Character sketch of Angelo: Measure for Measure by Shakespeare

 Character sketch of Angelo: Measure for Measure by Shakespeare

Introduction:

In Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Angelo emerges as a double-sided character. Scholars have argued for centuries whether or not Angelo is a moral character or an evil character. Those scholars who support the notion of Angelo as moral often cite the following facts: the Duke obviously trusts Angelo, Angelo is disheartened enough by the end of the play to offer a sincere apology, and Angelo tries to resist the temptation that Isabella presents. On the other hand, others have argued that Shakespeare depicts Angelo as a purely evil man.

Angelo is the deputy to the Duke of Vienna, Vincentio:

Angelo is the deputy to the Duke of Vienna, Vincentio. Vincentio begins the play by departing the city under mysterious circumstances and leaving the strait-laced Angelo in power. Angelo's first act is to begin the enforcement of an old law that makes fornication punishable by death. He proves himself a hypocrite when Isabella, the sister of Claudio (the first man sentenced under the law), comes to plead for her brother's life. Angelo agrees to rescind the sentence only if she will sleep with him. Angelo is ultimately duped by being set up with Mariana, a woman he was once betrothed to, who masquerades as Isabella at the assignation. After Angelo thinks he has attained the object of his desire, he covers his tracks by ordering the execution of Claudio after all. 

Angelo is the clear antagonist of the play:

Angelo is the clear antagonist of the play. As regent of Vienna, he imposes a draconian regime in the name of restoring morality. However, he ends up being as duplicitous and immoral as his discipline is uncompromising. While he plans to execute Claudio for having sex out of wedlock, he himself attempts to force Isabella to have sex with him—an action he later lies about in an attempt to conceal it. At the play's end, he is justly punished for his hypocrisy. The Duke initially offers him a death sentence, but decides simply to sentence him to marry the woman he had once scorned when her dowry fell through, Mariana. However, in spite of his reprehensible behavior, Angelo is one of the play's more complex characters. He is aware of, and deeply conflicted by, his wrongdoings. While his conduct may ultimately deserve condemnation, it is hard not to pity him at the beginning of the play, as he self-consciously struggles to reconcile his morals with his desires before succumbing to villainous hypocrisy.

His lack of information:

 One of the first things of note about Angelo is his lack of information: unlike Macbeth or Richard III, he does not confide in us, the audience, of his thoughts, desires, or plans. This arguably makes him a more unstable character in drama; we’re not prepared for his next move until he makes it. In practice, we would rely on the actor playing Angelo to leak clues with his speech, expression and physicality. On reading the text, we are left with speculation and interpretation.

Conclusion:

Angelo is often highlighted as a controversial character who makes readers consider the relationship between justice and mercy. There is much debate about what Shakespeare intended this character to portray. Critics disagree about whether Angelo is a good man who has fallen because of power and sexual temptation or a malicious man from the start. Regardless, he is the personification of justice in the play. When juxtaposed against Isabella (mercy), Angelo represents adherence to the law and punishment for sin, though he does not always adhere to the strict justice he enforces. Once Angelo meets Isabella he is forced to consider himself in a different light and acknowledge his shortcomings. Measure for Measure is considered one of Shakespeare's problem plays because it deviates from the traditional comedy. Angelo's character is a major reason for this classification because Shakespeare created him with tragic qualities, but framed his character within a comedy.