SYNOPSIS By J. ELLIS BURDICK ACT I Angelo, a man of Vienna who bears the reputation of a saint because of his strict and upright life, is chosen by Vincentio, Duke of that city, as his deputy in order that certain moral reforms may be introduced without lessening the popularity of the Duke. The latter announces that he intends to visit Poland, but instead of leaving the city, he disguises himself as a friar and secretly watches Angelo. The first victim of the new rule is a young gentleman, Claudio, whose betrothed, Juliet, is with child by him. The deputy invokes an old law which had not been used in nineteen years, and for this offense sentences Claudio to be executed in three days. The same day on which this judgment is passed is the one on which Isabella, sister to Claudio, is to enter a cloister. On hearing of her brother's trouble, she determines to petition the deputy for his life. ACT II Isabella pleads in vain at her first audience with Angelo, but she arouses in him a passion which had always seemed foreign to his cold nature. At her second interview, he plainly tells her that she can buy her brother's safety with her own honor. She refuses him and determines to tell her brother how her suit has failed, saying "better it were a brother died at once, than that a sister, by redeeming him, should die forever." ACT III She hastens to Claudio and exhorts him to prepare for death, since his life can only be purchased by perpetual shame. At first Claudio commends her decision, but his fear of death weakens him and he pleads with her to yield to Angelo and save him. Isabella reproaches him and is about to leave him when they are interrupted by the Duke in his friar's garb. He has overheard their entire conversation and he now shows Isabella a way of saving her brother without sacrificing her honor: she is to pretend to yield to the entreaties of Angelo, to make an assignation with him, and then to send in her place Mariana, a young gentlewoman who had been promised in marriage to Angelo and whom he had deserted on the loss of her dowry. ACT IV Mariana consents to the enterprise. But Angelo does not keep his part of the agreement, for as soon as he has had his will with the supposed Isabella, he orders the immediate execution of Claudio. The provost of the prison on the disguised Duke's persuasion, sends to Angelo the head of another man who had just died a natural death in the prison and who resembled Claudio. The Duke then writes the deputy that he will soon return home. ACT V Angelo and the court officials meet the Duke at the city gates. Mariana and Isabella are also there, and the latter calls upon the Duke to redress her wrongs, openly accusing the deputy of being a virgin-violator and a murderer. In feigned anger the Duke orders her under arrest. Mariana now comes forward with her accusations. The Duke leaves the inquiry in Angelo's hand and he himself retires to don his friar's habit that he may be called as a witness in the examination of the two women. During the sessions, the Duke reveals himself. He orders |