Dr Samuel Johnson: Isabella’s feelings when she first sees Claudio
‘It is strange that Isabella is not made to express gratitude, wonder or joy at the sight of her brother’
G. Wilson Knight: Human responsibility of the Duke and being a father figure to children
‘The Duke’s sense of human responsibility is delightful throughout; he is a kindly father and all the rest are his children’
G. Wilson Knight: Authority of a teacher through disguise
‘The Duke expresses the authority of a teacher through his disguise as a friar’
G. Wilson Knight: Angelo not evil but ensnared by good
‘Angelo has not been overcome by evil. He has been ensnared by good’
E.M.W. Tillyard: Independence of Isabella in first half of play
‘There is no more independent character than the Isabella in the first half of the play’
John Mortimer: Angelo cold blooded judge
‘Angelo is a cold blooded judge’
