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
How does Shakespeare capture the audiences' attention at the outset of the play?
How does Shakespeare capture the audiences' attention at the outset of the play? Shakespeare probably completed Anthony and Cleopatra towards the end of 1606 or early in 1607, after he had finished Macbeth and before he embarked on Coriolanus. Shakespeare, when writing the opening scene was very aware that he had to capture the audience's attention and interest therefore he opens with a Roman point of view "Nay, but this dotage of our general's overflows the measure," although the play is set in Alexandria Egypt. This will capture the audiences attention because they will be curious to why a roman soldier would be in Egypt. The opening presents the audience with Roman disapproval preparing us for the play later on, which is a miniature version of the whole story. Cleopatra and Anthony lead their lives in public everybody knows everything about their relationship and is often the most talked about subject by the servants, who help bring the plot along. The text in the opening of the outset, spoken by Philo one of Anthony's followers, prepares us for their entrance by calling Cleopatra "a gypsy" a term used for a slag, and Anthony "a strumpets fool"- this is how they both behave. The audience are put right in the thick of it, there is argument between the two main characters, Anthony and Cleopatra, and a relationship is established. In my opinion there is not a better way
What Do You Consider To Be the Function Enorbarbus Has In Act I and Act II?
What Do You Consider To Be the Function Enorbarbus Has In Act I and Act II? Enorbarbus is Antony's lieutenant and friend and Shakespeare continually develops Enorbarbus' character, role and functions within the plot throughout the first two acts. This cynically acclaimed character is one of the most remarkable in the play and contributes to the drama in many ways. From the very first time the audience sees Enorbarbus we can sense that one of his purposes to the play is that he is very sympathetic and supportive to his friend Antony. In Act I Scene 2 when Antony confesses he wished he had never met Cleopatra; "I must from this enchanting queen break off". Instead of going along with what he said Enorbarbus suggests that if that did happen then Antony would have missed "wonderful piece of work". Enorbarbus shows another service to the play, which is faithfulness, and comradeship that helps to show the kindness of his friend in the course of this action. Enorbarbus obviously does not agree with his fellow Roman comrades, Demetrius and Philo in the opening scene, where they call Cleopatra a "gypsy". When Antony says Cleopatra is "cunning past man's thought" it is Enorbarbus that comes in and objects mentioning; "Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love". In this discussion and the others in the first two acts Enorbarbus plays the role of a part
How does Shakespeare present the characters of Anthony and Cleopatra in act oneand how does he convey the contrasting worlds and values of Egypt and Rome?
Emma Dwyer Pg 1 5/7/2007 How does Shakespeare present the characters of Anthony and Cleopatra in act one and how does he convey the contrasting worlds and values of Egypt and Rome? The opulent backdrop of the palace at Alexandria provides Shakespeare, his readers and characters with the perfect scene with which to introduce a romance. For a romance it most certainly is, however at this junction it is apparent that all is not as blissful as it should be. The Roman Mark Anthony we understand to be the archetypal macho hero. Comparisons with the Greek God of war Mars are purposeful. After all he is '...the greatest solider of the world'. Certainly he comes across as the strength but also well mannered, quite the gentleman. At times he can be stern, direct; one imagines he doesn't suffer fools gladly, this is apparent during the second scene a he momentarily looses his patience with the messenger whose thankless task is to inform Anthony of his wife's death, 'Speak to me at home, mince not the general tongue'. He is too much in love with Cleopatra and it seems consistently thrives to assure her of his feelings and impress on her his intentions. Shakespeare constantly invites comparison and contrast between Egypt and Rome .The Roman world seems to look with disapproval
Analyse Shakespeares presentation of the characters of Antony and Cleopatra in Act 1.
Analyse Shakespeare's presentation of the characters of Antony and Cleopatra in Act 1. Shakespeare presents the characters of Antony and Cleopatra as being passionate, intricate and multifaceted but climactically deeply charming and appealing. Antony can be seen as being incredibly masculine, a great ruler and extremely powerful. Cleopatra can be seen as being impulsive, alluring and bewitching. Antony was a great Roman ruler and is part of the Triumvirate with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, the joint rulers of the Roman world. Philo in Scene 1 describes that Antony used to be a "triple pillar" this can connote imagery of strength and power, things Antony used to be. Philo goes on to say that Antony is not just a fool, he is Cleopatra's fool and that he in fact belongs to her suggesting that his pleasure is entirety in Egypt. Antony does realise the importance of his duties in Rome but these realisations do not come very often, in Scene 2 Antony is reminded of his Roman duties when told that Fulvia is dead and that Pompey is a threat to Rome. Cleopatra is the Queen of Egypt and a Jacobean audience would have related to her in several ways. Cleopatra in the play is unmarried and this could help the Jacobean audience to communicate with as their past monarch Queen Elizabeth I was an unmarried queen. Cleopatra can be related to Queen Elizabeth I again when Charmian tells
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
What is the importance of Charmian and Eunobarbas
What is the importance of Charmian and Eunobarbas? Throughout Act 1 the inferior characters of the play have appeared in the play and acted at first only as background extras to the main characters. The maids of Cleopatra and servants of Antony follow the main characters around and act as the conversationalists to help the reader learn what the Antony and Cleopatra are thinking. The minor characters act to an extent as a respite from the bickering and feuding of the main characters with the use of a lot of comical language. Shakespeare also is able to contrast the main characters language which is quite serious and beset with double meanings and deeper connotations, with the inferior characters simple and straightforward language. The inferior characters however play more key roles in the play than first appears. The servants are known to talk in prose; it is here used to distinguish the insubordination of the servants such as Charmian and Eunobarbas. In Act 1 Scene 2 the maid servant Charmian: Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress. In contrast to the comedic role of the servants, the inferior characters also take on another role - they act at times as a voice
What do we learn about Antony and Cleopatra and their relationship from this opening scene?
English Prep Antony and Cleopatra Question: What do we learn about Antony and Cleopatra and their relationship from this opening scene? Answer: This scene presents the readers with a brief preface to the universally known love story of Antony, the 'triple power of this world', and Cleopatra, his 'wrangling strumpet'. The scene opens with two Romans, Philo and Demetrius, discussing the incredible power Cleopatra has over Antony and the remarkable change they can perceive in Antony's character. Through Philo's opening speech we are told that Antony's former qualities included those of a strong-minded ruler and a valiant warrior, including physical prowess and military skill. However, the Romans now see him as a changed man who is no longer behaving like a ruler; instead of fulfilling the duties of a leader and returning to Rome, he is being ruled by a "tawny gypsy". Thus, before meeting the lovers themselves, we are presented with the Roman attitude towards the relationship; responsibility and allegiance has been abandoned for love. We sense that Antony must be debating in his mind whether to pursue his passion or perform his duty, and those around him are anxiously waiting for him to embrace his role as a leader again and return to his former self. On observing the interaction between the two characters, I found myself accepting Philo's objections to the relationship
Show how Shakespeare establishes the main issues of the play in the first scene of "Antony and Cleopatra"
Show how Shakespeare establishes the main issues of the play in the first scene of "Antony and Cleopatra" Shakespeare opens the play with a speech by Philo which is contemptuous and reveals a lot about the play itself: "Nay, but this dotage of our General's O'erflows the measure" Philo is referring to his "General" Mark Antony as loosing control and becoming soft headed. Philo and the Romans believe Mark Antony is foolish because he has become a hedonist who is cooling a "gypsy's lust" of course referring to Cleopatra. This is a key theme of the novel because the Romans dislike Antony's relationship with this "gypsy" because she is keeping him from his duties in Rome and the Romans do not indulge in pleasure or so it seems from the play, they are more interested in killing people on the battle fields. "Have glowed like plated Mars" those godly eyes of Antony are now full of passion for Cleopatra. Shakespeare's use of the word "glowed" is particularly intriguing because it suggests softness and the Romans think Antony is becoming soft which links with the word "dotage" in line one of the play. The word "glowed" has a long vowel sound which makes it sound even softer. The passion described here signifies Antony's feelings for Cleopatra throughout the whole play. The reference to the god "Mars" the god of war is interesting because Mark Antony himself is like a god in the
Explore the Ways In Which Shakespeare Presents Cleopatra To an Elizabethan Audience an Elizabethan Audience Would Have Already Had Preconceived Ideas About Cleopatra, As This Play Is Based On a True Story, and Cleopatra Was Commented On In ‘North
EXPLORE THE WAYS IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS CLEOPATRA TO AN ELIZABETHAN AUDIENCE An Elizabethan audience would have already had preconceived ideas about Cleopatra, as this play is based on a true story, and Cleopatra was commented on in 'North's Plutarch', as a "Pesilent plague", meaning that she brings death, panic and havoc to wherever she went. Also the audience would have already had preconceived ideas of Cleopatra, due to oral stories, which were passed from generation to generation. In these stories, she was addressed as a high-class prostitute, who lured men, into her bed, so that she could sleep with them to get whatever she wanted, this included Caesar, She had no morality. The stories say that she seduced Antony, and she overwhelmed him. The audience therefore would have been biased against Cleopatra and feel sympathy for Antony. Most of these stories would have been passed on by word of mouth and she would have been cursed on many times, which 'brain washed' the next generation and so on. Shakespeare presents Cleopatra as a character of "Infinite variety" and tries to give a balanced point of view, so as there are not any biased opinions against her. He keeps it balanced by using some multi-facetted approaches; when Antony was dying, she said, "There is nothing remarkable Beneath the visiting moon" She is saying that now that Antony is dead, there is
