How does your view of Antony change as the play goes on? Do you see him at the end as a tragic hero?

How does your view of Antony change as the play goes on? Do you see him at the end as a tragic hero? Philo’s opening line to the play, “Nay, but this dotage of our general’s/ O’erflows the measure”, introduces Antony in such a way that his, flaw, that he lacks moderation, is already apparent. This is not the only view of Antony we see in the opening scene, we also hear he has a “captain’s heart” even if his courage lacks restraint. The use of classical imagery when talking about his eyes, describing them as though they “...glowed like plated Mars”, show him to be a warrior but in contrast he is also called a “strumpet’s fool”, which shows that despite his Godlike qualities he also possesses some less desirable ones. He seems able to be dominated by women; both Cleopatra and Fulvia have some power over him. This can be seen by Cleopatra’s use of the imperative when she says, “If it be love indeed, tell me how much” and also when she suggests Antony will be scolded by “shrill-tongued Fulvia”. Antony seems a likeable character from the way he treats his soldiers and he is loved by his men who he treats as friends as well as subjects. The reason for this does not become truly apparent until later in the play but an excellent example of this can be seen when Enobarbus deserts Antony to join Caesar but Antony sends over Enobarbus’ treasure

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Cleopatra is always at a significant disadvantage as a woman in a male-dominated world. What in your opinion are the strengths and weaknesses that the Queen shows as she deals with the men in the play?

Rohan Sathyanand 13G 17/09/2012 A2 English Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra Cleopatra: Queen of Egypt “Cleopatra is always at a significant disadvantage as a woman in a male-dominated world.” What in your opinion are the strengths and weaknesses that the Queen shows as she deals with the men in the play? Unanimously renowned as the “harlot queen” [Stanley, 2001] and as a “lascivious courtesan” [Stanley, 2001], the mercurial Egyptian Queen is anachronistically portrayed by Shakespeare in a more sympathetic attitude than his contemporaries who had diluted her character into an object of carnality. Ostentatiously dissimilar from the female visions of constancy and chastity presented by Octavia and Fulvia, the “mature and sexual woman” is celebrated for her compassionate love which offers “the most profound vision of human constancy” [French, 1982] in the patriarchal power struggle between the three Roman triumvirs. Cleopatra, renowned for her physical beauty is shown to have an alluring effect on the men that surround her, often exploiting her appearance to ensnare powerful men to do her bidding. Te extent to her aesthetic manipulation is revealed in the lavish descriptions of her when she first met Antony, who instantaneously seemed to have fallen victim to her charms. The first encounter of the matriarch and her lover, as narrated by

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Show how Shakespeare brings out the duality in Antonys character in Act 1.

Show how Shakespeare brings out the duality in Antony’s character in Act 1. “Antony and Cleopatra” by William Shakespeare is a play revolving around the destructive duality of Antony’s character. Shakespeare uses Antony’s transformation from Roman to Egyptian to cause constant conflict between the Roman side of Antony, defined by Empire and duty, and the Egyptian side of Antony, defined by folly and lust. “Antony and Cleopatra” is a tragedy involving Antony, one of the triumvirates who rule the world, who falls in love with, and has an affair with Cleopatra: the seductive queen of Egypt. Throughout the whole of the play Antony is caught in a tug-of-war between Antony the lover and Antony the leader. Shakespeare makes repeated references to Antony’s duality in character through the views of many characters throughout the play. Philo and Demetrius’ views of Antony at the very beginning of the play give the audience their first impressions of Antony’s character. Cleopatra and Octavius Caesar’s comments throughout Act 1 on Antony allow the audience to distinguish between his differing personalities. Furthermore, Antony’s own statements reinforce his duality. From the onset of the play, it is not entirely obvious to the audience that there is a duality in Antony’s character, however Antony’s responses throughout Act One give the audience clues

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Cleopatra's timeless fascination exists for the characters of the play, for Shakespeare's public and ourselves as a modern audience. - How do you respond to this statement from your reading of the play?

"O Sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work" Enobarbus Act 1 Scene 2 Cleopatra's timeless fascination exists for the characters of the play, for Shakespeare's public and ourselves as a modern audience. - How do you respond to this statement from your reading of the play? Shakespeare's plays all have universal themes incorporated within the play such as love, death and jealousy that audiences throughout history would have enjoyed and empathised with. In 'Antony and Cleopatra;' I think Shakespeare has used these universal themes in the play, but he has also created a universal fascination in the character of Cleopatra. I plan to explore why she is fascinating to all audiences and the characters of the play and to decide whether I am ensnared and fascinated by Cleopatra, and also to look at the statement as a limited, dated and untrue hyperbolic description of Cleopatra. Has the modern audience and myself have ended this timeless fascination; as she represents nothing but an egotistical, dominatrix who sells her body to most powerful men she meets and we have tired of this aging woman only interested in self preservation. Cleopatra was a lusty woman; she had a high sex drive and she had control over the men she chose to love. Her unparalleled beauty, intelligence, lust and presence affected the characters in the play, the Jacobean audiences and she still

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Shakespeare's play present these oppositions? In Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans.

Michelle Chandel 13J English - Mr Thorpe Shakespeare used as his source for his play North's translation of Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans. Plutarch, along with other Greek and Roman authors, saw an opposition between the conquering West, standing for moral and political virtue, and the conquered East representing luxury and decadence. How does Shakespeare's play present these oppositions? In Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, it is obvious to see the distinction between the decadent and luxurious East, and the West which stands for its moral and political virtue. This opposition between the East and the West is also apparent in Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. We see this in the opening scene with a technique used by Shakespeare, where the opening is framed, so that the audience is caught in the middle of the conversation. The conversation is between Philo and Demetrius - fellow Roman officers, who are strongly disapproving of Antony's love for Cleopatra. They discuss how Antony's 'love' for Cleopatra is only a mere infatuation for a 'harlot'. There is further debate that this obsession for the Queen of Egypt is steering a powerful leader away from his greatness and concentration. Shakespeare has carefully chosen this framing device as the opening of his play, because it is structured so that the love affair is seem from a Roman

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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What Tensions and Conflicts are Established in Act 1 and Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra?

What Tensions and Conflicts are Established in Act 1 and Act 2 of Antony and Cleopatra? Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra is a tale of conflict, love and responsibilities. In a world where Egyptian values contrast sharply with those of Rome, personal passions and tensions are set against a backdrop of political and military issues, creating irony and tension. Antony's decadent exploits in the east and his infatuation with Cleopatra, combined with his neglect of duty as a triumvir create drama as they highlight the delicate balance of power which exists within his world. The underlying pressure of war forces forward matters, as the virility and moral standards of the tragic hero come under scrutiny. Firstly, even before Antony and Cleopatra are introduced to the audience, the opening lines from Philo create an expectant atmosphere as he describes the deterioration of Antony from a strong and powerful leader into 'a strumpets fool.' By affixing these derogatory labels to the protagonists, he also simultaneously generates preconceptions of their characters within the viewers' minds. However, the images which he conjures conflict with the ones that we hold in our mind of Antony and Cleopatra being figures of authority and sophistication. The fact that the tragic hero is described as having become, "...the bellows and the fan to cool a gypsy's lust" contrasts sharply with his

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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'Antony and Cleopatra share a rich and distinctive vocabulary'. Referring to at least 2 passages, examine some of the poetic and dramatic qualities of the language they use.

'Antony and Cleopatra share a rich and distinctive vocabulary' Referring to at least 2 passages, examine some of the poetic and dramatic qualities of the language they use In act 1 scene 1, Philo begins by complaining to Demetrius that Cleopatra has transformed Antony from a great general to a whore's fool. The scene is based on the true love affair and the romance between the two characters. However there is an ambiguous nature to the passage, as we are not given a clear indication of Cleopatra's feelings, whether she is angry or whether it is all light hearted. The scene begins with Antony and Cleopatra entering, with great drama as Cleopatra has Eunuchs fanning her and attending her every need. Cleopatra is pushing Antony to describe how much he loves her and this shows her power and demand for the declaration of Antony's love. 'If it be love indeed, tell me how much.' Antony however is calmer and softer in his language. He uses natural imagery by comparing his love for her to the 'new heaven, new earth.' This shows that Cleopatra is more dramatic and that Anthony is more poetic in his choice of language. A messenger then comes from Octavius, but Antony, clearly annoyed, commands the messenger to be brief. 'Grates me! The sum' This short sharp sentence expresses Antony's anger but it also portrays the language of Rome, which is confident and direct. By saying 'The

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How does Anthony and Cleopatra present the contrast between the conquering west and the decadent east?

Antony and Cleopatra Q: Shakespeare used as his source for this play north's translation of Plutarch's "Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans". Plutarch, along with other Greek and Roman authors saw an opposition between the conquering West, standing for moral and political virtue, and the conquering East representing luxury and decadence. How does Shakespeare's play present these oppositions? Shakespeare was deeply concerned with the meanings of the classical past. His play Antony and Cleopatra concerns itself with a major theme from Renaissance culture: The importance and continued thriving of Europe's Graeco-Roman culture. Yet in one sense, Shakespeare rebelled against the traditional portrayal of Rome by the narrator of his source Plutarch and his contempories. Whilst imperial historians and medieval poets like Chaucer shared Plutarch's view that glorified Rome, both as a virtuous political power and as a morally legitimate empire, Shakespeare refused to see Rome's motives as wholly honourable. He emphasised the themes of the decline of virtue and the pursuit of honour, which represent satirical work of the highest degree. Therefore this play cannot really be read as a propaganda piece for Western domination. On the other hand, Plutarch and his contempories saw the East as the manifestation of all that was extravagant and ostentatious; a place of desire and decadence

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Cleopatra has been described as both an "enchanting Queen" and "triple-turned whore". Examine Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra and how a modern audience might respond to her.

Cleopatra has been described as both an "enchanting Queen" and "triple-turned whore". Examine Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra and how a modern audience might respond to her. In Antony and Cleopatra, written around 1606, according to Wells and Taylor, it is apparent that it is characterised by informality and decadence and this may be a reflection of the times. Audiences might have wanted or expected such things and the dramatist merely complied with current tastes. Drama was the prime means of public entertainment during Shakespeare's time. To go and watch a Shakespeare play was a form of escapism for his audiences. They escaped into another world and would be fascinated by the plays Shakespeare produced. Cleopatra was an especially fascinating character for the Jacobean audience because she was controversial, shocking and challenging. The Jacobean people were predominantly devout Catholics and Protestants, they wouldn't have practiced monogamy, adultery and more than one sexual partner would have been disgraceful. Women were by far the lesser sex; however this status was acknowledged, they may have seen it as customary and it was generally accepted by most women. The audiences would have been very shocked by the behaviour of

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Comment on the portrayal of Antony and Cleopatra and your responses to them in the first three scenes of the play.

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!" 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

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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