What we learn about the characters of Cleopatra, Enobarbus and Antony
Prepare a critical analysis of this section of the play (the description of the barge), focusing on: The language use What we learn about the characters of Cleopatra, Enobarbus and Antony How this section relates to the play as a whole In this extract Enobarbus is relishing the attention of his fellow Roman soldiers as he recounts the spectacular first meeting between Cleopatra and Antony. He chooses a highly poetic, descriptive vocabulary to paint a picture of the extravagant sight of Cleopatra's barge on its stately voyage down the river, bringing the sights, sounds and colours vividly to life for his spellbound audience. The opening lines of the extract show the dominant position Cleopatra holds in his memory: "she pursued up his heart". The verb suggests that Cleopatra was the active participant in the love affair with Antony, revealing her predatory sexuality and supreme confidence in her own power and attractions. Agrippa's interjections take the form of awestruck exclamations, revealing the extent of curiosity about the exotic lifestyle in Egypt that the Roman soldiers can usually only speculate about. Enobarbus swells with importance as he begins his account, and the line "I will tell you" is both a reminder of his own participation in the events, and a way of heightening expectation. The potent imagery of his speeches portrays Cleopatra as a rival to the
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
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.
How does Enobarbus portray Cleopatra in Act 2 Scene 2 throughout the barge scene, and what techniques are used?
How does Enobarbus portray Cleopatra in Act 2 Scene 2 throughout the barge scene, and what techniques are used? In Act 2 Scene 2, Enobarbus describes the first meeting between Antony and Cleopatra on the Nile, in all its glory. Enobarbus, a typically blunt solider uses poetic language in describing Cleopatra’s appearance, showing the effect that the Egypt Queen has on men, making her seem all the more powerful. ‘The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned in the water’ conveys a sensual impression of Cleopatra, showing her coming down the Nile in the most luxurious fashion making her seem like a desirable object for the Roman men. The description of silver and gold on the barge Cleopatra travelled on shows the elegance the Egyptian Queen carries with her and the impression she leaves on men. Enobarbus recalls the scene using both visual and olfactory imagery – ‘Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were lovesick’, even personifying the wind, to give us the impression that Cleopatra is intoxicating to those who see her; that they can recall their time near her in great detail. It is said that Cleopatra’s appearance ‘beggared all description’ and that she is, ‘O’erpicturing the Venus where we see The fancy outwork nature’ – We get the impression through Enobarbus’ description that Cleopatra is a great beauty, as he cannot
Antony and Cleopatra analysis of Act one Scene one
Antony and Cleopatra analysis of Act one Scene one 'Antony and Cleopatra' by William Shakespeare is a play about a Roman General Antony and an Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. In Act one Scene one it shows how Antony puts Cleopatra in front of his army but Cleopatra just manipulates him successfully. The first part of the play is set in Alexandria. Cleopatra is a powerful woman and she knows she can get everything she wants. She loves the attention being on her, as she thinks so highly of herself. Cleopatra is experienced and manipulating but she is also captivating, 'Everything becomes her.' She uses charisma and charm to persuade people so she always gets her way. Cleopatra has good looks so she can have any man she wants. She knows that Antony is madly in love with her and he will do anything she commands. She is externally fascinating and strong minded. Antony is a General, before meeting Cleopatra he was seen has a respectful and honourable man. Since meeting Cleopatra he has forgotten about how important he is to the rest of his men. Antony has abandoned them for his true love Cleopatra and as suffered the consequences as now they no longer dote him. He has been put under Cleopatra's powerful spell. His heart is now set on a woman rather than war. He used to have a high reputation but now his own men have turned their backs on him. Antony and Cleopatra enter together.
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
Read the following extract from Act 1 scene 2. In what ways does this passage show the conflict of Rome and Egypt?
AS English Literature - Section A - 'Read the following extract from Act 1 scene 2. In what ways does this passage show the conflict of Rome and Egypt?' - Throughout Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra, location plays an important role in the development of the play. It is one of few plays to have such a frequent interchange between locations and at the heart of this are the two contrasting worlds of Egypt and Rome. The two countries seem to differ completely to each other and this is reflected by the different attitudes of their respective people. Act 1 scene 2 is a pivotal scene in the play as the ladies-in-waiting of Cleopatra's court have their fortunes told by a soothsayer, this turns out to foreshadow the later events of the play. The passage is one of the most accurate at showing the substantial differences between the people and life of Rome and Egypt. It begins with the soothsayer telling the fortune of Charmian and Iras however, the two joke about the predictions and it is in this part that Shakespeare instils the passage full of sexual innuendo between the women to show the nature of the Egyptian women. Shakespeare's famous wit with wordplay is seen clearly as Charmian hints at the sexual meaning behind the word 'inch' while Iras clearly confirms both their intentions with the statement that were she to have an extra inch it would 'Not [go] in my husband's nose'.
How is Cleopatra's 'infinite variety' reflected in the language that she uses? In your answer you should include detailed reference to at least 2 passages from the play.
How is Cleopatra's 'infinite variety' reflected in the language that she uses? In your answer you should include detailed reference to at least 2 passages from the play. Throughout the play many sides of Cleopatra are shown, this suggests she is constantly masking her true feelings, this ability shows her as a good queen of Egypt, but also a stubborn, yet scared person. The first passage I will refer to is Act I, Scene 1, where Antony and Cleopatra are happy and flirtatious. Here Cleopatra is portrayed as a flirtatious and dominant character, almost like a 'femme fatale' with her use of language suggesting this via words and statements such as "If it be love indeed, tell me how much", "Hear the ambassadors", these two statements are direct and dominant, she tells Antony to do these things rather than asking him. Also, the way she talks about love in this manner shows her as independent and strong. In this scene she also teases and manipulates Antony with her talk of Fulvia, his wife, and Caesar's hold over him, this is encouraging him to write them off and declare his loyalty to her, as he seems to be doing with his statement "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch of the rang'd Empire fall: here is my space". Although this scene shows Antony and Cleopatra's love, it also shows Cleopatra's strong will and manipulation skills, as can be seen on many occasions
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
An essay on the first stanza of 'A game of chess'
An essay on the first stanza of 'A game of chess' Through calling this poem 'A game of chess', Eliot continues with the theme he starts in 'The burial of the dead' of people who are trapped in a wasteland and making no effort to escape it, so are therefore stuck like a those in a check-mate during a real game of chess. The title is also a reference to 'Women beware women' by Middletone, a story in which a mother-in-law is playing chess, unaware that each move she makes on the chess board is matched by a move in the seduction of her daughter-in-law by the duke in the story. The reference to Middleton's 'Women beware women' gives a depiction of passion and lust which Eliot uses as a contrast in the poem. In the first stanza, Eliot describes a room that is elaborately decorated and filled with beautiful items such as, "Sevenbranched candelabra" and "Vials of ivory and coloured glass." Even though the room is decorated expensively, through listing the expensive items, he devalues them using bathos and parodying the woman's efforts to create a room that is full of amazing items and ending up devaluing them. He compares the lady's room to Imogen's bedroom in 'Cymbeline,' through the mention of cupids, symbols of love. To stress the fact that although the woman has them, they are not full of life like the ones in Imogen's bedroom. The woman in the room, a metaphor for
