How many lines does Angelo have in Measure for Measure?

The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.

The Offbook team

Oct 8, 2026

Angelo has about 319 lines in Measure for Measure: 2,366 words in 82 speeches, 11.1% of the play, and the third-largest part. The role speaks in 6 of the 17 scenes, and its longest wait is 5 scenes in a row without a line.

Angelo’s part turns on his two scenes with Isabella, Act 2, Scenes 2 and 4, which hold almost two thirds of his words, along with the soliloquies where he admits his desire. After that he is offstage for five scenes, through the whole of Act 3. He returns to face exposure in the long final scene. Nearly all of it is verse.

Lines: 319
Words: 2,366
Share of play: 11.1%
Speech time: 17 min

87% of the words are verse. 82 speeches means about 82 cues to learn.

Scene by scene

Scene	Words	Minutes
Act 1, Scene 1	77	0.6
Act 2, Scene 1	264	1.9
Act 2, Scene 2	603	4.3
Act 2, Scene 4	898	6.4
Act 4, Scene 4	215	1.5
Act 5, Scene 1	309	2.2

The longest speeches

Speech	Scene	Words
“From thee, even from thy virtue!”	Act 2, Scene 2	211
“When I would pray and think, I think and pray”	Act 2, Scene 4	144
“Who will believe thee, Isabel?”	Act 2, Scene 4	133
“’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,”	Act 2, Scene 1	126
“Good night.”	Act 4, Scene 4	124
“Teach her the way. O heavens!”	Act 2, Scene 4	88
“Admit no other way to save his life—”	Act 2, Scene 4	88
“The law hath not been dead, though it hath slept:”	Act 2, Scene 2	82

How many lines a day to learn

New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.

Time until off book	New lines a day
2 weeks	32
3 weeks	22
4 weeks	16
6 weeks	11

Questions actors ask