyone involved. Another theme that we are presented with in this speech is one of biological imagery. We have already seen that Angelo describes the effect of "heaven in... [his]... mouth", and this image is closely followed by a reference to the tongue, which creates the impression that Angelo is speaking words of a heavenly significance. What is clear, right from her entrance, is that we are being presented with a powerful Isabella; one of great self-confidence and determination to such a degree that she is willing to use all her strength to fight for her brother's release.

This is shown through her use of assertive language on her entrance, as she immediately throws imperative declarations at Angelo ("Heaven hold your honour!" ). This would not only startle Angelo, but also the Jacobean audience for which it was intended. At a time in which women had no say in politics and were expected in social terms to be relatively reclusive, we can assume with some certainty that the audience would have been fairly taken aback by this demonstration. An ongoing theme throughout the entire play is that of the development of the character of Isabella.

We see a vast array of emotional responses from her throughout the play, and it is rather surprising that someone who is training to be a nun could be so self-assured and confident. This scene is a clear example of this development of Isabella into a woman of great confidence, and this is continued in the following scenes. When she goes to tell her brother, Claudio, his fate, we see how her virtue is more important to her than her brother's life. In Act Scene I, Isabella is disgusted with Claudio's pleas for help, so she bitterly remarks, "Wilt thou be made a man out of my vice".

Clearly, she values her own sainthood is more highly than the salvation of her own brother. By the end of the play we see that Isabella has grown emotionally as a character. When she is confronted with the lie that her brother is dead she is allowed to decide Angelo's fate. Instead of asking "an eye for an eye", she displays a true act of Christianity by asking that Angelo be forgiven. This is the defining moment of Isabella's trend of maturity and purity.