Duke's selfishness

Measure for Measure begins with the Duke temporarily handing over the ruler ship to Angelo. The play raises the question of what is the Duke’s reason and motivation for his leave of absence. Is he simply testing his people and Angelo? Is he doing it for the betterment of his country? Or did he have a more selfish motivation in mind? With the theme of disguises dominating the play can we really believe what anyone says?

In Act1.3 the Duke gives an explanation for his leave of absence and his choice of Angelo to be the ruler. The Duke tells a friar “We have strict statues and most biting laws, / The needful bits and curbs to headstrong weeds, / Which for fourteen years we have let slip” (1.3, 19-22). In this statement, the Duke knows he has been a passive ruler, letting people get away with too much. He later states why he gave Angelo the position. He states “I have on Angelo imposed the office, / Who may in th’ ambush of my name strike home, And yet my nature never in the fight/ Tallow in slander” (1.3, 40-43). This scene suggests the Duke is executing his plan for both the betterment of his country and to make himself look good. He is making Angelo do his dirty work, so he can come out looking great. The question becomes what is more important to him, the betterment of his country or his own reputation. Is it possible he just puts in the bit about bettering the country just for public perception? With the theme of disguises dominating the play I do not necessarily believe he is executing his plan to better the country, but rather to become a popular and liked ruler by his people. The Duke seems to set Angelo up to fail and what doesn’t happen the Duke makes happen while in disguise as a friar.

Over the next three acts, the Duke disguised as a friar causes havoc and contributes to the chaos the country is in. I think the Duke continues to cause chaos, to make the country look like it is in the worse shape it ever has been in, so he can come back and restore order. By restoring order and being in comparison to Angelo, the Duke becomes the hero to his people, therefore restoring his popularity that might have been slipping. This all comes together in the last act of the play. At the moment when the country is in the most chaos, the Duke writes a letter stating he is returning and will hear the grievances and disputes.

In 5.1, Duke reveals that he was the friar that gave everyone advice. He overhears all the cases and passes judgment for all involved. Angelo is forced to marry Marianna, and Lucio is forced to marry the whore who had his child. He reveals that Claudio is still alive, thanks to his work as the friar. With perfect timing, after revealing Claudio is still alive he proposes to his sister Isabella. He states “Give me your hand, and say you will be mine, / He is my brother too” (5.1, 486-487). The Duke by originally telling Isabella her brother was executed, and then revealing he was not, shows how cunning he really is. The last scene shows the Duke is always one step ahead of everyone and always has a plan to benefit his self in the end. I think the last scene emphasizes the Duke is always working to benefit his self first, and if anyone else happens to benefit that is just extra. At the end of the play the Duke saves the city from chaos, making him the hero king, and on top of all that gets the girl. All this does not come without sacrificing others, mainly Angelo. The Duke used and sacrificed Angelo, so he can claim the rewards.