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When it is least expected.” (4.3.107-111)
Isabella is headed to see the Duke in order to find out if their plan worked and if Angelo had
called off Claudio’s execution. When Duke Vincentio heard her approaching he instantly knew
that she wanted to know the news but he decided to “trick” her into believing that her brother had
already been executed. The Duke states that he will knowingly keep her unaware of the truth in
order to comfort her and take advantage of her despair when she least expects it. Just as
Rosenberg argues Duke Vincentio’s plan is to set himself up in a public space to come off as a
great guy who just saved Isabella’s brother and the person who had been helping her all along in
order to borderline force her into marrying him, or as Rosenberg puts it, he has arranged a
spectacle around himself and expects her to give up her plans of nunnery and marry him. Duke
Vincentio tricks in order to strengthen his image and power over people. Although not his initial
intention, his ultimate goal was to make Isabella accept his marriage proposal. Duke Vincentio
reached his goal by imposing himself onto Isabella through a process of seemingly good deeds
and acts of benevolence and understanding.

Much like Measure for Measure’s Duke Vincentino, the character of Don John from the
play Much Ado About Nothing creates elaborate tricks in order to boost his image. For no
particular reason, other than self-promotion and entertainment, Don John decides to ruin Hero,
his niece’s, wedding. Don John’s plan is to trick Claudio, Hero’s fiancée, into believing that
Hero is not a faithful and honest girl, but that she is “Leonato’s Hero, [Claudio’s] Hero,/ Every
man’s Hero” (3.3.100-101). Don John implies to Claudio that Hero is of loose morals and that
she has several lovers who visit her frequently. Don John will set his trick up by arranging a
meeting between Margaret, one of Hero’s servants, and Borrachio, Don John’s accomplice, at
Hero’s window during the night time.