· In this essay, I shall focus primarily on Antony and Cleopatra, where the political scope of the events is complemented by the emotional scope of the characters. It is clear from the beginning of the play that the political and personal identities of the three main characters in Antony and Cleopatra are inextricably bound; Cleopatra, for instance, is referred to as The play, Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy written around The play uses the structure of history and uses a certain quality of appeal and sentimentality in fulfilling known facts, instead of merely believing his interpretations of general nature or to the unlimited indulgence of his own fancy Antony and Cleopatra 1 Pages In Antony and Cleopatra, Shakespeare constructs conflicts between world empire and human passion. The sensual and wasteful opulence of the East, where ‘the the beds are softer’ is juxtaposed to the cold, bare efficiency of the West. Egypt stands for passion, sensuality, and decadence, Rome
Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra — Literature Essay - Scrbbly Blog
Antony and Cleopatra is one of my favourite ever plays and I thoroughly enjoyed researching and writing this one. Hopefully, antony and cleopatra essay, you enjoy it! If you find it useful and need more help with English Literature, you can take a look at my online video classes and lesson resources. The complete Macbeth course includes:. The values of Roman society are political efficiency, organization, and ruthlessness.
We would assume, therefore, that political motives lay behind most of the decisions that are made and events that ensue. However, this is not always the case and the public events that occur often appear to be fuelled by emotional disputes. Although the sacrifice is also an issue of honour and an ostentatious display of military conquest, both of which are ostensibly Roman tenets, there is still a sense of true grief and emotional turmoil following the loss of his children.
Coriolanus is also a flawed character whose character flaws eventually lead to his political downfall despite his status and military prowess.
In this essay, I shall focus primarily on Antony and Cleopatra, where the political scope of the events is complemented by the emotional scope of the characters.
As the characters represent more than just themselves, the decisions they make can never be purely personal, and so inevitably will have repercussions on the rest of the world.
John Wilders notes that. In antony and cleopatra essay words, Caesar ultimately wins and Antony loses because of the kind of people they are and because of the irresistible power which Cleopatra exercises over Antony. Political conflict within the play is not based on ideology or cultural differences, but instead on personal displays of power and the potential for private gain. Although Antony can be seen to betray Rome, its people and its ideologies in antony and cleopatra essay of the more exotic Egyptian way of life, Caesar also acts purely for his own self-improvement, showing little regard for the Roman people or even any care for his own sister, whom he forces to marry Antony in an attempt to keep the peace.
Frank Kermode antony and cleopatra essay that all of the characters are in a sense governed by their flaws and that these, in turn, are what determine the outcome of the political events, which occur:. None of the characters appear responsible enough to be in control of the world, and this is because they allow their private lives to encroach too much on public events. In Julius Caesar, he is portrayed as a brave, intelligent figure whose conquests are numerous and whose speeches have the power to change the opinion of entire crowds.
Here, the audience is faced with another side of Antony, an older Antony who plays the role of the lover whose previous values have been eclipsed by his obsession with Cleopatra. He becomes increasingly governed by his emotions and acts impulsively rather than rationally.
At the beginning of antony and cleopatra essay play, his actions still retain some semblance of political motives. His marriage to Octavia, for instance, antony and cleopatra essay a pragmatic and political decision that is orchestrated to keep the peace between himself and Caesar.
However, his decision to carry on cavorting with Cleopatra despite the marriage indicates that from the offset his emotions preside over his rational thinking, antony and cleopatra essay. We are arguably faced with a portrayal of a great man in decline, and throughout the play, there is little evidence of the great warrior and political figure he once was.
Mason notes that. The Antony who is presented dramatically never makes us believe in these reports. Antony himself appears at several points throughout the play to acknowledge that he is no longer the man he once was. Cleopatra is also aware antony and cleopatra essay the change in Antony. He does, however, retain traces of his old self, which is manifest in some of his more empowering speeches:. Throughout the play, there is recurrent imagery concerning change, transformation, merging, and melting.
The instability of the political situation, with constant revisions of decisions and breaking of oaths, mirrors the emotional instability of the characters.
Anna Jameson writes that. Cleopatra is a brilliant antithesis, a compound of contradictions, of all that we must hate, with what we most admire […] What is most astonishing in the character of Cleopatra is its antithetical construction — its consistent inconsistency.
The inconsistency of her character translates into the inconstancy of her actions — she is fickle towards the messengers, praises Antony one moment and chides him the next and, above all, pledges to fight side by side with Antony and then flees the battle. The Roman and Egyptian archetypes are set in sharp contrast against each other, antony and cleopatra essay, and are embodied within Caesar and Cleopatra.
Caesar signifies a political, antony and cleopatra essay, military, pragmatic, rational and masculine ideal, which supports the notuon of subservience of the individual to the common good of the state; Cleopatra signifies an emotional, luxurious, impulsive and exotic ideal where social responsibility gives way to the demands of sensation.
Antony, on the other hand, oscillates between the two, and is caught between his sense of duty and his love for Cleopatra it is befitting, therefore, that the battle should take place at sea.
His roles differ between the two worlds — in Rome he is an old soldier with great past achievements; in Egypt he is a new lover. The weight of the forces of these opposing worlds which bore down on him can be felt even after his death. Cleopatra, on antony and cleopatra essay other hand, sees Antony in a different light:. It is his imperfections which allow the audience to empathise with him, and the suspension of his character between the two worlds which fuel the action within the play, antony and cleopatra essay.
Although the private feelings of the characters inevitable shape the events which occur in the play, the extent to which they do so can also to some degree depend upon how they are performed. Often the audience can empathise more with Antony because of his deliberations and the scope of his emotions, and less with Caesar, whose pragmatism, calculated militance and double-crossing come across as devious and expedient.
Equally, the deaths of Antony and Cleopatra can be portrayed as honourable and transcendent, as G, antony and cleopatra essay. Wilson Knight notes —. In conclusion, it is impossible to extricate the characters in Antony and Cleopatra from their actions, and so the events which occur are undoubtedly determined by the impulses and emotions, whims and thoughts of the three main characters. The political conflict which occurs is centred around personal loss or gain, and not around ideaology, and so the conflicts are fuelled by private emotions.
There is also, however, an element of there being an inherent difference between the Roman and Egyptian worlds, and the feelings of the characters are determined to a large extent by which side they choose to empathise with. This conflict between passion and reason is ultimately what transfers into a battle of worlds and, as the Cleopatra and Caesar embody the two spheres, their private feelings are an inherent part of that.
Although the portrayal of the characters in performance has antony and cleopatra essay ability to antony and cleopatra essay new light on their personalities and present them from slightly different perspectives, the events which occur are undeniably a result of personal conflicts and decisions.
John Wilders London: Routledge, p. John Antony and cleopatra essay. Jonathan Bate London: Penguin, Wilson Knight, The Imperial ThemeLondon: Routledge, p. Thanks for reading! For more Shakespeare-related articles, check out this link. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
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Shakespeare Summarized: Antony and Cleopatra
, time: 7:51≡Essays on Antony and Cleopatra. Free Examples of Research Paper Topics, Titles GradesFixer
The play, Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy written around The play uses the structure of history and uses a certain quality of appeal and sentimentality in fulfilling known facts, instead of merely believing his interpretations of general nature or to the unlimited indulgence of his own fancy Antony and Cleopatra literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Antony and blogger.comted Reading Time: 5 mins · As its title plainly suggests, Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra revolves around the extraordinary relationship between two unique individuals, one a Roman general and the other an Egyptian queen
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