ISABELLA, THE SISTER TO CLAUDIO IN "Measure for Measure" is, according to Evangeline O'Connor in Who's Who and What's What is Shakespeare," "one of the noblest of Shakespeare's heroines."
When, as a novice in a convent is informed that her brother, Claudio, has been condemned to death for fornication, she pleads to intercede on his behalf with Angelo, the ducal deputy. He offers to save Claudio if Isabella surrenders her chastity to him. This reply horrifies her and even more so when Claudio agrees with this plan to save him.
Isabella then disguises herself and she goes to see Duke Vincentio himself. He, now disguised as Friar Lodowick, tells her to pretend to accept Angelo's proposal. However, Isabella's place in bed is taken by Mariana, a young lady who was once betrothed to Angelo.
In the end, both Isabella and Mariana both appeal to Duke Vincento for justice but he pretends not to recognise them until it is revealed that he was the mysterious Friar Lodowick. As a result, Angelo is immediately condemned to be executed. Mariana pleads for him and begs Isabella for support. Isabella, who still believes that her brother has been executed, kneels and begs Angelo for mercy.
In the end, the Duke appears as himself and resumes his position as the ruler of the city. He tells Angelo what has happened and orders him to marry Mariana. He also makes Isabella his new duchess and Claudio is freed to marry Juliet, his own love.
"Measure for Measure" (along with "Troilus & Cressida" and "Alls's Well That Ends Well") is often described as one of WS's 'problem plays' - problematic in the sense that while it is not a history or tragedy, it is certainly no comedy, even though everything works out in the end, marriage is involved and no-one is killed.
It is hard to identify with Isabella as she is often seen as a self-righteous and severe prude. Her decision that, "More than our brother is our chastity" is based on the Christian ideas of Shakespeare's time and is certainly out of step with modern thinking.
She is also seen as a hypocrite in that she accepts the 'bed-trick,' but this has been justified by some critics as her giving into her ruler, the Duke. She has also been castigated for agreeing to marry the Duke in the end (a typical denoument for a Comedy) but this action has been justified that as she is a novice she has to succumb to the decisions of a greater authority.
Anna Khalilulina as Isabella in a Russian production of the play.
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Next time: "Julius Caesar."
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