The Virtuous Isabelle in Measure for MeasureMeasure for Measure is not a celebration of family values, the play points both towards political virtuosity, which supports the comic, and towards humbler self-knowledge. which preserves the integrity of the virtuoso. Human virtue can only be chosen in freedom, but we must not deprive ourselves of the opportunity to ensure that this choice is not stifled by the subtly linked powers of abstract intellectualism and carnal necessity. Isabella, in Measure for Measure, personifies innocent virtue. Isabelle offers an example of the highest possible character; since she will not sacrifice her own honor or that of her brother to save her brother's life. She has strong convictions regarding her morals and considers her own soul and salvation. Pure; clever; beautiful, its exterior beauty being the reflection of its interior purity; loving, her virtue is unprecedented and withstands the ultimate test as shown by her appeal for mercy towards Angelo whom she believes to have ordered the execution of her brother. This action overcomes the questions raised about her character when she is unwilling to sacrifice her virtue to save her brother's life. To finally dispel any doubt about how "measured" Isabella is, the Duke's proposal at the end of the play constitutes proof that she has passed the test. Isabella understands his chastity in a way that is largely similar to Angelo's austere virtue. We first meet her at the convent where she is about to become a nun, pleading for stricter restraint and discipline in an order already known for its austerity. Once she has taken her final vows, she will no longer be able to have normal conversations with men: “If you... in the middle of paper... to torment and punish us. » Shakespeare's Isabella is depicted as an honest young woman who remains true to her ideals. In human relationships, ideals may seem inappropriate when they conflict with the ideals of others, but this in no way diminishes Isabella's virtuous character. Works cited and consulted: Knight, G. Wilson. The Wheel of Fire: Essays on the Interpretation of Shakespeare's Dark Tragedies. London: Oxford UP, 1930. Leech, Clifford. "The 'Sense' of measure for measure." Shakespeare Survey 3 1950Rossiter, AP Angel with Horns and Other Shakespeare Lectures. Ed. Graham Floor. London: Longmans, Green, 1961. Shakespeare, William. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. Ed. Alfred Harbage. 1969. Baltimore: Penguin, 1971. http://www.online-literature.com/view.php/measure/4?term=isabella