Comment on the portrayal of Antony and Cleopatra and your responses to them in the first three scenes of the play.

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Kelly Hanson    Ds11

Comment on the portrayal of Antony and Cleopatra and your responses to them in the first three scenes of the play.

The play opens in Cleopatra’s palace.  Two of Antony’s friends, Philo and Demetrius discuss how Antony has become the “bellows and the fan to cool a gypsy’s lust” and that he has become a “strumpets fool”.  In his opening lines, Philo complains that Antony has abandoned the military endeavours on which his reputation is based for Cleopatra’s sake.  This criticism of Antony's “dotage” or stupidity, introduces a tension between reason and emotion that runs throughout the play.  Antony and Cleopatra's first exchange heightens this tension, as they argue whether their love can be put into words and understand or whether it exceeds such faculties and boundaries of reason.  Philo and Demetrius stand aside as Antony and Cleopatra enter.  Antony and Cleopatra talk of love and Antony says, “There’s beggary in the love than can be reckoned”.  He refuses to hear a messenger from Rome, saying “Let Rome and Tiber melt and the wide arch of ranged empire fall!”

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Antony is a once fierce and feared soldier who rules the Roman Empire along with Ocatvius Caesar and Lepidus.  In the opening of the play, Antony has neglected his duties as a ruler in order to live in Egypt, where he carries on a highly visible love affair with Cleopatra.  Antony’s loyalty is divided between Egypt and Rome.  He is torn between the sense of duty and the desire to seek pleasure.  Although Antony feels he needs to fulfil his duties and rule in Rome, he cannot fight the passion, which he feels for Cleopatra and that is making him ...

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