I remember listening to Mr. Fracé refer to each of the characters as having their own unique flaws. While I watched the play a second time, I thought upon how each character could have their own distinct set of flaws but hit on the conclusion that the Duke and Isabella are linked by the same: pride.
The Duke
The Duke’s pride is evident: he wants to be in control. I have heard Dr. Jerome mention that her reasoning for the Duke’s plot incognito was to set up a test of Angelo’s meddle, supposing that, if Angelo were successful, the Duke could transfer power to him. Accepting this view adds dimension to the Duke’s pride: although such a test acknowledges some insecurity, it also [to me] reveals a serious ego – the Duke elevating himself beyond the role of the respected leader to the status of the supreme justice (similar to that which Isabella attempts to invoke upon Angelo). From his position of removal, the Duke could “look down” upon Angelo and his doings in Vienna from an anonymous position of personal power – putting the Duke in control. Furthermore, once things begin going awry he can use this anonymous power to play the meddling Friar – again allowing him the control he requires.
The Duke’s position of leverage and his ego are what lead to the biased scales by which the play weighs one measure for another. Because the Duke manages to keep himself within control (in his own way) throughout most of the play, the outcome of the moral fiasco surrounding Angelo, Claudio and Isabella plays out to the Duke’s design. The Duke is able to obtain his version of justice – which doesn’t seem to answer all offenses with the same level hand one expects. However, the Duke’s arbitrary power and his pride – wanting to see things happen his own way – is what forces the play to resolve as it does.
Isabella
Isabella’s version of pride leads her to self-preservation. Her understandable yet somewhat stubborn rejection of Angelo despite her brother suggests that she places her fallible personal virtue (and virginity) over the life of her kin. This self-importance speaks pride and preservationism. In that vein, the best way to ensure self-preservation is… control. Isabella wants to have mastery of her fate. She eagerly plays ball with the meddling Friar (even though his plot crosses more moral lines than sacrificing her virginity would!) because it feeds her pride and gives her a thrill. Conspiring with the Friar gives her a proxy through which she can control her life and ensure that she didn’t have to sacrifice her precious self. Even though she states “i am led by you,” I suspect she allows herself to be led because it brings her the control she desires.
Isabella and the Duke
The Duke and Isabella’s shared self-importance and need for control are what I think leads the Duke to chose Isabella as his successor. Going back to Dr. Jerome’s view, given that the Duke is seeking to transfer power and that Angelo has failed [miserably], he is now searching for another successor. This is where I see the Duke’s pride return. I think the he wants to see his reign continued by someone like him – an expression of his pride. He sees himself in Isabella and is thus naturally drawn to her. Furthermore, Isabella’s ‘enthusiastic’ participation in his devices (read: she never really mentions any of the serious moral questions he ignores) helps fulfill the Duke’s self-worth, making him more likely to be well-disposed towards her. This could explain his choice at the level of pride. Another explanation could be romance, but I will choose to avoid that.
Furthermore, if one were to return to the Duke’s position as arbiter of justice and chief moralizer, his choice of Isabella to (presumably) continue his reign could strike deep cuts against Angelo at a personal level. The Duke is probably disgusted by Angelo’s transgressions, especially if Angelo is figured to originally been chosen to take over. Therefore, the perfect method of retaliation against Angelo would be for the Duke to award control to Isabella; Angelo having thought himself high in the Duke’s esteem would, although personally destroyed by his undoing, would be further wounded by having his place of esteem handed over to the very one he wronged. I have to argue this because the Duke could have easily transferred power to Escalus, who remained loyal to the Duke and committed no wrongdoing. However, the Duke chooses Isabella. What seems to go further is that choice - Isabella OVER Escalus. Considering the traditional Elizabethan role of the woman as a subordinate, the transfer of power to a female over a (barring age) perfectly eligible male (Escalus) represents an even bigger snub to Angelo – that the Duke would rather see a woman rule than he.
Thus although from my perspective the Duke’s choice of Isabella is primarily driven by his pride (or love?), his choice could even be elevated to a personal measure against Angelo.
It might be “Measure for Measure”, but who measures the Measures?
The Duke.
-Peter
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