Isabella And The Decision In Measure For Measure By Shakespeare

“Measure for Measure” is one of Shakespeare’s most classic plays. Each character holds some sort of moral dilemma that needs to be solved and achieved with an end goal, which doesn’t necessarily always have to be a good outcome. Various characters throughout the play are forced to make drastic decisions based on their religious backgrounds [Catholic Protestants played a immersed role in the 17th century]. It seemed like there was a central theme in the play, which was morality (didn’t always have to be based off religion). Isabella was one of those characters who faced a moral dilemma that she had to make based on what she felt was right and deemed by God to make, even though she had her doubts along the way. Naturally, the human instinct is to present a certain situation with a doubtful scope, because the outcome is not always a good one. Isabella’s decision to choose not to sleep with Lord Angelo to save her brother was a choice what she (and her religion) considered to be bad / sinful, which made her refuse. But, as any human being on this planet, she even held her doubts about this decision. She made the ultimate choice not to sacrifice her virginity, because it went against her religious values and it would have conflicted with the country’s laws of fornication. But, considering that her brother’s life was on the line, she would have easily gone to bats for him, so there was that option of having sex with Lord Angelo in order to get Claudio off trial with a pardon. The counterargument of her decision was that if she freed her brother sacrificing her virginity, then she would have gone against her religion and her moral values. But she chose not to do so.

Isabella made the decision to not sacrifice her virginity, because it ultimately went against her religious values. Near the end of the Act 2 of the play, Isabella and Angelo are talking about what her ultimate decision would be as far as the sex in exchange for Claudio’s release from prison. “As much for my poor brother… under the terms of death, the impression of keep whips I’ld wear as rubies, and strip myself to death, as to a bed, that longing have been sick for, ere I’ld yield my body up to shame” (Shakespeare 2.4.99-104) Even though that she had an option to choose to give up her virginity, she made a decision that she would not give it up. She wouldn’t strip her clothes for someone who has been longing for her. This clearly means that she is not giving up her virginity to Angelo. Also, in the very next act (Act 3), Claudio and Isabella are talking. Claudio is clearly trying to tell his sister to have sex to free him. “Be ready, Claudio, for your death tomorrow” (Shakespeare 3.1.108). Isabella does not make any real promises to her brother to have sex with Angelo, so she just reminds him of the news to expect his death. She knew in her mind she wasn’t going to fall through with the plan, but she just wanted to anticipate the goal, just in case if she did change her mind. Deep down in her heart though, due to her religion, her instinct told her to not to fall through with the plan. She has some sort of regard for the sin that she “would have” committed had she decided to lose her virginity, but she ultimately chose religion over family values. She would rather keep her vow to God than to keep her vow to her own brother, so to speak.

Secondly, Isabella made the decision to not sacrifice her virginity, because the decision would have conflicted with the country’s laws of fornication (which was outlawed, basically). It would have caused corruption within Vienna law, because if Isabella was “allowed” to do have sex under circumstances, then other citizens would have to be allowed to do the same, without any further punishment and jailing time. If Isabella had fell through with the plan, then it would serve as a critique on the people higher up, who would bend the law on certain instances. This is unjust and unfair. “I know your virtue hath a licence in’t, which seems a little fouler than it is, to pluck on others” (Shakespeare 2.4.56-58). Isabella is talking about how Lord Angelo’s power is not used correctly. She believes that his wickedness in order to get what he wants, ruling out all other solutions around him for his own personal gain and pleasure, isn’t correct as far as the law is concerned. “Ha! Little honour to be much believed. And most pernicious purpose!” (Shakespeare 2.4.61-62). Isabella knows he plans to deceive others, in order to truly go after his personal gain of fleshly sex and lustful dreams. All in all, if she would be allowed to fornicate with no punishment, then everyone in the country who did the same punishment would have to be freed from prison and pardoned from trials.

On the contrary, if Isabella decided to fall through and have sex with Angelo to get Claudio off jail on a pardon, she would have gone against her religious and moral values. Intrinsically, family would go to against the grain to help each other out, no matter what obstacle or path that each person would face. In this story, you see Isabella presented with a task. Claudio is about to be put to death for having sex before marriage and getting his wife pregnant. Lord Angelo’s unrelentlessness doesn’t let up on any issue, whether it be big or small. He wants to execute Claudio for the punishment. Claudio and Isabella talked once before his execution about how Angelo wanted sex in exchange for his release. Claudio agreed to it at first, that she should do it to keep his brother hopeful for his release out of prison. “The damned’st body to invest and cover… if I would yield him my virginity… He would give’t thee, from this rank offence… O were it but my life, I’ld throw it down for your deliverance” (Shakespeare 3.1.103-05, 108-10, 112-14). She makes it known that it’s a bad sin and something that she is not proud of, but if need be, she would go against her religious values to save her brother. The conversation quickly turns sour, because Claudio believes that if she commits the sin, (by naturistic value) she is doing a good deed and a favor to her family, so to speak. Isabella was not in agreeance with this way of thinking. “O you beast… wilt thou be made a man out of my vice? Is’t not a kind of incest, to take life from thine own sister’s shame … die, perish … I’ll pray a thousand prayers for thy death. No word to save thee” (Shakespeare 3.1.149-60). Isabella confirmed that she would rather her brother die for his lack of awareness of the sin she would commit in order to fulfill his freedom. Ultimately, it is decided that Isabella would not fall through with the plan.

In conclusion, Isabella’s moral decision to not free her brother was made in measure of religious values. Giving up her virginity to a heartless man would have only added to the level of disappointment and a vow to God that she would break to never have any sex before marriage. Her brother Claudio wanted to be free, so he wanted Isabella to fall through with the plan. He felt like family was supposed to have an intrinsic goal to help each other. What he didn’t know was that Isabella was not obligated to go out of her comfort zone and her moralistic values to achieve his goal. Isabella had the option to do so, but she refused, and she stuck with that throughout the play. Her strong will and her critiques of Lord Angelo (men in power / with authority) and Claudio made her stand strong and stick by her decision.

Works Cited

1. Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare’s Measure For Measure. Auburn, CA :Audio Partners, 2003.