Aristottle defined a tragic hero as a man who's misfortune is not brought about by vice or depravity but by some error of frality.Do you agree that Antony is a hero in this context?
Aristottle defined a tragic hero as a man who’s misfortune is not brought about by vice or depravity but by some error of frality.
Do you agree that Antony is a hero in this context?
In Shakespeare’s “ Antony and Cleopatra”, Antony can be considered a tragic hero as he is lead into misfortunate, unfavourable situations and ultimately his death, not by vice or depravity but by his own fatal flaw; his love for the Eygptian queen Cleopatra.
Before Antony met Cleopatra, he was regarded with the highest respect, as he was a military hero and major asset to the Roman empire. Antony’s reputation as a powerful general is established through a conversation between two of his soldiers in the opening act.
‘ His captain’s heart,
Which in scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast’.
The soldier’s description of Antony shows him to be an exceedingly strong and dynamic military figure and by describing his heart as a ‘captain’s heart’ suggests his heart and life is devoted to the Roman army. However, this all changes when he gets involved with Cleopatra. One learns frmo the soldiers’ conversation that the once fierce warrior has been degraded to a ‘strumpet’s fool’ by Cleopatra’s affection. His infatuated, obsessive behaviour towards Cleopatra in the commencing act confims the soldiers’ accusation and even at the very beginning of the play Antony’s weakness for Cleopatra gets him into unfavourable situations.
The initial realisation of the negative effects of Cleopatra on Antony is demonstrated when a messenger approaches Antony with instruction from Caesar. Cleopatra taunts and teases Antony, influencing him to forsake the message. Doting Antony follows her lead and declares,