Act 1 : The Duke and his Surrogates
What can you glean from those lines (and Angelo’s response in 48-51) about what the Duke requires of his deputy? About what government requires or entails, implicitly or explicitly? Write down a few notes from your discussion, and include any key words and phrases from those lines that give you the impression.
What do you think a Duke’s role would be in the city of Vienna (different in various ways from London, England, but also a cipher for it)? Consult your handout on English class structure, the Duke’s speech in the aforementioned lines, and in the Duke’s comments to Escalus in 1.1.3-22, to talk through what kind of authority-figure a Duke is––and therein what Shakespeare seems to be doing with his character.
Now consider Angelo’s first (48-51) and second (61-62) requests. What do you notice about the dynamic between the Duke and Deputy with respect to their language and tone? Write down a few notes from your discussion, and include any key words and phrases from those lines that give you the impression.
Finally, discuss Escalus’s response to the Duke at Angelo’s departure and the request he makes thereafter; given the Duke’s response, what you wrote above about his response to Angelo, and what we read through in class Monday (the comments the Duke makes about Escalus in his opening speech), what do you think audiences are suppose to make of the Duke and the two men who are first and second in command in his absence?
The Duke and his Surrogates, Scene 2
In 1.1.60-84, we learn of some “change indeed in the commonwealth” (84); what has Angelo done, exactly, and how? What is the mechanism by which he has instituted change and what specific changes will occur? In addition to notes, jot down some key words and phrases from the play along with the line number.
In 1.2.93-96, we see Angelo’s changes in progress; what does Claudio’s treatment suggest about Angelo’s methods? Write down a few notes from your discussion, and include any key words and phrases from those lines that give you the impression.
In 1.2.129-130, Claudio lays out some possible explanations for Angelo’s governance. What does he offer, and how, specifically, does he make suggestions? What images, metaphors, similes does he use? What do these images suggest about Angelo and his personality?
Consider together what Claudio claims between 1.2.98-100, wherein he concludes “yet still ‘tis just.” What is the antecedent for the pronoun “it” in “it” and “’tis” in 99 and 100? That is, what exactly is just? And, given what you know about Claudio’s fate and his crime (1.2.46-64 and 110-126, respectively) and Angelo’s status/motives, do you agree with Claudio that “‘tis just”? Why/Why not? What does Claudio’s particular use of language encourage audiences to think?
The Duke and his Surrogates, Scene 3
Look back to the Duke’s comments in 1.1.68-72. What do we learn about him there?
Consider as well 1.2.146-147, lines in Claudio and Lucio invoke the Duke. Why might Shakespeare give us those details? What do you think the effects might be on the audience?
Now read through 1.3.1-48, paying close attention each speech from the Duke between those lines. For each passage, list any new information he divulges as well as information we might have known already but gets repeated with fine detail or more explanation. What images, metaphors, similes does he use in each speech and to what end? What do these images suggest about Vincentio and his character and position? Be as specific as possible and include key words and phrases (along with specific line numbers) in your notes.
The Duke and his Surrogates, Scene 4
In 1.4.50-85, Lucio invokes the Duke and his deputy Angelo. How do his comments add nuance to what we’ve learned about the Duke and Angelo from previous scenes? What images, metaphors, similes does he use? What do these images suggest about the Duke and Angelo and how subjects in Vienna see them?
Consider as well the Duke’s comments in 1.3.50-54. How do these comments affect how we feel about the Duke? Do these comments to the Friar give us a better sense of what motivates his absence and transfer of power? What aspects are explained for us? What aspects remain ambiguous?
Now revisit 1.4.75-90. What plan does Lucio offer? What is the logic he deploys in relaying that plan? Given what Lucio says of the Duke and what we know of him from other instances in which others offer commentary on his character, is this plan sound? Given what we know of Isabella from 1.2.150-164 and her comments at the beginning of 1.4 to Francisca, what can audiences expect to happen? Why do you think so? Include any key words and phrases from the play (and line numbers) that give you the impression.