Antony and Cleopatra:
- Cannot do a full Octavian essay, has to be with either Cleopatra or Antony.
- The play is a spectacle of characters on the stage that we as audience are
seeing all the time
- Whose tragedy is it – Anthony, Cleo or Rome.
- Death scenes handled differently than what Shakespeare usually does. They
are seen as individuals and celebrities.
Essay:
- As an audience member you are expecting the usual schematics of his
tragedies.
- Shakespeare challenges traditional thinking with this play.
- Presenting a unique play structured in a different way.
- Politics cannot only be politics in power but there has to be an essence of
humanism – Cleopatras love, kindness and understanding that the characters
learn.
- The characters are presented differently, one stronger than the other.
- Explain the play – who Antony is and what changes when he meets
Cleopatra. (isn’t there something more)
- The roman soldiers criticise Antony cause of what he did above.
- Octavian is doing nothing else in the play but secure power for himself (self-
fulfilling)
- The play is set in the end of an era. – Rome is suffering under tyranny and
rebellions
- Machiavellian control – belief that he will be in control – aim is to gain power
at all costs – deceitful and corrupt seen as a means of getting what he wants.
- Cleopatra is the catalyst – she is the one that changes ideas, exposes people
to different views and she tests Caesar the most.
- She is emotionally superior and intellectually superior than Antony, she is a
powerful leader and is secure in her rule over Egypt and she is an enchanting
lover (uses her sexuality)
- Cleopatra is as powerful as any soldier.
- Antony is Rome’s iconic hero – he is like plated mars – he responds with
muscle and sword he isn’t a thinker but only a military strategist.
- Cleopatra is a thinker, a military strategist and a sexual vixen.
- Cleopatras allure and power over Antony is not unnoticed – opening scene
the critical of Antony.
- The Roman world is a patriarchal world but is a world of distress – the roman
women in the play are nothing like Cleopatra – Octavia is the representation
of the roman woman.
- Both worlds are flawed – Rome excess in military and Egypt excess in sexual.
- Cleopatra can divorce her emotions at battle.
- She challenges and exposes Antony to a new state of thinking.
- She prevents Caesar from getting victory over her.
- Seeks a nobleness in life – Antony. Yearns a love – Cleopatra
- Cleopatra is a political player too
- Cannot do a full Octavian essay, has to be with either Cleopatra or Antony.
- The play is a spectacle of characters on the stage that we as audience are
seeing all the time
- Whose tragedy is it – Anthony, Cleo or Rome.
- Death scenes handled differently than what Shakespeare usually does. They
are seen as individuals and celebrities.
Essay:
- As an audience member you are expecting the usual schematics of his
tragedies.
- Shakespeare challenges traditional thinking with this play.
- Presenting a unique play structured in a different way.
- Politics cannot only be politics in power but there has to be an essence of
humanism – Cleopatras love, kindness and understanding that the characters
learn.
- The characters are presented differently, one stronger than the other.
- Explain the play – who Antony is and what changes when he meets
Cleopatra. (isn’t there something more)
- The roman soldiers criticise Antony cause of what he did above.
- Octavian is doing nothing else in the play but secure power for himself (self-
fulfilling)
- The play is set in the end of an era. – Rome is suffering under tyranny and
rebellions
- Machiavellian control – belief that he will be in control – aim is to gain power
at all costs – deceitful and corrupt seen as a means of getting what he wants.
- Cleopatra is the catalyst – she is the one that changes ideas, exposes people
to different views and she tests Caesar the most.
- She is emotionally superior and intellectually superior than Antony, she is a
powerful leader and is secure in her rule over Egypt and she is an enchanting
lover (uses her sexuality)
- Cleopatra is as powerful as any soldier.
- Antony is Rome’s iconic hero – he is like plated mars – he responds with
muscle and sword he isn’t a thinker but only a military strategist.
- Cleopatra is a thinker, a military strategist and a sexual vixen.
- Cleopatras allure and power over Antony is not unnoticed – opening scene
the critical of Antony.
- The Roman world is a patriarchal world but is a world of distress – the roman
women in the play are nothing like Cleopatra – Octavia is the representation
of the roman woman.
- Both worlds are flawed – Rome excess in military and Egypt excess in sexual.
- Cleopatra can divorce her emotions at battle.
- She challenges and exposes Antony to a new state of thinking.
- She prevents Caesar from getting victory over her.
- Seeks a nobleness in life – Antony. Yearns a love – Cleopatra
- Cleopatra is a political player too
