Shakespeares Anthony and Cleopatra: an Essay
English Antony and Cleopatra essay
Topic 1: ‘It is hardly surprising that Antony and Cleopatra has at times been read as a parable about empire and duty conflicting with folly and lust.’ (René Weis, in her introduction to the Penguin Antony and Cleopatra, (London, 2005), page xxii.)
William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is, in Rene Weis’ words a “parable about empire and duty conflicting with folly and lust”, and we see this through the two main characters of Antony and Cleopatra who both struggle with the pressure that comes with ruling an empire and the conflict of the overwhelming desire that follows their love for one another. We will explore this by looking at how the other characters in the play speak of Antony and Cleopatra and of their actions, then we will examine the actions and words spoken by the couple, and lastly we will look at the outcomes which have occurred due to Antony and Cleopatra’s actions.
Throughout the play the characters of Antony and Cleopatra, each in their own way show attachment to their duties as rulers of parts of the worlds, but both hold more favour towards the finer living in life, that being of feasting, drinking, and pleasure. Both lack the ability to find a balance between work and play, resulting in these conflicting areas of their lives causing the inevitable deaths of the choice-torn lovers. The character of Antony and his actions as well as the other characters comments regarding Antony will be paid more attention in order to prove the above mentioned statement more thoroughly.
From the beginning of Antony and Cleopatra we are shown how Weis’ words can be seen as true regarding evidence given in the form of how others talk about the two. We see that others notice and speak about the couple, and their words reflect that folly and lust are conflicting with empire and duty as an existing theme of the play. There are accusations placed on Antony by the character of Philo, one of two present soldiers at the start
Topic 1: ‘It is hardly surprising that Antony and Cleopatra has at times been read as a parable about empire and duty conflicting with folly and lust.’ (René Weis, in her introduction to the Penguin Antony and Cleopatra, (London, 2005), page xxii.)
William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is, in Rene Weis’ words a “parable about empire and duty conflicting with folly and lust”, and we see this through the two main characters of Antony and Cleopatra who both struggle with the pressure that comes with ruling an empire and the conflict of the overwhelming desire that follows their love for one another. We will explore this by looking at how the other characters in the play speak of Antony and Cleopatra and of their actions, then we will examine the actions and words spoken by the couple, and lastly we will look at the outcomes which have occurred due to Antony and Cleopatra’s actions.
Throughout the play the characters of Antony and Cleopatra, each in their own way show attachment to their duties as rulers of parts of the worlds, but both hold more favour towards the finer living in life, that being of feasting, drinking, and pleasure. Both lack the ability to find a balance between work and play, resulting in these conflicting areas of their lives causing the inevitable deaths of the choice-torn lovers. The character of Antony and his actions as well as the other characters comments regarding Antony will be paid more attention in order to prove the above mentioned statement more thoroughly.
From the beginning of Antony and Cleopatra we are shown how Weis’ words can be seen as true regarding evidence given in the form of how others talk about the two. We see that others notice and speak about the couple, and their words reflect that folly and lust are conflicting with empire and duty as an existing theme of the play. There are accusations placed on Antony by the character of Philo, one of two present soldiers at the start