Measure for Measure: Angelo & love

Measure for Measure shows a large amount of irony and satire where Angelo is effectively asking Isabella to do exactly what he is trying to outlaw in Vienna. By using sex as a bargain for something, Angelo is effectively asking to buy Isabella by not excecuting her brother, thereby prostituting her. Brothels and prositution are ironically the activities that Angelo has been ordered to outlaw by the Duke, and this order is the reason Claudio has been sentenced to death in the first place.

It is arguable that Shakespeare therefore uses Angelo to satire the leaders of this time period, criticising them for being hypocritical and using their power to do whatever they want rather than using it for good.

Shakespeare satires the negative view of love through the play Measure for Measure and Angelo especially through setting a stark contrast between Claudio and Juliett's innocent love, where marriage is planned, and Angelo's sexual love for Isabella. Angelo obviously treats both these types of love and relationship as equally sinful as he imprisons Claudio for getting Juliett pregnant, and accuses himself and Isabella of being sinfully tempted 'corrupt with virtuous season'.

The juxtaposition between the words 'corrupt' and 'virtuous' present Angelo's view of love to be twisted by comparing these two traits.

Angelo represents the idea that no one can be pure of love, through the way he loves Isabella whilst is imprisoning others for loving.