Selfish Nun?
Comments(4) In Act 3 Scene 1 of Measure for Measure, Isabella shows more of her selfish intentions to protect herself and only herself. It is clear that to give a woman such an ultimatum as she has received is quite ghastly; however her argument against sleeping with Angelo in order to save her brothers life is not even remotely reasonable. In the beginning of Act 3 she is clearly trying to convince her brother that ultimately he must die for the sin he committed, however, she does it in a cunning way. She attempts to make Angelo sound very evil so that Claudio would never ask her to sleep with him. “Yes, brother, you may live:\ There is a devilish mercy in the judge,\If you’ll implore it, that will free your life,\But fetter you till death.” (3.1.63-66) In other words, she is using adjectives such as ‘devilish’ to convince her brother the act is shrewd without allowing him to come to that conclusion himself.
Isabella’s reaction to the Duke’s plan, later on in the Act is probably what convinces me of Isabella’s selfishness. The Duke thinks of a plan that involves another woman, Mariana, losing her virginity, instead of Isabella. Isabella makes so many arguments about how sinful it is to have sex before marriage throughout the first few Acts, however, here she is more than willing to allow another woman lose her maidenhood. Isabella’s reaction proves that her virginity is worth protecting more so than any other woman’s.
Based on the conversation between the Duke and Isabella, I do not see any line or indication which points to the fact that Isabella finds her own virginity more precious than another’s.
The Duke tells her of Mariana who was betrothed to Angelo, he had left her when she lost her brother and her dowry. She is still awaiting his return. The Duke urges Isabella to give Mariana what she rightfully yearns for, her love Angelo. “It is a rupture that you may easily heal, and the cure of it not only saves your brother, but keeps you from dishonor in doing so.” (3.1.239) “If the encounter (sexual intercourse between Mariana and Angelo) acknowledge itself hereafter, it may compel him to her recompense:…” (3.1.256)
Based on the textual evidence in Act 3 Scene 1, Isabella agrees to the Duke’s plot in good intention, 1. Save her brother, 2. Compel Angelo to do what he had promised to do, marry Mariana.
As far as my understanding goes for this time period, Mariana is betrothed to Angelo (despite his false accusations) so their union is not a sin same as Isabella spending a random night with a strange man.
And Isabella’s virtue to be traded for life was never an option for Claudio anyway. It’s her virtue, it belongs to her alone and it is not an object for dealing/ trading. Even in 21st century it is a shameful prospect for a man to trade his sister’s virginity for his life, I cannot imagine it being any different in Shakespeare’s time period.
I too, am inclined to read Isabel with more mercy.
Given the attitude of the day (evidently), a woman’s value is viewed in terms of her status in relation to men.
As the Duke says to Mariana, “Why, you are nothing then: neither maid, widow, nor / wife?”(but that’s not until act 5 scene 1, line 177)
This line reminded me of all those ladies in Richard III being rendered powerless and redundant along with each successive demise of their fathers, husbands, and progeny.
What little social autonomy women are allowed seems to be in a liminal state, at best, that of their chaste maindenhood (recall Portia before marriage).
Were Angelo to deflower Isabel,she would essentially cease to exist (hasn’t she offered instead to be gladly put to death in place of her brother?)
As for poor Mariana, fickle Angelo has plucked her from one liminal state and placed her into another, but lamentable one. Her autonomy is apparently irretrievably lost in the wake of Angelo’s broken oath. Although I’m kind of creeped out by the Duke’s shenanigans and duplicity, the bed trick is thus far presented as the only way to restore to her any identity of value.
I don’t have much to say other than, I agree that Isabella seemed selfish. I feel that her willing to pull a switcheroo with Mariana because Mariana has a ‘right’ to sleep with Angelo is a scapegoat. I believe that Isabella felt relieved to hear of Mariana’s existence, so that she would be free of having to do the deed. That to me isn’t God-like. She justified her selfish decision by considering the fact that in the past, Angelo and Mariana were to be married. I mean, I figured that maybe Isabella could repent or pray for forgiveness after having sexual relations to keep her brother alive, although I do see how Isabella would be disgraced after. STILL THE BED TRICK WAS WRONG. I find myself wondering why Isabella didn’t consider another avenue…an avenue that wouldn’t have jeopardized the virginity of another girl.
I think “selfish” is a very unpredictable and very subjective word, today she might look selfish as hell, who knows in her time what kind adjective fit it?