Measure for Measure Justice and Judgment Quotes Page 3
(Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Riverside edition.
| Quote #7 How would you be, |
Here, Isabella echoes Christ's Sermon on the Mount: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with that judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure you meet, it shall be measured unto you again" (Matthew 7:1-2). In other words, don't be so quick to judge other people because nobody is perfect and everyone is subject to God's judgment.
When Angelo propositions Isabella two scenes later, we can see just how much this concept applies to the corrupt deputy.
| Quote #8 Be you content, fair maid; |
When Isabella pleads for Claudio's life, Angelo takes refuge behind the "law" and acts as though he has no choice in the matter when he says that "it is the law, not I" that condemns Claudio.
Still, we know this is a load of bull, because, back in the play's opening scene, Duke Vincentio gave Angelo permission to be flexible when handing down sentences. (See 1.1.4 above.)
| Quote #9 'An Angelo for Claudio, death for death!' |
When the Duke sentences Angelo to death for what he's done to Claudio and Isabella, he embraces a kind of "eye for an eye" system of justice that suggests Claudio's punishment should be equal to (measure with) the suffering he's caused.
