Scene II explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality

  The Duke's disguise as a friar allows him to observe the hypocrisy of others, particularly Angelo, who appears severe but is later revealed to be morally corrupt. Lucio's slander of the Duke also contrasts with the Duke's true character.

• Power and Authority

  The Duke's absence and Angelo's strict enforcement of the law highlight the abuse of power. Escalus's mercy contrasts with Angelo's severity, and the Duke's plan to manipulate events demonstrates his ultimate authority.

• Sexuality and Morality

  The conversation about lechery, Claudio's crime of impregnating Juliet, and Lucio's slanderous remarks about the Duke's sexual behavior all underscore the play's focus on sexual morality and its regulation.

Characters to notice

• Duke Vincentio

  Disguised as a friar, the Duke engages in conversation with Lucio, defends his own reputation, and later learns of Claudio's situation. He devises a plan to use Mariana to expose Angelo's hypocrisy.

• Lucio

  Lucio slanders the Duke, criticizes Angelo's severity, and informs the disguised Duke about Claudio's arrest and sentence. He also reveals his own past with Mistress Kate Keepdown.

• Escalus

  Escalus orders Mistress Overdone to prison and confirms that Claudio must die. He speaks with the disguised Duke about the Duke's character and Claudio's preparation for death.

• Mistress Overdone

  Mistress Overdone is arrested by Escalus's orders. She protests, claiming Lucio informed against her and that he fathered a child with Mistress Kate Keepdown.

• Claudio

  Claudio is mentioned as being condemned to die for impregnating Juliet. The disguised Duke has visited him and reports that Claudio is now resolved to die.

• Provost

  The Provost accompanies Escalus and confirms Mistress Overdone's long career as a bawd. He also notes that the friar (the Duke) has visited Claudio.

Key passages

• “A little more lenity to lechery would do no harm in him: something too crabbed that way, friar.”

  A bit more mercy towards sexual misconduct wouldn't hurt him; he's too harsh in that regard, friar.

  Lucio criticizes Angelo's strictness regarding lechery, suggesting a need for leniency.

• “Why, what a ruthless thing is this in him, for the rebellion of a codpiece to take away the life of a man!”

  How cruel of him to execute a man for a sexual transgression!

  Lucio condemns Angelo's severity in sentencing Claudio to death for impregnating Juliet.

• “He who the sword of heaven will bear Should be as holy as severe; Pattern in himself to know, Grace to stand, and virtue go; More nor less to others paying Than by self-offences weighing.”

  Those who wield divine authority must be as holy as they are strict, judging themselves by the same standards they apply to others.

  The Duke reflects on the need for moral consistency in those who enforce the law.

• “Twice treble shame on Angelo, To weed my vice and let his grow!”

  Three times the shame on Angelo for punishing my faults while ignoring his own!

  The Duke condemns Angelo's hypocrisy in prosecuting others while hiding his own sins.

• “Craft against vice I must apply: With Angelo to-night shall lie His old betrothed but despised; So disguise shall, by the disguised, Pay with falsehood false exacting, And perform an old contracting.”

  I must use cunning to counter vice: tonight, Angelo will sleep with his former betrothed, Mariana, whom he abandoned. Thus, through disguise, falsehood will repay falsehood and fulfill an old promise.

  The Duke outlines his plan for the bed-trick to expose Angelo's hypocrisy and force him to honor his commitment to Mariana.