Explore the ways Shakespeare presents the concept of authority in Antony and Cleopatra
Explore the ways Shakespeare presents the concept of authority in Antony and Cleopatra The play's main characters are two of the most powerful people in the world, Antony being a member of the triumvirate, a coalition controlling the majority of the globe, and Cleopatra the Queen of Egypt, a feisty lady with a strong will who in the past has been linked with many other world leaders, a point which is often referred to throughout the play; "Cleopatra: Did I, Charmian, / Ever love Caesar so?". Due to their status, the authority they hold and the power they have over people is clearly going to be a main theme as it affects many of their actions, decisions and feelings as the play progresses, to great consequence. There are a number of strong characters all trying to gain the upper hand at every opportunity. This is shown even in petty matters such as who gives in and sits down first in the falsely courteous power exchange between Antony and Caesar on Antony's visit to Rome in Act 2, Scene 2. Caesar: Welcome to Rome. Antony: Thank you. Caesar: Sit. Antony: Sit, sir. Caesar: Nay then. [Caesar sits, then Antony] This is comic moment from Shakespeare, but it does also outline the ongoing power struggle within the triumvirate. The scene can be looked at from two angles: it could be argued that, as it is Antony who wins this small exchange, the event aims to highlight the
What does scene 5 reveal to you about the character of Cleopatra?
What does scene 5 reveal to you about the character of Cleopatra? Cleopatra has many sides to her personality, which are brought out by her moods and who she is speaking too. In this essay I will be looking at how Cleopatra treats her friends and servants, how she is coping with Antony being gone, how people react to her and also a close look at the language she uses. At the beginning of the scene Cleopatra speaks with Mardian, her official singing eunuch. She loves to tease Mardian about how he cannot please her, and in return he plays up to be this 'faulty' person, which is expected of him. Mardian, unlike Antony, is a man she can control due to him being castrated. She complements him on this, ''Tis well for thee That, being unseminared, they freer thoughts may not fly fourth of Egypt' here she could be saying two things to Mardian, firstly that he is lucky to be free of the sexual longings that make her want to be with Antony, but also that it's lucky for him being a eunuch, that he does not think of leaving Egypt (like Antony has) - this shows a quite threatening violent side to Cleopatra where as before she was actually being quite kind as she complemented Mardian. This is a clear indicator of how Cleopatra has so many different sides to her that sometimes you do not know how her words are meant to be read, is she being kind or threatening? Her relationship with
Antony and Cleopatra - Evaluate the dramatic importance of Act IV scenes xiv and xv and the effect they have on an audience.
Antony and Cleopatra - Evaluate the dramatic importance of Act IV scenes xiv and xv and the effect they have on an audience. Scenes xiv and xv in Act IV of Shakespeare play 'Antony and Cleopatra' have great dramatic importance as they represent the end for not only the end for Antony and Cleopatra but the end of Antony's greatness. These scenes are the beginning of the tragic climax for Antony and Cleopatra; they have lost everything and only now have each other. The audience would find the scenes emotional and powerful, the language that Shakespeare uses emphasizes the loss in Antony's death and serves to increase the intensity of the scenes. The emotions expressed by the main characters also affect the audience as they feel the desperation and pain of the characters. The actions and emotions of the main characters throughout 'Antony and Cleopatra' affect the audience and often increase the dramatic impact of the play. In Act IV scenes xiv and xv the tragedy of the character's situations is intensified by the emotions portrayed and the language used to portray them. In these two scenes the audience knows more than the characters do and therefore not only can we see the irony in their word but also we realize the mistakes the characters make before they happen and will them not to make them. Thus the scenes are tense for the audience as we wait for Antony to make his
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Mark Antony in Act1 of Antony and Cleopatra
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Mark Antony in Act 1 of Antony and Cleopatra The setting of the play Antony and Cleopatra is introduced with a world that is ruled by the Romans due to their final break-through of conquering Egypt. Rome is a place where order is the main factor of importance whilst Egypt is a country of culture, art and riches. The difference between these two cultures is an exact parallel between Elizabethan and modern time where Shakespeare portrays the nostalgia for the old conventions of the Elizabethan times. The earth is supported by three pillars also known as the triumvirate. The triumvirate is a group of three male leaders that rule the earth consisting of Mark Antony, Lepidus and Octavius Caesar. Antony, through recognition of his history, has already been established as a character of power and intelligence. Antony, being classified as an orator, used his skills in speech to receive the crowd's support 'friends, countrymen, lend me your ears' and successfully succeeded in persuading the crowd to conspire against Brutus. Antony is therefore also seen as a hero because he was able to kill Brutus, the murderer of Julius Caesar. Although Shakespeare portrays Antony as a powerful man, it can be argued that Shakespeare also establishes Antony's flaw in character which is his love for Cleopatra. Shakespeare presents Antony through the use of
Cleopatra: A True Feminine Tragedy
Sherwin Allan Sanchez Denny Ewrt1B January 29, 2003 Cleopatra: A True Feminine Tragedy In Shakespeare's tragedy, Antony and Cleopatra, Cleopatra is efficiently described by Enobarbus as extremely passionate and movable. She possesses all characteristics of a woman in good ways and bad. She is easily swayed by outside decisions and one cannot clearly decipher what she truly wants. She is also extremely manipulative and uses her femininity to her every advantage. It even seems that she is unfit to manage her own matters or to even merely decide what her own viewpoint on a subject is. Every aspect of her being influences the turning events of this tragedy and one could even say that Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy due to her incapability to bridle her fierce feminine characteristics and channel them towards a greater good other than her own. The first glimpse into Cleopatra's tumultuous nature is a description of her by Enobarbus in a conversation with Antony. He also insinuates about her ability to manipulate others as well as her shrewd sense of intellect. Enter Enobarbus Enobarbus: ... Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying. Antony: She is cunning past man's thought.
Antony as a great Leader
Antony as a great leader Expository Essay The decisions that one man makes can determine the length of life. Rome has many people that have the characteristics to be great leaders. Antony is a manipulative man, Brutus is an honorable man, and Octavius is a quiet strength. All three men would do an excellent job in leading Rome. Antony is a manipulative man. This is shown throughout the play in several cases, but most prominently at Caesar's funeral. "I thrice presented him a kingly crown which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?" (III, ii, 96-96). Antony is very cleaver in the way that he presents his case to the people. He uses rhetorical questioning to show the people that Caesar was in fact not ambitious. Antony also played on the people's greed, to influence them to his side. "I found it in his closet; 'tis his will/and they would go kiss Caesar's dead wounds..." (III, ii, 129, 132-133). Antony is very smart in the way he does this. He knows how to talk to the people to get them to believe his side of the story and revenge Caesar's death. Likewise, Antony is conniving. He uses this strength by flattering Brutus, and falsely befriending the conspirators into letting him speak at Caesar's funeral. "I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand." (III, i, 200-201). Antony presents his case in such a way that Brutus and the other conspirators think
A “strumpet” and her “fool”. Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra are too sordid as characters to ever achieve genuine tragedy- discuss.
A "strumpet" and her "fool". Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra are too sordid as characters to ever achieve genuine tragedy- discuss. Antony and Cleopatra's behaviour at intervals in the play do make her appear a "strumpet" and he her "fool". However, to solely condemn then as such fails to recognise the other qualities they possess as world leaders. They are judged initially for their inability to recognise the duty they have to their subjects. Their all-consuming passion is viewed as self-gratifying, fulfilling their needs to the destruction of others. The audience could view Cleopatra in two ways. As a strong heroin, a Royal Queen, fighting for her own political and literal survival by any means open to her yet at the same time insecure about her all-consuming love for a man she cannot fully possess. Furthermore it is arguably that she is a manipulative, irrational woman who is often disloyal to Antony, a femme fatale who brings about his downfall. Cleopatra does have some heroic qualities but her behaviour at the beginning of the play overshadows these initially. "If you find him sad, say I am dancing; If in mirth, report I am sudden sick" - Cleopatra Her past history is notorious as the role of mistress is commonplace, she is seen as being incapable of capturing a man who is free, her life is littered with illegitimate children, she is not virtuous, a hero is
Examine the Strengths and Weaknesses of Antony and Cleopatra's relationship and the significance love has on important events in the play.
Bianca Layne A-Level English Module 2, Shakespeare Examine the Strengths and Weaknesses of Antony and Cleopatra's relationship and the significance love has on important events in the play. Antony and Cleopatra's strengths in love fluctuate tremendously. Their behaviours toward each other create a chain reaction in the formation of events within the play. It is for these reasons, which determine the direction of the narrative. Antony behaviour is demonstrative of extreme strengths in his love toward Cleopatra, as he is prepared to neglect all his duties in Rome to stay in Egypt with her. His duties in Rome are very important to stabilise the triumvirate however, he still finds love more important. We see this when a messenger comes to call Antony back to Rome, his reply is: "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space"(I.1.33)1 This shows his devotion to their love and shows the audience he has a sense of loves value. Antony uses hyperbole in his reply as he suggests that the river that flows through Rome will disappear or crumble and the bridge will collapse, before he will return, 'wide arch' also accentuates the strength of the bridge, this may show that Rome's might is so strong it does not need Antony. This use of language emphasizes how unlikely it is that Antony will leave Cleopatra. It shows he is prepared to see
Antony & Cleopatra - language
In Act 1 scene 3 lines 13-56, what do we learn about Antony and Cleopatra's characters? In Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare uses rich, poetic language; this not only provides a source of visual pleasure for the audience as it is a play; but also acts as a means of defining the various characters, particularly Antony and Cleopatra, the protagonists. In the scene being analysed, the tone, hyperbole language and imagery gives the reader an insight into the characters as well as their affection for one another. 'If you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report'. From the outset of the scene, Cleopatra's language and tone of voice depicts her character to the reader as very clever, yet volatile with a bizarre lack of confidence, 'I shall fall' illustrates her dependence and need for stability and security. The melodrama also portrays her crave for attention, especially that from Antony, and her egotistic rush for power and recognition. The reader also perceives Antony as the eponymous, tragic hero, who is allowing his love for Cleopatra to cloud his judgement. His short rushed sentences, 'Now, my dearest queen' in reply to her demands reiterate this judgement of character, he is reassuring her, and trying to placate her as he doesn't want a scene. The scene is almost a microcosm of the entire play; it miniaturises fundamental themes, and sets the atmosphere for the
In Act 5 of Antony and Cleopatra, Maecenas says that Antonys taints and honours waged equal with him. To what extent, and in what ways, does Shakespeare prepare the audience for this view in the first two acts of the play?
Sam Ford In Act 5 of ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, Maecenas says that Antony’s ‘taints and honours waged equal with him’. To what extent, and in what ways, does Shakespeare prepare the audience for this view in the first two acts of the play? In Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, different comments and views of Antony are given to explore his ‘taints and honours’. Through people’s remarks and obvious changing attitudes towards Antony, the audience are shown the changeability of his disposition as a consequence of the place his is situated, Rome or Egypt. The effect his company has on him is crucial to the perception the audience take of him, most significantly, the relationship between himself and Cleopatra, the ‘gypsy queen’ of Egypt. Shakespeare uses Philo to give the audience the view of Antony from a Roman perspective in a conversation with Demetrius, a friend and supporter of Antony, and give light to the concerns that Antony is placing his personal life before that of state issues, which subsequently supports the belief that Antony is neglecting his duties and responsibilities as a Triumvir. Antony’s position as part of the Triumvirate, ruler of the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, coincides with the Aristotelian belief that the tragic hero should be of high rank or nobility, in order to heighten the intensity of the tragedy as they
