Printable View
You assume that because the Duke gave Angelo the position, he thought him a virtious man. Where is your text-based evidence? Perhaps the Duke put Angelo in power to see him fail and give himself a new start. The last scene clearly shows a decisive and new Duke.
These are very good comments, especially concerning the themes of justice vs. mercy; the Law, human nature, etc. I do agree that Angelo's fall was "big"; however i think it is not so much because he was known to be good (though this of course plays a part) but because of his severity in pursuing the matter or the fault in others while at the same time falling so fully into it himself. One could be more forgiving if he, having fallen -as the Duke points out- he would have been more understanding and lenient concerning the faults in another person. Yet even though he succumbs to his act (and determinedly too at a later point), he still deceitfully sends to have Claudion hanged against his promise to Isabella. I think the main issue concerning Angelo and the play as a whole. Is this idea: Be careful how you judge, because the measure you use will be measured to you. You've got a log in your eye so why do you so harshly judge your brother who has a speck in his? (Matthew 7:2 paraphrased).
I agree with 'Duke?'. You assume Angelo to be a virtuous man. When the Duke organises his disguise as a friar, he tells of how Vienna has changed for the worse and that it is not possible for him to enforce the laws when it was he who let them slide. Angelo could have been given the position to enforce the laws of the state. Or the Duke could have been teaching Angelo the lesson of humanity. Only through one's own mistakes can they appreciate the lessons behind them. In the final scene Angelo acknowledges his wrong doing and asks to suffer the same punishment he delt Claudio. Death. Through his own failures Angelo can see the true meaning of Justice and Mercy.
Measure for Measure is a complex play that deals with many issues rather than focusing on just one, such as justice v mercy. The Law, human nature, the body and power are all issues woven into the play. The fact that these are morally challenging without fitting into the categories of a comedy or tradgedy make it a problem play. About Angelo, we know that he is a virtuous and pious man otherwise the Duke would not have given him that position in the state. (II.iv.155-158) When he does fall, it is so large because of good man he was, and then one sin leads to another. It was unfortunate because it appears that the one flaw he had came to him and in such a large way - the 'a saint was sent to capture a saint' idea. Hope this helps. Good luck!
the duke knew that Angelo was not virtuous, he knew about Mariana..
Many people want to read something subtle or mysterious behind what a character says, rather than just (at least for the moment) accept what he says at face value. The Duke says in that quick speech before hightailing it out of town (so everyone's led to believe) that Angelo has all the qualities necessary to clean up the mess. Why not just accept that, since those are the words Shake. came up with. The Duke is not playing a trick on Angelo; this is no mousetrap situation. The Duke just can't manage the riotous activities in his town, can't take it any more and needs a vacation, and is giving one of his potential fix-er-uppers an honest shot at it. Angelo doesn't even want the job and doesn't think he is qualified for it, as I recall. The Duke comes back to observe the results of his strategy, not to be a puppeteer with people's lives or point a finger at Angelo.
Also, this thing about Mariana. We don't really know much about it, except about a missing dowry. So Angelo has fiscal interests -- hardly the first time since cave-man and cave-woman days. So what, what's the big deal? So he changed his mind; doesn't that happen about 10,000 times every day in this country? Hasn't anyone ever run away after walking up to the alter and hearing those words? -- see "It Happened One Night" and "Three Men and a Baby" -- that is no crime.
Angelo has other "vulnerabilities" (Hamlet's "one particular fault") but that's something else, and may not have even surfaced unless he was put in this quagmire, plus a little fate thrown in to boot.