Kit A.

Nadado English 382 Response Paper Measure for Measure Shakespeares Measure for Measure portrays perhaps one of the most austere and unrepentant characters of Shakespeares creation. Angelo, in the absence of the Duke takes the form of law and justice. Mercy was set aside and pardon became impossible during Angelos temporary reign. Angelos severe regard of justice hinders him the compassion that comes with mercy and therefore, dehumanizes himself. Angelo dehumanizes himself by imposing strict justice and denying mercy to the people; he further dehumanizes himself because of his inability to exhibit bodily appetites and emotions as observed by his people. At the beginning of the play, Angelos strict adherence to justice strips him of mercy and renders him inhuman. Angelo seems to be determined to function as the law in the absence of the Duke. At the beginning, Angelo seems to be bent only in following exactly what the Duke directs: to impose justice and prevent future problems where the rod becomes more mocked than feared (1.3.27). Angelo then, who is labeled as a man of stricture(1.3.12), is the perfect choice to implement justice and prevent this mockery of the law present in the society. This is a feat that the Duke himself cannot seem to achieve at the beginning since the Duke lacks Angelos strictness. However, Angelo focuses solely in the concept of justice, disregarding mercy, and dehumanizes himself in the process. By disregarding mercy, Angelo separates justice from humanity. This is evident in Angelos response to Isabellas pleas. Angelo states, It is the law, not I, condemn your brother(2.2.85). Angelo defines law in this statement as impersonal and purely reliant on justice. With this separation of justice and humanity, Angelo strips himself of mercy, a much needed human trait, thus stripping himself of humanity. Angelo is further dehumanized by his lack of feeling as perceived by the people around him. The Duke recognizes this trait as he describes Angelo as a person scarce confess that his blood flows or that his appetite is more to bread than stone (1.3.51 -53). The Dukes description implies that Angelo rarely admits any sign of bodily appetites. This inability to feel such bodily appetites gives Angelo an inhuman character. Lucio feels the same way against Angelo. Lucio mockingly calls Angelo a man with snow broth as blood and a man who never feels the wanton stings and motions of the sense (1.3.58-59). Once again, Angelo is portrayed as inhuman because of his inability to feel and exhibit such emotions. Angelo strips himself of humanity because of his inability to feel. Truly, Angelo is portrayed as inhuman in his efforts to champion justice. This strict championing of justice renders him unable to extend mercy, a value that humanizes justice. Mercy also allows

humans to empathize with another. Because Angelo chooses to be void of such value, he becomes unfeeling and cold. This further dehumanizes him in the eyes of people.