As Claudio is sentenced to death, Isabella explains that the only way to save him is to condemn himself to a fate worse than death. She exclaims: “Oh, if it were only my life, I would throw it away for your deliverance as plainly as a pin. ” (Shakespeare 155) If it were just a literal death, she would give it away in the blink of an eye. However, since it is her soul that is at stake, she insinuates that the shame that would accompany compromising her virtue will result in a fate worse than death. After Claudio leaves and Isabella speaks to the disguised Duke, she says, "I would rather my brother die according to the law than my son be born illegally." » (Shakespeare 159) It is clear that maintaining her virtue means everything to Isabella, even if it means sacrificing her own brother. A literal death is nothing compared to the dishonor that would come from this decision. Even when Claudio tries to convince her by telling her that "death is a fearful thing" and she responds by saying: "and a shameful life is hateful." (Shakespeare 154) The characters themselves represent the opposition of death. Isabelle represents honor and righteousness, while Claudio embodies the physical torment that death can