The central concerns of the Antony and Cleopatra as illustrated by Act 1, Scene 3, lines 24 - 41.
Chantal Fauconier 36304808 Due Date: 03 August 2005 Modular Code: ENN206-M Assignment 01: The central concerns of the Antony and Cleopatra as illustrated by Act 1, Scene 3, lines 24 - 41. This essay will look at two of the central concerns in Antony and Cleopatra, namely reason versus passion and the public versus private domains. These two central concerns of the play are clearly illustrated in the extract we are provided with. I will mainly focus on the character of Antony in this essay as it is within him that these two concerns of the play are most evident. In the beginning of the play we see that Mark Antony has been neglecting his duties as part of the triumvirate of Rome as he has been staying with his mistress Cleopatra. His wife, Fulvia, dies and Octavius Caesar and Lepidus request that he joins them to deal with the threat of Pompey. When Antony becomes aware of Pompey's threat and Fulvia's death, he realises that he needs to free himself from the "enchanting queen" (1.2.125) or risk wasting away "in dotage" (1.2.114) (Branco, 2003). Antony goes to tell Cleopatra that he will be leaving Egypt. The extract given refers to the discussion that occurs between Cleopatra and Antony as he informs her that he will be returning to Rome. Cleopatra is very distressed by the news and accuses Antony of betrayal and being happy to return to Fulvia. She also accuses him of
Explore how Shakespeare develops the themes of duty
Explore how Shakespeare develops the themes of duty, responsibility, love and loyalty in the "Antony and Cleopatra". Throughout the play "Antony and Cleopatra", Shakespeare develops and explores the themes of duty, responsibility, love and loyalty; from the very beginning of the play Shakespeare places these themes in conflict with one another and these conflicts are embodied in the most obvious sense through Antony's rejection of the Roman Empire and its ideals for the love of Cleopatra and a far more frivolous laid back life in Egypt. And in turn these differences in ideals are conveyed to the audience in the beginning of the first act when Philo and Demetrius come to the stage and discuss Antony's "dotage" over Cleopatra and how it "O'erflows the measure." Philo laments at how Antony, once a powerful warrior, triumvir of the Roman Empire and a "triple pillar of the world" has given up all this power and become "the bellows and the fan [that] cool a gipsy's lust". The language used by Shakespeare at this point in the play helps to establish the antithetical nature of the Egyptians and the Romans; Philo describes Antony with powerful hyperboles and metaphors, evoking potent superhuman, heroic imagery as he speaks of Antony's eyes that glowed like "plated mars", passionately and verbosely referring to his "captain's heart" which was so powerful that it "burst the buckles on
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra in the play 'Antony and Cleopatra'
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra in the play 'Antony and Cleopatra' 'A woman of infinite variety'. This may be a very accurate portrayal of Cleopatra in my opinion. Cleopatra is a very interesting character in Shakespeare's 'Antony and Cleopatra'. She is presented in many ways; she is a great lover yet childish within her actions. Her actions are a reflection of her personality and shows how her character develops throughout the play. She goes from childish to suffering her consequences of this. The presentation of Cleopatra contributes to the play's audiences and the things she does are a reflection of her love for Antony. Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra helps to make her a credible character and helps audience to relate to her actions taken. An aspect of Cleopatra's presentation is when she is with and without Antony. It is noticeable how her actions change, with the juxtaposition of scenes where she is in Egypt without Antony. Without him, we see her as a woman in love. She spends hours wondering where her beloved Antony is and what is he doing. She often ponders if he is thinking of her. She is infatuated with him. She can't bear to be apart from him. This is shown in act 1 scene 5 when Cleopatra asks to drink 'mandragora'. This is a type of sleeping drug. She is effectively saying that she can't bear to be parted from her lover so she might as
Explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra.
English Literature: Shakespeare coursework Explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra The epic love affair of Antony and Cleopatra is a great and powerful love shared by two people at the height of their fame and glory, and it is Shakespeare's greatness to show Antony and Cleopatra in love, in the celebration of their love before disaster strikes, and after it has struck. There are many aspects to the way in which Shakespeare presents this relationship between these two characters. In Act One-scene 1, we first see Antony and Cleopatra together as Cleopatra challenges Antony to say how much he loves her, "if it be love indeed, tell me how much", Antony's reply, that his love is so great that it exceeds the boundaries of heaven and earth, is reinforced by his dismissal of the news from Rome. Antony uses extravagant, expansive statements to express the nature of his love. Shakespeare's use of extravagant and exaggerated figure of speech through the words of Antony, hyperbole, emphasizes the immensity of his passion. This example of Hyperbole is an example of how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra, because it is through his language on this particular occasion that he expresses the love Antony has for Cleopatra. Other examples of exaggerated language that Shakespeare presents, such as Antony's heart having
'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
'Cleopatra is often interpreted as the designing woman who brings down a worthy soldier and ruler, but this view is simplistic.' How do you, in the 21st century, respond to Shakespeare's dramatic presentation of Cleopatra?
'Cleopatra is often interpreted as the designing woman who brings down a worthy soldier and ruler, but this view is simplistic.' How do you, in the 21st century, respond to Shakespeare's dramatic presentation of Cleopatra? Cleopatra can only be described as 'designing' when her character is examined on an entirely superficial level. Beyond the obvious fluctuations in mood and volatile behaviour she exhibits throughout the play, there lies an intensely vulnerable and accessible woman, more so than ever to a modern audience. She is, in a sense, a woman well ahead of her times, both that of the Imperial Roman Empire and that of James I in which she was originally portrayed. Her volatility, particularly in the early stages of the play, is easily misconstrued as a Machiavellian tendency to manipulate for the satisfaction of her own whims. On first experience of the play, her request of Antony to 'tell me how much' he loves her seems foolish, even embarrassing, a public taunting of an important man. However, on subsequent re-examination, when the depth of her feeling for Antony (particularly in her anguish at his death) has been demonstrated, her 'taunting' gains another dimension. This question is more than trivial to her, however she might behave; she needs his reassurance. She is desperate to cling on to Antony's love, incredibly sensitive when it is threatened. Her first
Antony and Cleopatra conveys a sense of both vastness and intimacy. Discuss.
Antony and Cleopatra essay: Antony and Cleopatra conveys a sense of both vastness and intimacy. Discuss. 'Antony and Cleopatra' takes place in both Rome, the political side of the play, and Egypt, the feminine, seductive aspect of the play. Then, of course, there are the battle scenes which take place in Actium and Syria. The important cities are a vast space away from each other, but even so, Antony and Cleopatra keep their love for each other, and show their intimacy, with other characters also. Even though the two major places are not other ends of the earth, they would seem a long way away from each other in Elizabethan times, as they did not have the travel we do now. We first see this vastness in Act 1: Scene 3, in one of Antony's speeches, where he tells Cleopatra: " my heart remains in full use with you", but decides that he must leave her for Rome. He tells of Italy, Rome and Egypt and his political duty. Shakespeare has placed this here to prepare us for the demands of Antony and how far Egypt and Rome seemed from each other. When Messengers, or other characters from the play, talk of different cities or lands, Shakespeare makes them seem very foreign and either exotic or military. As Pompey says: " Mark Antony in Egypt sits at dinner." he makes Egypt sound like a relaxing place, far away from the battles and politics of Rome. The word 'sits' gives us a picture
Using Act III Scene 13, how does Shakespeare present the character of Mark Antony?
Using Act III Scene 13, how does Shakespeare present the character of Mark Antony? In Act III Scene 13, Antony receives the news that Cleopatra's request has been granted, and his ignored. He sends an ambassador to propose a duel between himself and Caesar. Then Caesar's ambassador comes in, and as he is kissing Cleopatra's hand, Antony walks in. He orders for the ambassador, Thidias, to be whipped, inviting Caesar to do the same to his own ambassador. He then shouts angrily at Cleopatra; not only because of Thidias, but also because she was the reason he left the naval battle. After Cleopatra has satisfied Antony with her responses. He then resolves to fight Caesar, and behaves as he did in Julius Caesar, a brave warrior; Shakespeare here shows that Antony has returned to his former self, or at least a close approximation to the attitude displayed in Julius Caesar. In the opening of the scene, Shakespeare presents Antony in a very negative light; Enobarbus says that Antony's 'captainship', his competence as a captain, has been 'nicked' by his infatuation with Cleopatra: 'The itch of his affection should not then/ Have nicked his captainship'. Shakespeare's word choice makes this a particularly demeaning comment; the fact that Antony's love for Cleopatra is reduced to an 'itch' here shows that Enobarbus clearly does not think very highly of Antony's affection, as it is a
The personal and political are inseparable in 'Antonyand Cleopatra'; the one informs the other. To what extent do you agree with this view of the play?
India Silvani- Jones 12J Mr. Thorpe 25th March The personal and political are inseparable in 'Antony and Cleopatra'; the one informs the other. To what extent do you agree with this view of the play? The political and personal issues in 'Antony and Cleopatra' are often closely linked and it is often the case that political events are results of personal issues. Relationships are also affected by both the personal and political. This is shown when Caesar enforces the idea that Antony should marry his sister, Octavia. Caesar perhaps exploits his sister to an extent, using her as a means of solidifying a link and loyalty of alliance between the second triumvirate in order to defeat Pompey. Caesar's lack of respect for Octavia, shown in this way is something you would not expect from siblings in such a respected position in society. Antony is bound to snub Octavia for Cleopatra, as Enobarbus predicts to Caesar's men, leaving her extremely upset and with this as a possible reason for Caesar to propose war. Antony agrees to the idea, perhaps to attempt to strengthen the links between him and Caesar for his own benefits, by bringing himself into the family. This shows that such personal issues such as love and marriage, which should normally be taken so seriously, are used for the advantage of political affairs. Caesar's Machiavellian actions show the extent that the characters
English Coursework- Antony and Cleopatra
English Coursework- Antony and Cleopatra "Compare Shakespeare's presentation of Antony in the Egyptian scenes with his presentation of Antony in the Roman scenes" Shakespeare presents Antony in Egypt and Antony in Rome, in a very contrasting way. We see a man who almost contradicts his own self, dependant upon the company he is in. A great leader, yet he falls before Cleopatra. Antony is presented as the epitome of Roman masculinity, Philo describing Antony in the opening- "...those his goodly eyes, that o'er the files and musters of the war have glow'd like Mars...his captain's heart, which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst the buckles on his breast..."-These words conjuring up imagery of war, machismo, and strength. Ideals that are most reputable in a Roman. Yet this man's role can be seen as sublimely reversed when in the presence of Cleopatra, the domineering, hedonistic Queen of Egypt, his love. Caesar says of Antony in Act 1 scene 4- "... (Speaking of Antony) he fishes, drinks, and wastes the lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike than Cleopatra, nor the Queen of Ptolomy more womanly than he." Coming from Caesar, one of Antony's triumvirate counterparts, this is a strong statement, highlighting the problems Antony has caused. I do believe that there is much more depth to Antony's self in Egypt, however it seems at essence he is a different man.
