OPPOSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.
OPPOSITIONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra is aptly named, not just because the play centers around these two characters, but also because it encompasses the play's fixation on the lovers' oppositional relationship. On the surface level, Antony embodies the Roman ideals of a good, noble man, while Cleopatra represents the hyper-sexualized, dangerous Eastern woman. However, upon further examination both Antony and Cleopatra display complicated internal conflicts that effectively reverse these polar positions repeatedly throughout the play. In this way, the opposition between Antony and Cleopatra that exists on a simple, interpersonal level is echoed by more complicated, internal conflicts within each of these characters on a deeper, more individual level. The tension between the title characters creates the love that draws them together at the same time as it drives them further apart, thus establishing yet another layer of antagonistic relationships within the play. The importance of these oppositional relationships is underlined most starkly in Act II.2. In particular Enobarbus' speech describing Cleopatra's beauty functions as one of the greatest statements of the play's conflicting themes. This speech reflects the antagonistic nature of the play's central relationships through the invocation of equivalent antagonistic
An exploration of Shakespeare's presentation of Rome and Egypt in Antony and Cleopatra
Laura Malcolmson 2LS An exploration of Shakespeare's presentation of Rome and Egypt in Antony and Cleopatra In the play, Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare presents Rome and Egypt to be very contrasting areas, showing how dissimilar the two places are, such as culture and lifestyle. Although Shakespeare portrays the cultures to be very different he also shows some similarities between the two societies, such as the influence the opposing vicinities hold over people and how the cultures can manipulate people's beliefs and views. Egypt is portrayed as being Epicurean, meaning they enjoy the finer things in life. The Epicurean lifestyle also shows how the Egyptians are relaxed and relatively carefree and how they are passionate about food, drink and luxuries. Rome, on the other hand, is revealed as being stoic, meaning they are authoritative, demanding and respectful. They are willing to fight for land, power and respect. When Antony was in Egypt, he was influenced to adapt to the Egyptian lifestyle. I feel this shows how persuasive and influential Egypt and Cleopatra is. It is obvious that Antony has changed from his stoic lifestyle and adapted into the epicurean way of life, at the opening of the play when Philo speaks "Take but good note, and you shall see him the triple pillar of the world transformed into a strumpets fool." From looking at what Philo is saying it think
Discuss the presentation and dynamics of the triumvirate in Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare Essay 2 Question: Discuss the presentation and dynamics of the triumvirate. In Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, the presentation and development of the relationships among the triumvirs, Caesar, Antony and Lepidus becomes a pivotal concern. As the play progresses, the dynamics of the triumvirate changes and becomes more complicated, providing the audience with the main political conflict that sometimes overshadows the romance of the title characters in the play. Shakespeare provides the audience with several different images of the triumvirate through different characters. The play's first mentioning of the triumvirate is, in essence, a masculine Roman perspective of a soldier. This is brought about through Philo and Demetrius in the opening act of the play with both the characters remaining anonymous to the audience. Therefore, they represent the 'common liar' among the Roman soldiers about the triumvirate. Philo's first introduction of the triumvirate to the audience comes in his opening speech, 'the triple pillar of the world'. The word 'pillar' which literally means a firm upright support for a superstructure or a chief supporter is indicative of the strength and force of the political union between Caesar, Antony and Lepidus. Later in Act II Scene VII, the audience is given a parallel perspective of the triumvirate. The
"A better title for this play would be 'Cleopatra and Antony' because Cleopatra is a dominant character throughout. Indeed, it might simply be called 'Cleopatra'". How far do you agree? How would a Jacobean audience react to her strength of character?
"A better title for this play would be 'Cleopatra and Antony' because Cleopatra is a dominant character throughout. Indeed, it might simply be called 'Cleopatra'". How far do you agree? How would a Jacobean audience react to her strength of character? Shakespeare structured 'Antony and Cleopatra' to mirror a historic love affair between two great characters of the past. This love affair develops into the most explosive and destructive love story, both Antony and Cleopatra finding themselves trapped between passion and logic, they both prove their limitless love by the ultimate sacrifices they make, Antony's downfall at the hands of Caesar and Cleopatra losing her beloved Egypt, both dying a 'noble' death as the last tragedy of them all. Cleopatra's dominancy can be proved by how even when not in a scene she holds this incredible power over what is happening, for example, in Act Two, Scene Two Cleopatra's determination to fight beside Antony causes Antony to clash with Caesar and Enobarbus, Enobarbus proclaiming "Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!" emphasising how much control she had but is she central to the play? In recent times, the very people who have studied Cleopatra and her reign in Egypt believe that the real character was never in love with Antony but only interested in the politics, exploiting Antony to prosper herself
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
Examine the contrast between Cleopatra and Octavia. How do they embody different aspects of womanhood and how is this opposition useful in developing the themes and actions of the play?
Examine the contrast between Cleopatra and Octavia. How do they embody different aspects of womanhood and how is this opposition useful in developing the themes and actions of the play? How might the distinction be given different emphases in performance? Antony and Cleopatra is one of Shakespeare's most dramatic plays; however it has not been staged nearly as many as plays such as Hamlet or Macbeth because it is such a hard play to produce due to its enormous variety of content. However the mere strength of the characters within the play creates intense tragic possibilities, despite the difficulties that may be faced in production. Cleopatra and Octavia are contrasting characters in the play Antony and Cleopatra. Each embodies different aspects of womanhood; each is a model of the qualities that should be seen from the country and culture they belong to. The play centres around the contrast between the lavishness of Egypt with the lineal qualities of the Roman Empire. Egypt is a country of luxurious feasts where eight wild boars are roasted for a breakfast for twelve people (2.2.189-90) and parties; it is a very sexualised place whereas Rome is a country characterised by politics, scenes of intellectuals and battles, thus the lives and loves of a Roman stand in opposition to the lives and loves of an Egyptian. Cleopatra is a symbol of Egyptian luxury, passion and lust
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
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
Antony and Cleopatra - How has Shakespeare presented the three main characters to us by the end of Act 2?
Antony and Cleopatra essay: How has Shakespeare presented the three main characters to us by the end of Act 2? When we look at Antony, Cleopatra and Caesar, we immediately see that they are completely different characters. Our first impressions of Antony are a laid-back, relaxed man, who is obsessed with Cleopatra, as any man would be. We see Cleopatra as a queen, who has power over anyone she wants to. She is also very flamboyant. Caesar, meanwhile, seems not the type of person to rule a third of the Roman Empire, as he is too young, but as the play progresses, we see a different side to him, as a more ruling and powerful man. To understand these characters more, I will study the text in more detail. When we first see Antony, in Act 1: Scene1, we get the impression that he is devoted to Cleopatra and he is a loyal lover to her, but not to his wife: Fulvia: "There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd." (line15) Shakespeare has presented him to us in this way because then later on in the play, when we see him as a politician, the audience will see that Antony can be more than the tranquil, carefree leader he is supposed to be. Philo tells us that Antony is a great soldier, but because of Cleopatra, he is not interested in the Roman world anymore. He used to be like the military hero: Mars. We also hear that he does not respect Caesar as greatly as he should. All this
'Ruthless leader....loving brother....boring Puritan....gracious victor.' Explore the way in which Shakespeare presents the character of Octavius Caesar in 'Antony
'Ruthless leader....loving brother....boring Puritan....gracious victor.' Explore the way in which Shakespeare presents the character of Octavius Caesar in 'Antony and Cleopatra' Shakespeare portrays Octavius Caesar as a very complex character in 'Antony and Cleopatra.' Shakespeare shows the audience how he has very strong feelings about War, leadership, the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, and his sister Octavia. These attitudes can be seen as being too rational, too ambitious, and too efficient. However it is these characteristics which in some ways, form the particular contrast with Antony, which shows us his complex character, which also contributes to the conflicts which arise in the play. Shakespeare is very clever in the portrayal of Caesar; he uses Caesar as a foil for Antony, however he is a character in his own right. Shakespeare shows Caesar to be, what you could say, a contradiction. The audience see how Caesar respects Antony's soldier-ship yet still fights him; they see how he clearly loves his sister, but uses her unscrupulously as a political device; and they are shown how he is very rational and dull, yet he surprisingly tells his soldiers, as well as some Egyptians about how he would parade the defeated Cleopatra. He wants to do this because he feels that 'her life in Rome would be eternal in our triumph.' This shows the reader how Caesar has
