Antony and Cleopatra Essay
Kate Jones
Topic 1
Soothsayer: ‘Thy demon, that spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel
Becomes afeared …’ (Act 2 sc 3 lines 20–23)
From a careful examination of the characters of Antony and Octavius Caesar, determine the
validity of this opinion.
The characters of Antony and Caesar differ in many ways. They are both respected Roman
leaders, but Antony also places value on Egyptian ideologies and his love for Cleopatra,
while Caesar is driven almost purely by ambition. This contrast in their characters means
that it is impossible for Antony and Caesar to rule as equals, and is a key factor in Antony’s
tragic demise.
Antony is initially an esteemed Roman ruler, viewed as a “plated Mars”, but his “lascivious
wassails” in Egypt are frowned upon in Rome. He marries Octavia for “his occasion”, to
strengthen his relationship with Caesar, but his subsequent return to Cleopatra damages
this alliance. His tendency to “make his will / Lord of his reason” is evidenced when he “hoists
sails and flies” from Actium, causing him to “[offend] reputation” and “los[e] command”.
However, his “noble, courageous, high, unmatchable” spirit is revealed as he chooses to
take his life rather than face “th’inevitable prosecution of / Disgrace and horror”. His suicide
allows him to reconcile his Roman and Egyptian values by becoming both a “Roman by a
Roman / Valiantly vanquished”, and thus regaining his Roman honour, as well as a
“bridegroom in [his] death”, thereby validating his love for Cleopatra.
Like Antony, Caesar is a powerful ruler, part of the “triple pillar of the world”, but he does not
have the impassioned, wilful temperament that Antony exhibits. Instead, Caesar is focused
solely on becoming “the universal landlord”, believing strongly in the Western values of duty,
obedience and authority. Caesar’s rapacity and ruthlessness are revealed as he “[makes]
wars upon Pompey” deposes Lepidus and, following Antony’s abandonment of Octavia and
the donations of Alexandria, wages war against Antony. Caesar’s strategic pursuit of power
Kate Jones
Topic 1
Soothsayer: ‘Thy demon, that spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
Where Caesar’s is not. But near him, thy angel
Becomes afeared …’ (Act 2 sc 3 lines 20–23)
From a careful examination of the characters of Antony and Octavius Caesar, determine the
validity of this opinion.
The characters of Antony and Caesar differ in many ways. They are both respected Roman
leaders, but Antony also places value on Egyptian ideologies and his love for Cleopatra,
while Caesar is driven almost purely by ambition. This contrast in their characters means
that it is impossible for Antony and Caesar to rule as equals, and is a key factor in Antony’s
tragic demise.
Antony is initially an esteemed Roman ruler, viewed as a “plated Mars”, but his “lascivious
wassails” in Egypt are frowned upon in Rome. He marries Octavia for “his occasion”, to
strengthen his relationship with Caesar, but his subsequent return to Cleopatra damages
this alliance. His tendency to “make his will / Lord of his reason” is evidenced when he “hoists
sails and flies” from Actium, causing him to “[offend] reputation” and “los[e] command”.
However, his “noble, courageous, high, unmatchable” spirit is revealed as he chooses to
take his life rather than face “th’inevitable prosecution of / Disgrace and horror”. His suicide
allows him to reconcile his Roman and Egyptian values by becoming both a “Roman by a
Roman / Valiantly vanquished”, and thus regaining his Roman honour, as well as a
“bridegroom in [his] death”, thereby validating his love for Cleopatra.
Like Antony, Caesar is a powerful ruler, part of the “triple pillar of the world”, but he does not
have the impassioned, wilful temperament that Antony exhibits. Instead, Caesar is focused
solely on becoming “the universal landlord”, believing strongly in the Western values of duty,
obedience and authority. Caesar’s rapacity and ruthlessness are revealed as he “[makes]
wars upon Pompey” deposes Lepidus and, following Antony’s abandonment of Octavia and
the donations of Alexandria, wages war against Antony. Caesar’s strategic pursuit of power
