How does Shakespeare use his contrast between Rome and Egypt to present the themes in Antony and Cleopatra ?

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How does Shakespeare use his contrast between Rome and Egypt to present the themes in Antony and Cleopatra?

   

   In the play Antony and Cleopatra there are two different worlds, Rome and Egypt. Throughout Antony and Cleopatra, we see the hard-working political life of Rome and the luxurious and pleasurable life of Egypt. The effect of the difference between the two places on the main characters, and on the plot, is a key theme throughout the play. Rome is a world in which men compete for power in a high stakes game without clear rules. The eastern world of Egypt is, of course, totally different. Shakespeare's deception of sexuality in Egypt is presented as entirely natural. There is no sign of sin attached to this love unlike there would be from Rome. We can see that Shakespeare clearly wants us to be able to see the political and love side of either of these countries. The split between Rome and Egypt is very controversial as the Romans are so fascinated with Egypt that they cannot leave it alone. This could be the reason that the three greatest Romans, Antony Caesar and Pompey have all had sexual experience with the queen of Egypt. He uses the contrast in difference between the two countries very well and this makes the main themes in the production stand out. In Egypt, women talk openly about explicit sexuality, they express their sexual feelings, joke about sexual matters, and establish a close female community, sexuality in Egypt is closely linked to play and to feasting.

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      I have chosen to explore the theme of love first. As I feel that love is represented very differently in the two different countries. There is love in Egypt, and there is hate in Rome. I feel that this is the way the two countries are presented as it is separating the countries and showing us how different the two actually are. We see the difference between the two first as we see in the first few pages how both Antony and Cleopatra show their love for one another in very subtle but yet strong words ...

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