Plot Summary

Act I

Scene 1

• Duke Vincentio announces he will leave Vienna and appoints Angelo to rule in his stead.
• The Duke claims he is leaving to focus on personal matters but secretly plans to observe the city's morality in disguise.

Scene 2

• Lucio and two gentlemen discuss Vienna's debauchery.
• Claudio is arrested for impregnating Juliet before marriage and sentenced to death under Angelo's strict new laws.

Scene 3

• The Duke, in disguise as a friar, discusses his plan to observe Angelo's governance with Friar Thomas.

Scene 4

• Isabella, Claudio's sister and a novice nun, is informed by Lucio about Claudio's arrest.
• Lucio urges Isabella to plead for Claudio's life before Angelo.

Act II

Scene 1

• Angelo defends his strict enforcement of the law to Escalus.
• The Provost expresses reluctance to execute Claudio.
• Isabella pleads for her brother's life; Angelo is struck by her beauty and virtue.

Scene 2

• Angelo, conflicted, tells Isabella to return the next day.
• Angelo's desire for Isabella intensifies.

Scene 3

• The Duke (as a friar) visits Juliet and hears her confession.
• The Duke offers Juliet comfort and support.

Scene 4

• Angelo propositions Isabella, offering to spare Claudio if she yields to him.
• Isabella refuses and threatens to expose him.

Act III

Scene 1

• The Duke (as a friar) advises Claudio to prepare for death.
• Isabella informs Claudio of Angelo's proposition.
• Claudio initially supports Isabella's decision but then pleads for her to save him.
• The Duke overhears and suggests a plan involving Mariana, Angelo's former betrothed.

Scene 2

• The Duke arranges to meet Mariana and explains the plan to substitute her for Isabella in Angelo's bed.

Act IV

Scene 1

• Mariana agrees to the plan.
• The Duke outlines the bed trick, where Mariana will take Isabella's place to meet Angelo.

Scene 2

• The Provost receives orders to execute Claudio earlier than planned.
• The Duke intervenes, instructing the Provost to substitute the head of another prisoner, Barnardine, for Claudio's.

Scene 3

• Barnardine refuses to be executed.
• The Provost sends the head of Ragozine, a recently deceased prisoner, instead.
• The Duke informs Isabella that Claudio has been spared but keeps it a secret from her.

Scene 4

• Angelo, believing Claudio is dead, prepares for the Duke's return.

Scene 5

• The Duke plans his return to Vienna and the public unmasking of Angelo.

Scene 6

• Isabella and Mariana prepare to confront Angelo.

Act V

Scene 1

• The Duke returns and holds court.

• Isabella publicly accuses Angelo of corruption.

• Angelo denies the charges, but Mariana, veiled, supports Isabella's claims.

• The Duke (still in disguise) pretends to take Angelo's side, then reveals his identity.

• The Duke orders Angelo to marry Mariana and then condemns him to death.

• Mariana and Isabella plead for Angelo's life.

• The Duke pardons Angelo and proposes marriage to Isabella.

• Claudio is revealed to be alive and is reunited with Juliet.