Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare - Book Report/Review Example

Cleopatra: Queen or Serpent of the Nile? Who or what exactly was Cleopatra? Some picture her as a heroine – a beautiful, courageous, dignified queen and yet a woman whose only fault was falling in love. Others brand her as a villainess with no scruples, immoral, vindictive to a point where nothing would stand in the way, provided that she got what she wanted. It remains for the reader to draw his own conclusion. We glean from biographers that she was a Queen of Egypt who led a most colorful and fascinating life. Even death by her own hand was marked by equally colorful circumstances. She lived a few years before the birth of Christ (69-30 B.C.) On the death of her father, Ptolemy XI, she ruled jointly with her brother and husband, Ptolemy XII. Expelled from the throne in 49 B.C, she took refuge in Syria. Julius Caesar, yielding to her charms, reinstated her as ruler of Egypt with another brother, Ptolemy XIII as co-ruler. From 46 to 44 B.C., she resided in Rome and is pressured to have given birth to a son named Caesarian for whom she killed her husband. “In 41 B.C., Mark Antony and Octavian a.k.a. Octavius or Octavius Caesar were partitioning the Roman world between them, and it was when Cleopatra visited Anthony in Asia. He fell completely under her spell, neglected his wife Octavia, the sister of his partner and rival, thereby precipitating the inevitable struggle” (Grolier Encyclopedia, 1961, p.11). We shall now attempt to draw from the play, Antony and Cleopatra, William Shakespeare’s view of the lovers and especially his characterization of Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, making use of the historical present. The major part of the play is found in the short opening scene (Act I, Scene 1). The Holy Roman Empire at this time is being ruled over by a triumvirate consisting of Mark Antony, Octavius and Lepidus. After Antony and Cleopatra fall in love, a messenger arrives to call Antony back to Rome and is mocked by Cleopatra. In Scenes 2 and 3, the tension created between Antony’s political obligation and his infatuation increase. More messengers arrive from Rome bearing bad news. The triumvirate of which Antony is a member, is threatened with unrest. Forces from Parthia have conqured Syria. This is accompanied by news of the death of Fulvia, Antony’s wife. Duty compels Antony to return home despite Cleopatra’s pleas for him not to leave her. Antony’s struggle between duty and pleasure is revealed by his words, “I must from this enchanting queen break off.” Ultimately, Cleopatra accepts as inevitable Antony’s decision to depart. This could be the result of the latter’s persuasive powers. This opens our eyes to the fact that Cleopatra herself is a reasonable person, aware oif what she must or must not do within the bounds of decency and convention. Scene 4 takes place in Rome. In a conversation with Lepidus, Octavius openly disapproves of Antony’s conduct whereby the latter’s negect of affairs has become too obvious for comfort. A messenger interrupts Octavius to announce Pompey’s defiance to their plans. Meanwhile, in Scene 5, we find Cleopatra in Alexandria bored, deprived of the company of Antony and hungry for news about him Shakespeare pictures Cleopatra as behaving characteristically like any lovesick girl, pining for the presence of her lover. In Act II, Scene 1, we view the introduction between Pompey and his allies, the two pirates, Menecrates and Menas. Unsuspectingly, Antony is already en route to Rome. After he arrives, he is faced with one crisis after another. Octavius accused Antony with derilection of duty, but later agrees to settle their differences for the moment. It is at this point in the play when Agrippa, a follower of Octavius, suggests that Antony marry Octavia, the widowed sister of Octavius. He argues that this act would seal and strengthen the ties of friendship between the two triumvirates. On the other hand, the most trusted of Antony’s officers, Enobarbus, begs to disagree, paying tribute instead to Cleopatra. It is seldom, if ever, that a junior officer interferes in the love life of his superior. But in the case of Enobarbus, he has the good of Antony in mind and he believes it will be best for Antony to choose Cleopatra. Most probably, he thought Cleopatra possessed a certain wisdom that would redound in the greatest good for his friend, Antony. This is acted out at the close of the scene, preparing for Antony’s desertion of Octavia. In Scene 3, Antony tells Octavia that the world and his duties will divide him from her. The audience learns from a conversation with a Soothsayer that Antony has made up his mind to return to Cleopatra. To himself, he says: “I will to Egypt; And though I make this marriage for my peace, I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.” He then warns Octavia that theirs will not be much of a marriage due to certain underlying reasons. But deep inside, he means to heed the call of his heart. To return to Egypt and his love. From that moment on, Antony’s career begins to deteriorate. In Act II, Scene 5, Lepidus, Maecinas and Agrippa schedule a meeting with Pompey. Scene 5 brings us back to Cleopatra in Alexandria. A messenger has brought her news about Antony’s impending marriage and her anger knows no bounds. She lashes back at the messenger saying, “The most infectious pestilence upon thee!” Here we see the Queen exploding like an ordinary fishwife being taken advantage of. Even the messenger is not spared. Like any other woman whose lovelife is threatened, she breaks her queenly reserve and gives way to curses. We see before us a very emotional woman whose control over her feelings is depleted. Only the audience knows that Antony is on the way back to Egypt and to Cleopatra. Scene 6 occurs near Mt. Mesina where Pompey and the triumvirates come to an agreement. The crisis turns into a celebration, but with an ominous prediction from Enobarbus that Antony and Octavius will soon part ways, since there are no mutual grounds to unite them. In Scene 7, the triumvirs meet once more with Pompey on his gallery (ship) to celebrate the peace accord. The pirate Menas suggests to Pompey that the trumvirs be killed while they are on board Pompey’s ship, but the latter adamantly refuses, saying that his reputation would only suffer from this move, since “it does not lead to his honour.” Act III begins as the commanders celebrate. Meanwhile in Syria, Pacorus, eldest son of Orodes, King of Parthia, has been killed in battle against Ventidus. Scene 2 contains a dialogue between Agrippa and Enobarbus regarding the self-interest and mistrust of the triumvirs against one another. Scene 2 also takes place in Alexandria where Cleopatra is still questioning the messenger. Scene 4 occurs in Athens where Antony points accusations at Octavius to Octavia and the rift between Antony and Octavius widens. In Scene 5, Octavius dismisses Lepidus from the triumvirate and we learn that Pompey has been murdered. The Holy Roman Empire is now divided between Antony and Octavius. In Scene 6, Octavius cites reasons for his alienation from Antony. Word has spread to Rome that after his return to Egypt, he has granted kingdoms to Cleopatra’s sons. We can see Cleopatra’s hand in this; Cleopatra must have prevailed upon Antony to share his property with her progeny. Protective parent that she is, she does her part in providing her sons with financial security from someone who cares and who is in a position to help her. The arrival of Octavia fans the ire of Octavius toward Antony and war now seems inevitable. In Scene 7, Octavius formally declares war against Antony and Cleopatra…the latter’s reaction to this are the words: “Is’t not denounced against us? Why should not we Be there in person?” Here Cleopatra shows her courageous spirit. She is not afraid to join Antony in battle. Her loyalty to Antony is such that she is willing to fight side by side with him, joining her forces with his own. She will not desert him at a time of great danger. Enobarbus who has figured in many a war scene, rightly fears, though, that Clepatra’s presence will only distract Antony in battle. Antony however decides to fight at sea, to the consternation of Enobarbus and the soldiers. Scenes 8,9 and 10 of Act III narrates the battle of Actium in which thousands of soldiers figure. When Antony and Cleopatra’s supporters begin to desert, Antony flees and follows Cleopatra who is seized with panic. The scene closes with Enobarbus himself contemplating deserting Antony as well. With this, Agrippa’s victory is complete. When Octavius pursues Antony and Cleopatra to Alexandria, Cleopatra at the behest of Antony, strives in vain to fascinate him. A few important details for clarification purposes must be mentioned here. These occur before the death of the lovers. Act III, Scene 12 takes place in Octavius Caesar’s camp outside Alexandria. An ambassador from Antony conveys his request to live either in Egypt or in Athens, which plea is rejected by Octavius Caesar. Cleopatra’s wish to have the crown of Ptolemies for her heirs, will be fulfilled only if she drives Antony out of her life or has him put to death. Caesar’s plan is to create a split between them. He subsequently sends Thyreus to win Cleopatra, the ambassador relays the news to Antony. Thyreus flatters Cleopatra to no avail. Until the end, we find her steadfast in her love for Antony, unlike Antony who is convinced that she has betrayed him. Cleopatra in Act IX, Scene 13 sends a deceitful message to Antony that she has slain herself. Just like a woman! She has a streak of vengeance within her. She wants to get even with Antony for subjecting her to a great deal of anguish. Act IV, Scene 14 shows Antony’s rapid decline. False information that Cleopatra has killed herself, prompts him to push through with the plan to slay himself, but his servants refuse to finish the job. Finding out that Cleopatra is still alive, the dying Antony requests to be brought in to her and despite her characteristic interruptions, manages to deliver his last words: “Antony: I am dying, Egypt, dying. Give me some wine and Let me speak a little. Cleopatra: No, let me speak Antony: One word, sweet queen Of Caesar seek your honour, With you, safety, O! Cleopatra: They do not go together Antony: Gentle, hear me.” Finally, he speaks, asking to be remembered by his achievements and not by his end. This prompts Cleopatra to ponder her own end which comes not long afterward. For her, without Antony, there is no more reason to live. To Cleopatra, suicide is a noble act. When Dollabella confides to her that Octavius Caesar intends to display her as a trophy of war in his triumphal procession through the streets of Rome, her will to die is confirmed. Before she applies the asp to her breast and dies, she knows she has outwitted Caesar and has given her death a transcendental meaning. (Bloom, n.d.) Throughout the unfolding of the plot, both Antony’s friends and enemies often debate on whether his affair with Cleopatra has heightened or reduced his manly qualities. Literary critics are faced with the same predicament. Shakespeare does not make a statement. Neither does he pass judgment on either of the lovers. He prefers to treat both, especially Cleopatra with respect, sympathy and understanding. She is, after all, a human being imbued with both admirable and deplorable qualities. Even her doing away with her brother/husband may have been politically inspired and committed in self-defense and self-preservation. On the whole she is a good queen – democratic in her treatment of her subjects. She is not above jesting with her clown regarding the “worm”, a symbol of sexual relationship. The conversation reveals wit and a keen sense of humor on her part. Participation in such verbal sexual innuendoes leads Cleopatra to the realization that the physical phase of her life is ending. Since she has enjoyed a full life of physical pleasure, she is prepared to meet death with no regrets. It is indeed interesting to note that the worm represents both the vibrance of life (a symbol of sexual relations) and the finality of death (a connotation of the grave’s decay). Cleopatra is an intelligent and innovative person. History relates that, unable to gain access to Julius Caesar, she has herself rolled in a rug and carried in. Cleopatra is also vain as she is romantic. Before she dies, she orders her best attire with the words: “I am again for Cygnus to meet Mark Antony…” She met Antony for the first time in Cygnus. “If the aim of her suicide is to join Antony in death (which of course it is), her death could be considered an entirely appropriate Egyptian conclusion to an Egyptian life. In this context, it enables Cleopatra to die for the most Egyptian of motives – Love.” (Hymel, 2002., p. 4). Cleopatra is a very interesting character –as a queen, a mother, a lover and a a woman. As a woman – first and foremost. References Bloom, H. (n.d.) Plot Summary of Antony and Cleopatra. Bloom’s Major Dramatists: Shakespeare’s Tragedies, Database: Literary Reference Center Grolier Encyclopedia (1961) Grolier Inc. Hymel, C. (2002) Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. EBSCO Publishing Yachnin, P. (2002) “Shakespeare’s Politics of Loyalty: Sovereignty and Subjectivity in Antony and Cleopatra”. EBSCO Publishing Read More