The interaction between Isabella and her brother Claudio is indeed a unique one.

Throughout the
scene, and many before it, is evident that there is indeed deception and trickery below the mask of
dialogue, most understandably one of betrayal and letdown. This moral dilemma, however is not
aimed at Isabella, not did Claudio betray her. Rather, it was the betrayal of Claudio himself, as a
result of the actions of Angelo.

As the audience we have to realise the complete irony of Act III, scene I. The Duke disguised as a friar
prepares Claudio for death, making him regret and repent, and convincing him that death isn't
always terrible "Be absolute for death; either death or life". Claudio has his mind focused on the
execution, "I find I seek to die". Just as Isabella comes in with a plan to save him, places him in an
oscillating states of confusion and a state of wanting life and death. Which to the onlooking audience
would seem absurd and comical. Seeing a man's conscience swing back and forth from the sight of
life and death when one expects it least.

The lashing out of Claudio is a plea for help, as Isabella had just unknowingly changed his mind about
wanting to pass on. Claudio's reserved and well-mannered outlook is suddenly contradicted by the
plea for help. From "O heavens! It cannot be." And "Thanks dear Isabel", grieving at his situation to a
sudden "Sweet sister, let me live". The ‘betrayal’ is simply the ray of hope that has appeared out of
nowhere, the begging of Isabel, that his life could be saved by a single act of his sister. As Isabella
“I'ld throw it [her life] down for your deliverance” Claudio is hanging by a non-existent thread that
Isabella may sleep with Lord Angelo. Isabella has complete control over the fate of her brother at
this moment, to save her brother or herself. Yet she simply chooses herself out of her disdain for the
character of Angelo.

Her outburst of anger is her embodiment of the anger resulting in the actions of Angelo. To know
that her word is futile against his “As for you, Say what you can, my false o'erweighs your true.” Her
oppression by Angelo, and her willingness to break free from oppression and restraints has led her
to explode at her brother, who once again tried to restrain her, by implying the patriarchal societal
norm and the values of the dominance men at the time. “Nature dispenses with the deed so far /
that it becomes a virtue.” The self-importance that her brother upholds and believes to possess over
Isabella is evident, especially whilst grasping for life uses any means to try save himself, as he
believes that if Isabella were to commit such an act it would be pardoned in the eyes of the law.

The dilemma posed to Isabella is one that ultimately balances one's own morals, the liberty of one's
life at the cost of a loved one. One way or the other, Isabella clearly does not want to forsake her
chastity and her moral freedom, for the sake of her brother, not with Angelo at least. It seems
unclear whether Isabella does indeed understand Angelo's advances, before it is "Plainly conceived",
but we can know that one's chastity seems to be of the same degree as social importance. To the
case of Lucio, he was put to death for it committing the same crime. Though it was truly Claudio who
betrayed himself by asking too much of his sister.