‘Here am I Antony,
Yet cannot hold this visible shape.’ (Antony: Act 4 sc 13 lines 13-14)
‘Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures
Turn all to serpents.’ (Cleopatra Act 2 sc 5 lines 78-79)
The theme of dissolution pervades Antony and Cleopatra. Is this effec...
Antony and Cleopatra - Summary, Characters & Themes Analysis
Antony and Cleopatra Summary
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Topic 2.3
“Noble Antony” is a powerful solider, a worthy friend, and a steadfast lover.
Throughout the play, Antony refers to honour. “The honour is scared” suggest
that Antony has based his drive and morals on his code of honour. An analysis of
Antony’s character will show that majority of his personality is driven by honour.
Honour, by definition, is he quality of knowing and doing what is morally right.
Antony’s understanding of himself is largely based on the fact he is referred to as
the “demi-Atlas of this earth.” In Antony’s mind, he is primarily and essentially a
Roman hero of the first excellence. “[Cleopatra’s] man of men” often recalls the
glory days of his own heroism. Antony became a “triple pillar of the world” after
avenging the death of Julius Caesar and thus, earning his place as a triumvir.
As he points out to Octavia in his current actions, his affair with the “rare
Egyptian!,” imperil his honor, and without his honor—the defining characteristic
of the Roman hero—he can no longer be Antony: “If I lose my honor, / I lose
myself.” An example of Antony’s beginning loss of his honour is when he leaves
the Battle of Actium to follow “[his] precious queen” as she flees. By standards of
Rome, “an action of such shame” has never been seen by Romans before.
“Experience, manhood, [and] honour” are lost to Antony as his obsession with
Cleopatra grows. Even though, Enobarbus suggests that Cleopatra’s “presence
needs must puzzle Antony”, Antony still loves her.
Later, having suffered defeat at the hands of both Caesar and Cleopatra, Antony
returns to the imagery of the stripped tree as he laments, “[T]his pine is barked /
That overtopped them all”. Antony drifts from Roman ideals, he remains and
Roman as he acknowledges his faults and repents theme. Antony is described as
“valiant but dejected.” Rather than amend his identity to accommodate these
defeats, Antony chooses to take his own life, an act that restores him to his brave
and indomitable former self. In suicide, Antony manages to convince himself and
the known world that he is “a Roman by a Roman / Valiantly vanquished”
Although Antony is a complex character, who struggles to keep his private life
and public duty; he is largely driven by his code of honour but also for his
obsession and love for Cleopatra. Antony’s drive is not solely based on honour
and his love for Cleopatra, but also based on his Roman roots and ideals.
Therefore, to a large extent is Antony’s drive based on his code of honour but yet,
not entirely on honour alone.
438 words.
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