Essay
Soothsayer's Accuracy - Essay
- Course
- Institution
- Book
This essay examines the predictions of the soothsayer when speaking to Antony, exploring the characters of Antony and Caesar and the reasons for their incompatibility.
[Show more]
Connected book
Book Title:
Author(s):
- Edition:
- ISBN:
- Edition:
More summaries for
-
Antony and Cleopatra - Summary, Characters & Themes Analysis
-
Antony and Cleopatra Summary
-
Antony and Cleopatra*SALE* FULL summary of all acts with themes, quotes, and character details and more
2 reviews
By: Alexwedel • 4 year ago
By: jessicadunn9492 • 4 year ago
Seller
Follow
kateijones
Reviews received
Content preview
Antony and Cleopatra EssayKate 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
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller kateijones. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.44. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
53068 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now