The Duke AO1/AO5 Pairs

Question 1

The justification for the Duke’s abandonment of Vienna and deputisation of Angelo to restore order and reduce licence + critical quotation (name of critic)

The quote shows a sense of self-understanding that he is the cause of Vienna’s surfeit of brothels and general lascivious nature, but also that he may not have the strength or will to fix the issue himself.

This can be viewed positively, but also may be seen as another sign of the Duke’s laziness as an “o’ergrown lion” who does not go out to hunt, as well as his desire to be loved (seen in his dramatic conversation with Lucio, who criticised the Duke while in his Friar disguise) and not “To do in slander”, as he says to Friar Thomas (I think)

Answer 1

AO2) “twas my fault to give the people scope,/ T’would be my tryanny to strike and gall them/ For what I bid them do”

AO5) he is “more absorbed in his own plots and gravity than anxious for the welfare of the state” {Hazlitt}

(1,3)

Question 2

The Duke (dressed as a Friar)’s advice in Claudio’s preparation for ostensibly inexorable death

Critical Quote (to evaluate and refute) + named critic

Answer 2

AO2: “Be absolute for death; either death or life/Shall thereby be the sweeter”

AO5: The Duke “represents a divine principle of justice and mercy” (Wilson Knight)

Question 3

When Lucio tells the Duke (disguised) of Angelo’s draconian rule and stringency on fornication, he argues that it is fallacious as it is ‘impossible to extirp it quite’. He propounds that it is a commonly experienced desire for all, likened to ‘eating’ and ‘drinking’, which irritates the Duke as he is implied therein. When Escalus gives his thoughts however, he realises the extent to which ‘power’ has changed Angelo’s purpose, as Escalus recalls having been forced to call Angelo “Justice itself”.

Quote + Critic (named)

Answer 3

AO2: “Twice treble shame on Angelo/To weed my vice and let his grow!” (3,1)

AO5: “The Duke sports his monk’s robe primarily to allow him access to his people’s most private thoughts” (Reynolds)

Question 4

The Duke (superficially) showing himself to be gracious in saving Isabella’s brother for the goodness of the act itself, while in the same breath/sentence asking Isabella abruptly to become betrothed to him

+ Criticism of the Duke (named critic)

Answer 4

AO2: “If he be like your brother, for his sake/ Is he pardon’d; and, for your lovely sake, / Give me your hand and say you will be mine” (5,1)

AO5: “image-mongering” (H.R. Coursen)

Question 5

Within Duke’s monologue, wherein he criticises Angelo and professes correlation between being ‘old and rich’ with certain qualities

Critic who speaks to the nature of the Duke (which accordingly speaks to his prohpetic tendencies)

Answer 5

AO1: Thou hast neither heat, affection,limb, nor beauty/ To make thy riches pleasant

AO5: “It has been suggested that Vincentio is a kind of Christ-figure”
“…who dons religious robes”
“…to go among the people and do good works” (Reynolds)