Dynamics between men and women are a highly studied mystery in society. The power of female persuasion and influence is even more so. In Shakespeare's world, influential women were rare. Therefore, the relationship between Isabella and Angelo in Measure for Measure is one to watch closely. Throughout the play, but particularly in scenes 2, 3 and 4, Angelo exemplifies male anxiety through the characteristics of jealousy, weakness, anger/bitterness and desire towards Isabella in Measure for Measure and tries to regain control in this dynamic sexual female/male through using his power against her. The first characteristic through which Angelo exemplifies anxiety is jealousy. Angelo shows jealousy towards Isabella as her innocence alone draws him into temptation. He is in love, but she is not. This creates feelings of jealousy as he lacks the power to attract her as she does to him. Furthermore, this jealousy is also rooted in the fact that he lacks the willpower that Isabella has to engage in self-control with sexual desires. An example of this dynamic is revealed at the beginning of Angelo's interaction with Isabella when his logic begins to merge with hers. It is revealed through his line: “She speaks, and it is / Such sense that my sense begets with it…” (2.2.141-142). He recognizes that both seek purity and righteousness; However, Isabella has the will to catch up and realizes that this is not the case and is jealous. He also admits this jealousy in a speech within himself, stating: “How often do you by your chance, your habit wrest awe from fools and bind the wiser souls to your false appearance! Blood, thou art blood” (2.4.13-15) Through this self-reflection, he sees the way his thought patterns have gone to Isabella as… middle of paper… as a leader and how Isabella has desperately and involuntarily placed on the path to a life of sin and becomes anxious. Through his weakness, he sees her weakness sexually to Isabella's innocence and righteousness and submits to it, again producing anxiety in him as he sees that he has no power to stop her. Through his bitterness, he again recognizes his corruption and embraces it, attempting to manipulate Isabella's living situation (an exemplification of bitterness), thus causing more anxiety. And finally, through his desire, the root of the other characteristics, he sees that his sin is winning and that he cannot control it so he decides to pursue it to the end, to the point of vehemently persuading Isabella to satisfy those desires. The implications of such actions in a man show how the female presence can cause anxiety and intimidation for men in general.