Play summary

Act 4

mariana listening to boy sing
duke enters
isabella enters and mariana leaves so they can discuss their plans
mariana re enters, meets isabella and goes aside to discuss bed trick
duke gives soliloquy in 6 lines
the ladies come back, mariana agrees after friar assures that she is not doing anything wrong

pompey and abhorson go back and forth about their jobs and whether being an executioner is really mysterious
provost says theyre both equally bad. “a feather will turn the scales”
duke comes in, hopes reprieve for claudio will come, praises/ supports angelo
- dramatic irony
messenger comes in saying that claudio has to be executed the next day and his head must be sent to angelo
duke proposes barnardine to be sent instead

pompey is looking around prison, people from his brothel are there, weird reflection
duke attempts to persuade barnardine but he refuses still
ragozine conveniently dies, providing a head for the plan
duke’s soliloquy - will publicly humiliate angelo
provost returns with head quickly then leaves again
again soliloquy - will lie to isabella saying her brother will die
lucio comes in lamenting about claudio then starts badmouthind duke to the friar and then implicates himself

escalus and angelo receive duke’s odd letters about coming to the gates of the city
let people come and air out their complaints before he arrives
angelo’s 15 line soliloquy - sexual language, havent seen him since act 2, knows he should’ve spared claudio but scared he wouldve taken revenge

isabella not thrilled by plan
peter comes in right as mariana says his name - suggests that everything will work out due to the harmony of the moment