Angelo Interrogates Isabella — Measure for Measure II.ii
Measure for Measure
advancedHow to cast this scene
Draw three names from a hat. No type casting of any kind. Swap after each read-through. The scene is intense — remind Players to stay in the room with each other rather than performing to the audience. What happens between the characters is the scene.
Say it right
- Angelo
- AN-jeh-loh
- Isabella
- Iz-uh-BEL-uh
- Lucio
- LOO-chee-oh
- Claudio
- KLAH-dee-oh
Who’s who
- Angelo
- Strict, controlled, self-righteous — until this conversation. Something in him is cracking and he doesn’t know what.
- Isabella
- Novice nun, brilliant debater, utterly unprepared for what Angelo is actually feeling. Pleading for her brother’s life.
- Lucio
- Friend to Claudio, worldly, encouraging. He coaches Isabella from the side — whispered, urgent, almost amused.
The scene
The scene
LUCIO. [To ISABELLA] You are too cold; if you should need a pin, You could not with more tame a tongue desire it. …. Kneel down before him, hang upon his gown; You are too cold.
ISABELLA. Must he needs die?
ANGELO. Maiden, no remedy.
ISABELLA. Yes; I do think that you might pardon him, And neither heaven nor man grieve at the mercy.
ANGELO. I will not do’t.
ISABELLA. But can you if you would?
ANGELO. Look, what I will not, that I cannot do.
ISABELLA. But might you do’t, and do the world no wrong, If so your heart were touch’d with that remorse As mine is to him?
ANGELO. He’s sentenced; ’tis too late.
LUCIO. [To ISABELLA] You are too cold.
ISABELLA. Too late? why, no; I, that do speak a word May call it back again. Well, believe this: No ceremony that to great ones ’longs, Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does. ….
ANGELO. Pray you be gone.
ISABELLA. I would to heaven I had your potency, And you were Isabel! should it then be thus? No; I would tell what ’twere to be a judge, And what a prisoner.
LUCIO. [Aside] Ay, touch him; there’s the vein.
ANGELO. Your brother is a forfeit of the law, And you but waste your words.
ISABELLA. Alas, alas! Why, all the souls that were, were forfeit once; And He that might the vantage best have took Found out the remedy. How would you be, If He, which is the top of judgement, should But judge you as you are? O! think on that, And mercy then will breathe within your lips, Like man new made.
ANGELO. Be you content, fair maid; It is the law, not I, condemn your brother. Were he my kinsman, brother, or my son, It should be thus with him. He must die tomorrow.
ISABELLA. Tomorrow? O, that’s sudden! Spare him, spare him! He’s not prepar’d for death. Even for our kitchens We kill the fowl of season. …. O, it is excellent To have a giant’s strength; but it is tyrannous To use it like a giant.
LUCIO. [Aside] That’s well said.
ANGELO. [Aside] She speaks, and ’tis such sense That my sense breeds with it. …. [To ISABELLA] Go to; let that be mine. Do you hear me?
ISABELLA. I am come to know your pleasure.
ANGELO. That you might know it would much better please me Than to demand what ’tis. Your brother cannot live.
ISABELLA. Even so. Heaven keep your honour!
[Exit ISABELLA and LUCIO.]
ANGELO. From thee; even from thy virtue! What’s this, what’s this? Is this her fault or mine? The tempter or the tempted, who sins most, ha? …. O, let her brother live! Thieves for their robbery have authority, When judges steal themselves. What, do I love her, That I desire to hear her speak again, And feast upon her eyes? What is’t I dream on? …. Never could the strumpet, With all her double vigour, art and nature, Once stir my temper; but this virtuous maid Subdues me quite. Ever till now When men were fond, I smil’d and wonder’d how.
[Exit.]
Facilitator notes
This scene lives in what is not said. Coach Players to notice the pauses — Angelo’s hesitations are as important as his words. Lucio’s asides work best when they feel genuinely private; experiment with him physically between Isabella and the audience rather than behind her. Debrief carefully; the scene raises questions about power worth sitting with.
Reflect together
- What does Angelo want at the start of this scene? What does he want by the end?
- How does Isabella’s argument change as the scene progresses?
- What is Lucio doing when he whispers coaching advice to Isabella?
- Notice the moment when the power shifts. Which line is it?
- Try the scene with Angelo never moving. What does that do to Isabella?
Wrap up
Now let’s share:
Two things I liked…
One thing I wonder…