Act IV, Scenes i-ii
Summary
The Duke visits Mariana and is there when Isabella arrives. Isabella says that Angelo gave her
two keys and instructions to meet him in a garden. Angelo showed her the way twice. She told
Angelo that a servant will be accompanying her, thinking that she is coming to speak about her
brother, so she cannot stay long.
Duke introduces Mariana to Isabella and tells them to discuss the plans together on their own.
They go for a walk, and when they return they have agreed on the plan. Isabella tells her to say
very little, but to be sure to tell him, "Remember now my brother," before she leaves. The Duke
tells Mariana that she is not committing a sin, since she and Angelo had a contract of marriage.
Meanwhile, back at the prison, the Provost asks Pompey if he will help execute Claudio and
another prisoner. If he does so, the charges against him will be dropped. Pompey agrees, and
the Provost introduces him to Abhorson, the executioner. Abhorson says that Pompey will
discredit the execution trade. Pompey agrees to be his helper, though, and Abhorson is told to
be ready at four o'clock the next day.
The Duke arrives, and the Provost asks if there is any hope of saving Claudio. The Duke says
that a pardon may arrive before morning. A messenger arrives, and the Duke says that it is
probably the pardon, but it contains instructions to execute Claudio by four o'clock and
Barnadine in the afternoon, and to send Claudio's head to Angelo by five.
The Duke asks who Barnadine is, and the provost tells him that he is a Bohemian who has been
in prison for nine years. The Duke asks whether he is repentant, and the Provost says that he is
as reckless and carefree as he has always been. The Provost says that he does not care that he is
in prison, and has not been affected by news of his upcoming execution.
The Duke asks for Claudio's execution to be postponed four days. The Provost asks how he
could do such a thing, considering the precision of Angelo's instructions. The Duke tells the
Provost to send the head of Barnadine in place of Claudio's. The Provost argues that Angelo
will notice it is the wrong person, but the Duke tells him to shave the head and beard of
Barnadine's head to disguise it.
Commentary
The Duke's schemes are developed more fully, and here we really see him directing his
followers according to precise instructions. He tells Isabella and Mariana what to do with
assuredness, although the plan could clearly fail, considering the intimacy of the proposed
contact between Angelo and Mariana. The issue is not discussed clearly, nor is the question of
why it is legal for the act to take place truly explored. After all, Claudio and Juliet had a similar
contract of marriage to Angelo and Mariana's, and in that case both were willing. Here only one
party is willing, and yet it is considered lawful. Perhaps it is the thought of tricking Angelo
which makes the scheme seem appropriate here.
Mariana, when asked if she approves, answers that she will carry out the scheme if the friar
thinks it is all right. The Duke assumed all along that Mariana would be willing to have sexual
intercourse with Angelo, despite his hateful behavior towards her. The suggestion is that she
can be redeemed only through this sexual act, because otherwise she remains a discarded
woman instead of a wife.
The Duke also arranges a scheme involving the provost and the executions which are to take
place. He is willing to sacrifice the life of Barnadine but wishes to preserve the life of Angelo.
This implies a value judgment on life itself; one life is seen as worthwhile while the other is
not. These statements of balance and equality figure largely in the play as a whole, as prospects
are weighed against each other. The whole concept of "Measure still for Measure" (IV.i.414)
centers around appropriate punishments and retributions.
Act IV, Scenes iii-vi
Summary
Pompey remarks that he is as well acquainted with the prison as with Mistress Overdone's
brothel. He adds that many of the same people frequent both places, and lists them.
Abhorson enters, telling Pompey to bring Barnadine. Barnadine tells them that he has been
drinking all night and does not want to die today. The Duke comes to offer prayer, and
Barnadine holds firm, saying that he will not die.
The Provost tells the Duke that a notorious pirate, of about Claudio's age, died in prison the
night before, and that they can use his head instead of Barnadine's. The Duke says that it "is an
accident that heaven provides" (IV.iii.76). He tells the provost to hide both Barnadine and
Claudio and send the head immediately to Angelo.
Isabella enters, asking if the pardon has arrived. The Duke tells her that her brother has already
been executed, his head sent to Angelo. Isabella wants to go to Angelo, but the Duke tells her
that she will not be admitted. Instead, he says, she should wait until the Duke's return and have
Angelo punished by his superior. He gives her a letter to take to Friar Peter.
Lucio enters and tells Isabella that he is mourning her brother's death. He also says that if the
Duke had been in Vienna, Claudio would not have died. Isabella exits, and Lucio begins to talk
about the Duke's relations with women again. The Duke says that he does not want to hear more
stories. Lucio tells him that he was once before the Duke for impregnating a woman, but that he
denied it because he did not want to marry her.
Angelo and Escalus discuss the Duke's letter. They do not understand why they have to meet
him at the gates. The letter also orders them to proclaim that anyone with a complaint should
present a petition in the street, ostensibly to ensure that no one lodges a complaint against
Angelo later on. Escalus leaves, and Angelo wonders what Isabella might say. He hopes that
she will be too modest to tell what has happened. He also says that he would have let Claudio
go, but was worried about later revenge.
The Duke arrives outside the town, in his own clothes, with Friar Peter. He tells the friar to
deliver some letters, and also to bring Flavius to him. Varrius enters, and they walk together.
Isabella and Mariana are standing by the city gate. Isabella is nervous about accusing Angelo,
but Mariana tells her to obey the Duke and the Friar. Friar Peter approaches and tells them that
he will find a place for them near the Duke.
Commentary
Things become more muddled just as they are on the verge of clarification. The Duke's plans
are carried out, and he instigates a new scheme to save Claudio and Barnadine both. Barnadine
refuses to be executed, perhaps even sensing that the Duke and the provost see his life as
worthless. His assertion that he will not die is a statement of the sanctity of life in general. The
convenient death of the pirate matches the convenient existence of Mariana in its incredibility,
and the Duke's attitude encourages us simply to follow along as all the other characters do.
Angelo emerges as quite an oblivious figure, as he is tricked by Mariana's substitution for
Isabella and a pirate's substitution for Claudio all in the space of one night and morning. Here
Shakespeare truly demands that we suspend our disbelief.
The Duke's lie to Isabella is undoubtedly unkind, causing her great distress and anger. There are
some possible motivations for this; perhaps, for instance, he believed that she would not argue
passionately against Angelo once the point became irrelevant. However, it is likely that he
wants to surprise her dramatically before asking for her hand in marriage.
The Duke does not immediately reveal his dual identity, still enjoying the intrigue which only
he fully comprehends. To some extent, he is playing with his subjects, making them believe
that they act of their own volition while manipulating them. He is also testing them, perhaps to
determine how worthy they are of their positions. Isabella no doubt falls into this examination
of virtue, and she passes by refusing Angelo's proposals and obeying the Duke and Friar
wholeheartedly.
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