William Shakespeare 's Antony And Cleopatra

Unlike the common view of leaders, the potential leaders of Julius Caesar are not necessarily nice or giving. However, sometimes that is necessary. In the play Julius Caesar, a long tale of leadership shows the true qualities of the greatest leaders. Where the reader finds themselves started is at the point which Antony and Caesar, the overconfident leader of Rome, are discussing people around them. This discussion boils to a point in which Antony and Caesar discuss the possibility of Cassius being a threat to Caesar. Later, readers find Cassius is indeed a threat, as he and multiple others, including Brutus, stab Caesar to death. Antony then brings Caesar’s body to the multitude, and with a great speech inspires a hatred for those who wrongfully stabbed him. At the next point Antony is seen, he and Octavius are the new rulers of Rome. These two comrades go and finally eliminate the last of the traitors, Cassius and Brutus, in a battle that cements the two as the new leaders of Rome. Throughout all these actions, one man particularly showed that he should control the Roman Empire. Antony was created to be Rome’s leader in Julius Caesar, where William Shakespeare gave him inspirational abilities, persuasiveness, and fearlessness which are unparalleled.

He hoped his name change would convince Romans that he was the closest heir to Caesar and should be next in line for his dictatorship. Furthermore, he was adopted as Caesar’s son. Antony, a Roman General and rival to Octavius, believed that he should be the next leader of the Roman Republic after Caesar was killed. Since he was Caesar’s ally and close friend who had helped him rise to power, Antony thought he should be Caesar’s successor (“Augustus”). As Caesar’s right-hand man, Antony assisted Caesar in defeating Gaul and other enemies, which led to his becoming Caesar’s Second in Command. Both men were powerful in their own way and were competing for control of the Roman

I understand that this is a very emotional time for Antony and that he feels very strongly about avenging his

As he stands among them, he begins his powerful and mind changing speech. (Movie clip) Antony confronts the plebeians for their carelessness. He states that they loved Caesar when he was alive, why not now? (Act III Scene II Lines 103-105) Antony shows his internal emotions by crying for Caesar, (Act III Scene II Lines 108-110) and calling out the plebeians for their unloyalty. (Act III Scene II Lines 118-120) He states that when Caesar fell, Rome also fell, implying Caesars importance to the country. (Act III Scene II Lines 190-192) The Romans agree with Antony, (Act III Scene II Lines 105-110) but he ignores their wishes by reminiscing Caesar. He begins to remember the images of the first time Caesar put on his cloak. (Act III Scene II Lines 171-174) As he is over Caesar's body, giving his speech, he points out all of his wounds. (Act III Scene II Lines 175-189) Antony reveals the will, intriguing the attention of the plebeians. With the plebeians excited to hear the will, Antony refuses to read it. (Act III, Scene II, Lines 141-147) Once the crowd finally convinces Mark to read it, the will reveals 75 drachmas and all public recreations to the people of Rome. (Act III Scene II Lines 241-249) By the end of Antony's speech, the plebeians want

Antony begins his affair with Cleopatra, three years after Caesar’s death. Prior to Caesar’s death however, Cleopatra was his mistress who gave birth to his son. Over their affair Cleopatra and Antony had three children and during the early years of this Antony was married, until his wife died rebelling against Octavian. With Antony being recently widowed and the lingering bad blood between the triumvirs, the senate insisted that Antony marry Octavian’s sister, Octavia Minor. In 37 B.C. with the triumvirate revived Antony returned to Cleopatra, and she gave birth to their third child. During this time they also grew more public in their relationship, acting as though their children were real heirs to Egypt and Antony’s place as part of the triumvirate. While all of this was happening, Octavian was increasing in strength having already eliminated Lepidus on the excuse of a possible rebellion. In 32 B.C. Antony divorced Octavia, Octavian’s response was less than positive as he declared war on Cleopatra. All in all as we know, Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra and when he entered Alexandria the lovers resolved to commit suicide. “As Octavian entered Alexandria, both Antony and Cleopatra resolved to commit suicide. Antony, thinking his lover already dead, stabbed himself with a sword but was then brought to die in Cleopatra’s arms. Cleopatra was captured but managed to kill herself via a poisonous snakebite.”(“Mark Antony”). Throughout Antony’s life, Caesar

Defeated, Antony had no choice but to join forces with Octavian and Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate, its powers recognized by the law Lex Titia (Kittredge). The previous alliance, the First Triumvirate, was made up of Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, and the new triumvirate assumed similar roles. For example, it executed well-known enemies, such as M. Tullius Cicero and succeeded in defeating the forces of Caesar's conspirators: Brutus and Cassius. Other measures included the execution of 4700 opponents, land bills to give farms to Caesar’s veterans, and the appointment of all magistrates and political positions. Moreover, this powerful alliance distributed much power amongst its members, giving Antony control of the eastern portion of the empire (Lendering). This appointment was very significant in that Antony often identified himself with the god Dionysus in the Hellenistic East; his travels there were especially important because he portrayed himself as a "philhellene," one who was a friend of the people and not a Roman master (Mason). It was through these visits that led him to meet one of the most influential women of her time-

Octavius Caesar is deserving of commendation for his ability to strictly operate upon a political agenda while producing significant results. However, he is not a man as he forgoes humanness for his political strife and even less of a ruler as he is dishonourable and hypocritical in his actions and beliefs. Caesar is a disciplined man and acts logically, in accordance with the values of the Roman Soldier. Thus, Antony who self-gratifies is condemned by Caesar for neglecting his duty as a Roman soldier. Although, Caesar’s questioning of Antony’s loyalty to Rome is valid; it only emphasizes the two traits he lacks the most, honour and loyalty.

Antony’s affair with Cleopatra continued, and in 32 B.C. he divorced Octavia. In retaliation, Octavian declared war on Cleopatra. In the naval battle of Actium a year later, Octavian’s fleet, under his admiral Agrippa, cornered and defeated Antony’s ships. Cleopatra’s navy raced to aid her ally, but in the end the two lovers barely escaped. They returned to Egypt and committed suicide, leaving Octavian as

This production shows, “friendship and the manner in which it fares under stress; scrupulousness, allegiance, and the harms of pride; and numerous political consideration” (Howes pg4). The theme was clear and crisp; showing Caesar’s determination and desire to gain more power—the tyrannical approach, Cassius’ overwhelming desire to become superior to Caesar—even by killing him, the anxious friendship of Brutus and Cassius, and the self-determining will of Mark Antony (Rafael Goldstein) and Octavius (Joe Sofranco) to take advantage of the absence of power in Rome—to become emperors

so therefore he and Cassius had to kill him. Mark Antony claims that Caesar was not ambitious, he was a great leader and ruler. These speeches relate to the conclusion of the play because Antony wants revenge for his kings death. when they go into battle Cassius commits suicide because he was a coward, and Brutus dies during battle. After Antony got his revenge Octavius takes Caesars place and becomes king.

Antony found it hard to leave this place. He took to wearing Greek clothes and spent his days with Cleopatra, feasting, hunting, and playing games. Sometimes, late at night, they would put on servant’s clothes and run about the streets knocking on people’s doors and windows and started laughing when the sleepy occupants cursed them.

The audience is privy to a private conversation in Caesar’s home between Caesar and Lepidus, who were the other two thirds of the “triple pillar of the world” – the triumvirate. The triumvirate were a powerful political and military force; they ruled the Roman Empire after the murder of Julius Caesar. During this conversation, they discuss Antony’s debauched life and his former greatness in Caesar’s home where Caesar feels free to express his opinions honestly and he declares that Antony is “a man who is abstract of all faults” and someone who would “give a kingdom for mirth.” This shows us how far he has fallen in Caesar’s eyes as his tone would be scathing and I imagine he would be pacing as he ranted about Antony

In the beginning of the play we see that Mark Antony has been neglecting his duties as part of the triumvirate of Rome as he has been staying with his mistress Cleopatra. His wife, Fulvia, dies and Octavius Caesar and Lepidus request that he joins

Whilst the writer’s selection of place bears great significance throughout many eras, the Renaissance period is particularly fascinating in relation to setting. These playwrights were living through “an extraordinary and unprecedented flowering of drama” and, consequentially, were afforded opportunities that would have been unimaginable even a century before. The flourishing of drama necessitated the creation of playhouses, in which setting could be conveyed more accurately and elaborately than in the millennia that preceded. The combination of the uninhibited creativity associated with the Renaissance and the realisation of the “new possibilities of the commercial stage” facilitated an extremely nuanced and complex exploration of setting and place; providing us with some of the most memorable and meaningful settings ever featured in literature. Setting provides a unique opportunity, if chosen astutely, for the playwright to communicate narrative, and shape character, without having to explicitly or linguistically express it. I intend to focus The Merchant of Venice, Antony and Cleopatra, and Dr Faustus in order to display how setting directly affects the plot and often aids in forging our understanding of identities within the play. Through consideration of the implications and ideals attached to the settings presented throughout the texts, we can more accurately infer the sentiments of the writer and understand the ways in which place gives impetus to plot.

The peace between Antony and Octavius did not last. Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, started to influence Antony, and this was alarming to most Romans. They feared that she wanted the Roman Empire. Antony did not help the situation when he sent home his second wife Octavia, the sister of Octavius, which was seen as a personal attack. This confirmed Cleopatra as his wife, which Octavius used against him. Octavius made the smart move of waiting for the triumviral powers to expire. He then moved his attention to the military and gained the needed funds for the war against Antony. Octavius was supported by his lifelong friend, Agrippa. Agrippa helped Octavius with his military actions and with gaining political support. He was a great asset to Octavius and was loyal to him until the end. These actions and preparations helped Octavius gain the public support of Rome, while also turning it against Antony. Antony controlled around 30 legions and 500 ships. This led to the naval battle of Actium, against the smaller forces of Octavius. As Octavius took his time chasing them, he was surprised at the little resistance. Antony risked a battle, but his soldiers deserted in droves. His end was now inevitable. Not only his own end, but also Cleopatra’s. (Southern 2001, 99). They both committed suicide and Octavius was victorious and annexed Egypt into the Roman Empire.