Enobarbus’s contemptuous attitude of consoling Antony on Fulvia’s death exhibits and validates that Enobarbus is exercising his roman side of thought. Women are seen as distractions in Rome or are used for political gain, for example Antony’s marriage to Octavia to create a bond with Caesar. Shakespeare does this as a direct contrast to Egypt which is ruled by a woman to show that Enobarbus, although very much respects Cleopatra, still sees Egypt as a conquered country that is under the empire of Rome. “Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him.”
Enobarbus’s use of prose whilst in intimate discussion with Antony, gives the audience an impression of what kind of relationship they have. “Live in an onion that should water this sorrow.” As well as bringing banter to the scene the use of prose shows that Antony and Enobarbus are very close. This is shown by the fact that Enobarbus is able to say such harsh words against Fulvia and not get a negative response from Antony.
The use of prose by Enobarbus can also be used as a form of colloquial language to show the audience the suitable medium of crude and satirical tone the conversation context has. “When old robes are worn out, there are members to make new.” Although he has become more Egyptian like and is not seen as the great warrior any longer, the conversation with Enobarbus illustrates that Antony is still a Roman in the sense that he is prepared to go back to Rome to deal with the Pompey situation rather than listen to Enobarbus and stay with Cleopatra. Conceit is used by Enobarbus to show comical effect when he talks about Fulvia’s death. The idea that the gods and the tailors of the earth were linked by the fact the gods made new people to replace the old just as tailors do to garments not only shows the insignificance of Fulvia in Antony’s life but also establishes that Enobarbus does not solely have roman characteristics. By trying to humour Antony Enobarbus presents Egyptian qualities of Charmian and Iras who on variable occasions avert Cleopatra’s emotional outburst by their wit and soothing speech. “Good madam, keep yourself within your self. The man is innocent.”
Shakespeare’s use of Enobarbus in the reflection on Antony’s changeable character is used on a numerous amount of occasions. Antony’s blunt reaction to Enobarbus’s comments (in act 2 scene 2) of sorting out Antony’s and Caesars personal disputes after the defeat of Pompey, reveal his attitude to individuals of a lower rank. As Enobarbus seems to have undercut Antony in front of the other triumvirates, Antony’s egotistical nature is not prepared to obtain advice from a soldier like Enobarbus no matter how truthful his observations.
Enobarbus:”If you borrow one another’s love for the instant”
Antony:”thou art a solder only speak no more.”
The noticeable difference within the context of the triumvirates speech’s and the soldiers (in act 2 scene 2) are that when either Antony or Caesar are speaking there is a sense of counterfeit as they are both politically driven in what they are doing.
“Further this act of grace; and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves”
In contrast when Enobarbus and Agrippa speak they do not speak as it they are negotiating but converse as the comrades they are. Enobarbus is depicted like this to show that he has nothing to hide and does not have an alternative motive (unlike Antony and Caesar who have only kept their alliance to defeat Pompey) so therefore can remain as a truthful character within the play. Enobarbus’s enjoyment in impressing his fellow soldiers with his first hand experience of the much rumoured lifestyle in Egypt gives further evidence that Enobarbus has entwined his Roman way of life with the Egyptian. “Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.” The fact that he boasts of and exaggerates the extent of his drinking and feasting is further verification of Enobarbus’s Egyptians like qualities.
The differences in societies are shown in Enobarbus’s portrayal of the first encounter between Antony and Cleopatra. From the hard cold world of roman politics and war, to the exotic and glorious world of Egypt. Enobarbus articulated and poetical account of the lovers’ first meeting illustrates the reasoning of Antony’s passionate love for Cleopatra.
“Antony,,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
And made a gap in nature.”
The effect of the plain spoken Enobarbus giving such a poetical description is to convey that Cleopatra’s dramatic appearance with every detail calculated for maximum effect did not only capture Antony’s heart but in many ways gained the love and esteem of Enobarbus.
The striking use of blank verse and prose are to enhance the intensity of the poetry and accentuate the emotions Enobarbus is experiencing. This is used especially in the speech about Cleopatra. The speech is of divergence to the prose spoken before it. The iambic rhythm has a pulsating, smooth and almost hypnotic effect on the audience.
“The water which they beat to follow faster,
As amorous of their stroke.”
The imagery used here is to show a similar feeling felt by the onlookers who were watching the barge. Enobarbus’s use of simile contributes to the conception of Cleopatra as the personification of beauty and fervour.
”Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling cupids.”
The impression that the gods of love seemed to be guarding Cleopatra presents the fact that even if Antony had tried to push his desire for Cleopatra away it would have been impossible.
Further use of simile by Enobarbus in his speech is the boat glowing in the suns fiery rays as a comparison of a throne.
“The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne
Burned on the water.”
The alliteration in “barge”, “burnished” and “burned” produces a blunt but influential statement for the audience, which represents one side of Cleopatra’s character, the great queen of Egypt. A sense of seductiveness is created from the soft alliteration in “poop”, “purple” and “perfumed” which represents another side to her character that shows her soft, emotional and passionate self. Enobarbus’s understanding of Cleopatra’s complex identity at such an early stage demonstrates that Enobarbus’s intelligence and perceptiveness’ is that of a higher understanding that usually depicts a character of his status.
Eroticism is developed by the metaphors in “Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
He winds were lovesick with them.”
Enobarbus’s use of language shows that Cleopatra is not only loved by Egypt as queen, but she is also loved by Mother Nature herself. The reference to the winds being lovesick with the sails which are connected to the barge that Cleopatra is on illustrates that Cleopatra’s love and sensual ardour is pushing the barge. Enobarbus’s reasoning for Antony’s behaviour, who, has so much to lose and is willing to risk it all for the love of a woman allows the audience to imagine how special Cleopatra must be to have such an impact on one of the most powerful men in the known world.
The imagery of Cleopatra as a perfect being that even nature shows affection for her creates a sense of overpowering and exaggerates Cleopatra’s character.
“The silken tackle
Swell with the touches of those flower soft hands.”
The deliberate, extravagant use of hyperbole by Enobarbus supports the view that he has adopted the Egyptian life style and as Egypt is fundamentally Cleopatra his love for the country also elongates to Cleopatra. “O’picturing that Venus” the identification with Venus is used her to show how the hyperbolic styles present Cleopatra in a perplexing and mysterious image echoing Cleopatra’s complex emotions. Elision in “O’picturing” provides emphasis on the word Venus, portraying Cleopatra in the eyes of Enobarbus as so important that the language that does not describe her, is inconsequential.
Cleopatra’s beauty suppresses even the best that can be created by art and improving on nature. The “glow the delicate cheeks” is created by the fans that were intended to cool her “they did cool.” The paradox used here is to illustrate that Cleopatra is beyond the scope of ordinary humanity. This also supports that Cleopatra is seen as god like by her followers and Enobarbus. Paradox is also shown through Enobarbus’s juxtaposition and hyperbolic description of Cleopatra in the barge and her
“Hop forty paces through the public street,
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted
That she did make defect perfection.”
The seemingly contradictory description gives evidence that to Enobarbus and in Egyptian society, Cleopatra is the model of perfection no matter what her actions.
Enobarbus’s sensual language in describing Cleopatra exemplifies that he does not represent one particular ethnicity. His unique character is presented by Shakespeare as being borrowed from both Egyptian and roman cultures. The importance of the chorus resembling speech, allows the audience to see Cleopatra in a view other than a negative Roman one. Shakespeare used Enobarbus instead of any other character as he is able to distance himself to a certain extent and not give a biased account. As he is established as an honest and sincere character his judgement would be accepted more easily by the audience. The powerful description of Cleopatra’s and Antony’s first meeting coming from Enobarbus, who usually speaks idiomatic prose, provides further evidence that Enobarbus has far more emotional depth than a simple soldier and is capable of imaginative response on levels equivalent to Antony and Cleopatra.
The blunt prose of Menas and Enobarbus, in act 2 scene 6, former enemies brought together by the treaty provides a cynical, realistic comment on the behaviour of the world leaders (triumvirate). Enobarbus again forecasts the future by stating that Antony’s and Cesar’s new alliance is not as strong as he would hope and that Antony’s marriage to Octavia will inevitably be a cause of friction between them. “But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity.” Enobarbus’s sceptical Roman side is brought out, by the fact that he does not trust Cesar and his apparent closeness to Antony. Emphasizing that he is far more perceptive than Antony or Lepidus who are unable to see the fact that Cesar is using them and once finished will set about getting rid of them.
The language used in the Enobarbus’s description of Octavia and Cleopatra portrays contrasting images competing for Antony. Enobarbus’s description of Octavia who is Cesar sister is of “holy, cold and still.” The harsh assonance of “holy and cold” represent Enobarbus’s true feelings for Octavia and his distrust towards Cesar extends to Octavia. The use of oxymoron in “holy, cold” is to show the type of character Octavia is someone who appears innocent but in reality is as much as an actor as Cesar. Enobarbus’s use of Thoracic syllables in “cold and still conversation” is a contrast to the iambic beat that Enobarbus uses for Cleopatra. Demonstrating Enobarbus’s cynicism towards Octavia. The difference in Enobarbus’s description of Cleopatra is illustrated by the fact that he uses a positive tone when he describes her as Antony’s “Egyptian dish”. Shakespeare’s choice of the word dish instead of any other word shows that Antony needs Cleopatra; she is the substance that keeps him alive and is just as important to Antony as food is. Enobarbus expresses the two different women in this way to show that Antony needs more than Octavia can provide. He needs the passionate, extraordinary and emotionally charged Cleopatra (Egypt). Rather than the cold emotionless representation of Rome (Octavia).
As the play draws nearer to a conclusion we find Enobarbus loyalties towards Antony being tested. This is illustrated by the use of blank verse by Enobarbus when talking about Antony (in act3 scene2).”That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum.” The audience are shown that by using blank verse Enobarbus is becoming more distance from Antony, where as in earlier scenes the closeness of their relationship was shown by their use of prose whilst in private discussions.
Enobarbus’s desertion to Cesar leaves him heart broken. The realisation in the mistake of changing sides creates a sense of guilt around Enobarbus which is intensified by the magnanimous gesture by Antony. ”Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart” the emotional impact of his grief leads to Enobarbus committing suicide, the most honourable death seen by both the Roman’s and the Egyptians. This is undercut by the fact that he dies in a ditch illustrating that Enobarbus was not a hypocrite he knew that he did not deserve a heroic death but one that showed repentance for his treachery.
“I will go seek
Some ditch wherein to die”
Shakespeare presentation of Enobarbus through out the play of a soldier torn between two worlds, whose power to move hearts and minds of the audience symbolises a true hero. His strong judgement and passionate loyalty to himself, Antony and Cleopatra is a testament to the power of one character that had embodied the tragedy of two contrasting world’s. Shakespeare’s illustration of Enobarbus as a character in his own right is to demonstrate the importance of why the two diverse societies could never represent one character. This is shown by the fact that Enobarbus a roman soldier who was inspired to speak such imaginative commentary on first sight of Cleopatra, was the same soldier who killed himself as a testament of his loyalty to Antony and his deep desire not to be left heart broken by his struggle to interweave the Egyptian life and roman as one.
