What are Isabella’s charges against Angelo?
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Answer
What are Isabella’s charges against Angelo? (2020)
In William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Measure for Measure” (1623), Isabella brings serious charges against Lord Angelo in Act V. She accuses him not only of abusing his power but also of hypocrisy, lust, and deceit. Her speech in front of the Duke shows her courage, truthfulness, and deep sense of justice.
Abuse of Power: Isabella’s first charge is that Angelo used his official power wrongly. He condemned her brother Claudio to death for fornication, but later offered to save him only in exchange for her chastity. She cries to the Duke,
“Justice, justice, justice, justice!”
Her words show that Angelo’s authority became a tool of corruption, not law.
Hypocrisy and Lust: Isabella calls Angelo “a murderer, hypocrite, adulterous thief, and virgin-violator.” These words clearly describe her second charge. Angelo punished others for moral faults but secretly desired sin himself. His inner lust broke his outward image of purity. Thus, he appears as,
“…man, proud man,
Dressed in a little brief authority,”
He is blinded by power and pride.
Deceit and Cruelty: Isabella’s third charge is that Angelo deceived her. She believed that he spared Claudio after her supposed surrender. But Angelo sent the warrant for her poor brother’s head. This action proves both deceit and heartless cruelty. She calls him a “pernicious caitiff deputy.” This phrase shows her anger and grief.
In short, through her brave accusations, Isabella exposes Angelo’s false virtue and moral corruption. Her charges reveal the central idea of the play: that justice without mercy becomes a form of cruelty and sin.