Anthony and Cleopatra Essay -- essays research papers fc

Shakespe ar Uses As His Source For The Play Plutarchs Lives Of The Noble Grecians And Romans. Plutarch, along With Other Greek And Roman Authors, Saw An Opposition Between The suppress West Standing For Moral And Political Virtue And The Conquered East Representing prodigality And Decadence. How Does Shakespeares Play Present These Positions?Throughout William Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra, there is the wave-particle duality of the hard-working political life of Rome and the luxury and pleasures of Egypt. The effect of the difference amongst the two lay outs on the main char coiffeers, and on the plot, is a key infrastructure throughout the pass. It is common in Shakespeares plays for characters to talk about themselves in the third mortal, which gives them an elevated and important status. This is used to show the difference amid the relaxed and indulgent Egypt, and the more formal ways of Rome. Octavius Caesar refers to himself in the third person often in the play, It is not Caesars natural vice to scorn our wide competitorThis gives Octavius an air of importance, as he takes a strengthen of superiority over Antony because he is enjoying the luxuries of Cleopatras palace. Dance, medicinal drug and song are commonly used in Shakespearean comedy, for example in plays give care a Comedy of Errors or As You Like It. They often act as an uniting force, bringing together different groups or individuals. In Antony and Cleopatra,a tragedy, they are presented differently. They are used to indicate Egypt as a place of bar billiards. Cleopatra remarks give me some music, moody food of us that trade in love. Music is never played in Rome, and there are certainly no comical characters (such as the eunuch Mardian) and little banter. The presence of music and dance, with an entertainer such as the eunuch, shows Egypt to be a place of fun and frivolity in direct contrast to the serious political business of Rome. Shakespeare to a fault displays the contras t between the two places by his use of jocularity, particularly puns and inner innuendo. These are prevelant in the Egyptian scenes, particularly in the exchanges between Cleopatra and her courtiers. Ch sleeveian My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian. Cleopatra As well a women with a Eunuch played as with a woman This short exchange presents Egypt as a place of sexual innuendo and entertainment. Such conversations never tak... ...eir attractions, further they also have a tragic consequences. At the end of the play as Antony and Cleopatra both commit suicide. While Cleopatras death is symbolically wild-eyed, Antony cuts a pathetic figure in death. There is a prominent sense of waste at the end of the tragedy, as a great man has come to nothing because he abandoned his sense and evidence for the luxuries of Egypt. Throughout Antony and Cleopatra there is a sharp contrast between the bawdry humour and entertainment of the east and the stern morality and politics of the West. Th is is shell seen in Antonys downfall his death is caused by a romantic but illogical attempt at conquering Rome, and the battle of Actium shows the decadent Egypt destroyed and the sensible Rome victorious. In Rome Antony was at his outmatch as a man a soldier and a statesmen, whereas as Antony says in the East my pleasure lies, as does his downfall. BIBLIOGRAPHYWilliam Shakespeare, Antony & Cleopatra, Edited by Emrys Jones, new Penguin Shakespeare EditionYork Notes Advanced, Antony And Cleopatra, Robin SowerbyRichard Gill, Mastering English LiteratureRuebel www.oeaw.ac.at/kvk/cte/