‘We must not make a scarecrow of the law… till custom makes it their perch and not their terror’
- Metaphor - the law must be enacted and actually enforced. The law must be feared in order for it to be effective.
‘Let mine own judgement pattern out my death and nothing come impartial. Sir,he must die.’
- Use of modal auxiliary word in ‘sir, he must die’, highlights Angelo’s extraordinary moral certainty.
- No preferencial treatment - if Angelo committed fornication, he should be executed too
‘Lord Angelo is severe’ - Justice
- Personification of justice highlights how justice is passive and observing Angelo’s severe, harsh laws.
- Justice calls Angelo ‘severe’, extremely ironic.
‘She speaks and tis such sense that my sense breeds with it’
- Sexual connotations - Isabella’s logical rhetoric causes Angelo to lust over her.
- Divide between Angelo’s outward appearance of piety and his inward moral corruption.
- Situational irony - Isabella’s logic and rationality stimulates his sexual desire.
‘I that lying by the violet in the sun, do as the carrion does, not as the flower, corrupt with virtuous season’
- Use of metaphor highlights Angelo’s internal corruption.
-He starts to corrupt due to his feelings of desire that he desperately tries to repress. - ‘Flower’ can be associated with chastity, virtue - embodying Isabella.
-Angelo is aware of and is disgusted by his actions.
‘When I would pray and think, I think and pray to several subjects’
- Emphasises his desperation however highlights the lack of sincerity within his words.
‘Heaven hath my empty words, whilst my invention anchors on Isabella’
- Views sexual desire as an external force that is out of his control.
-Views it as dangerous and corrupting. - ‘Anchors’ may have sexual connotations, highlighting the discord between his outward appearance of piety and inward feelings of sexual desire.
‘Give up your body to such sweet uncleaness’
- Juxtaposition between ‘sweet’ and ‘uncleaness’.
- Highlights how Angelo is aware of the corruption that he would do to Isabella’s reputation and purity yet this is what fuels him.
‘Who will believe thee Isabel?’
- Angelo feels protected by his reputation, authority and power, which completely overpowers Isabella.
-Highlights the vulnerability of women within a patriarchal society as those in charge abuse their power and oppress women.
‘My false overweighs your true’
- Imagery of justice scales flipping towards Angelo, highlighting the institutionalised discrimination of women and partiality towards men.
-Tone of bleakness in the use of the metaphor.
‘Now I give my sensual race the rein’
-Allows his [Angelo] sexuality to flow freely. His sexuality gives him control and he’s ruled by desire.
- Ultimatum; if Isabella doesn’t have sex with him, her brother will get executed.
‘A deflowered maid and by an eminent body that enforced the law against it’
- Metaphor ‘deflowered maid’ highlights a particular degree of disbelief surrounding his actions.
