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Antony and Cleopatra
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Sample questions
This is a representation of power
and powerplay in Antony and Cleopatra -
Power has been defined as
The characters who reflect these types of power are
listed accordingly. You may not agree with the placement of characters. Make
your own representation of power in the play.
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What would you change?
-
Why?
Not everyone who is listed
under Military power displays their power or exercises their power
(powerplay) in the same way. It is up to you to work out:
The people listed here
don't all have the same level of power. some are in powerful positions; some
are their followers or friends. You need to decide:
A representation or
description of power in Antony and Cleopatra:
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Public |
Private |
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Government
The triumvirate |
Military |
Personal
Lovers or friends |
Social Class
Aristocracy or non aristocracy |
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Antony |
Antony |
Antony |
Antony |
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Enobarbus |
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Caesar |
Caesar |
Cleopatra |
Cleopatra |
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Agrippa |
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Pompey |
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Enobarbus |
Enobarbus |
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Charmian |
Charmian |
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Lepidus |
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Octavia |
Octavia |
Note: There
is no significance to the colours other than to separate character
groupings.
As the play moves
on, you will need to consider others aspect to power:
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loss of power
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loss of faith,
and
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disloyalty.
Act
1
These quotations show
Antony in both a public and a private role: the soldier and leader as well
as the lover.
What is your impression of
Antony from the words and phrases used to describe him and his behaviour in
a public context?
What is your impression of
Antony from the words and phrases used to describe him and his behaviour in
a private context?
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Antony, the soldier
Public role |
Antony, the lover
Private role |
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Scene 1 |
Lines 1- 10
- “his
goodly eyes,/ … have glow’d like plated Mars”
- “his
captain’s heart … burst/ the buckles on his breast”
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- “The
triple pillar of the world …”
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Lines 1- 10
- “this
dotage of our general’s”
“now bend, now turn/the office and
devotion of their view/Upon a tawny front …”
- “… is
become the bellows and the fan to cool a gypsy’s lust”
- “…
transform’d into a strumpet’s fool.”
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Comment |
Philo describes Antony as he was and
as he perceives him now.
The speech opens the play and
therefore creates a perception before we meet the character spoken
about.
The speech operates on offering
striking contrast.
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Scene 2 |
Lines 105 - 118
- “Speak to
me home, mince not the general tongue;/Name Cleopatra as
she is call’d in Rome …” line 106
- “These
strong Egyptian fetters I must break/Or lose myself in
dotage.” Lines 117 - 118
- “I must
from this enchanting queen break off;/ Ten thousand harms,
more than the ills I know,/My idleness doth hatch.” Lines
129 - 131
- “… we
bring forth weeds/When our quick minds lie still …”
- “Would I
had never seen her!” line 153
- “… our
contriving friends in Rome/… our slippery people-/ … Much is
breeding …” lines 183 - 193
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Comment |
Antony is aware he must leave Egypt
and return to his duty. He recognises his duty and the ties on him
that have prevented him fulfilling his duty.
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Scene 3 |
The strong necessity of time
commands/ Our services awhile, … lines 43 - 57
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“my dearest Queen …” line 18
“my most sweet Queen …” line 32
“… but my full heart/Remains
in use with you” lines 43 – 45
“my queen … thy sovereign leisure …”
line 60
“my precious queen” line 74
“You’ll heat my blood; no more.” Line
81
“Now by my sword ..” line 83
“But that your royalty/ holds
idleness your subject, I should take you/ For idleness itself.”
Lines 92 – 94
“Our separation so abides and flies,/
That thou, residing here, go’st yet with me,/And I, hence fleeting,
here remain with thee.” Lines 103 - 105
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This is a different Antony. He has a
purpose and is focused on it despite Cleopatra’s behaviour. Her
words reflect an ‘all or nothing’ way of thinking. His words reflect
the belief that this is just a separation.
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Scene 4 |
“… Our great competitor …”
”… whom thou fought’st against,/ …
with more patience/Than savages could suffer … like a stag … like a
soldier…” lines 55 - 71 |
“… he fishes, drinks, and wastes/ The
lamps of night in revel; in not more manlike/ Than Cleopatra, nor
the queen of Ptolemy/More womanly than he …” lines 3 – 7
“… it is not/Amiss to tumble on the
bed of Ptolemy … tippling with a slave …and stand the buffet/With
knaves that smell of sweat …” lines17 – 21
“… his sport …” line 29
“… lascivious wassails …” line 56
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Caesar evaluates Antony in both
capacities. He is disparaging of his relationship with Cleopatra.
Having seen her with Antony, the audience can evaluate this speech
in a manner that is different to Lepidus who has not experienced
their relationship as the audience has. |
These
quotations show Cleopatra in both a public and a private role.
What is your impression of
Cleopatra from the words and phrases used to describe her and her behaviour in a
public context, as a Queen and as a lover?
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Cleopatra, by reputation
Public role |
Cleopatra, the lover
Private role |
Cleopatra, Queen
Public role |
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Scene 1 |
Philo: “a tawny front”
“a gypsy’s lust”
“a strumpet” |
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Cleo: “Nay, hear them, Antony …”
“You must not stay longer …”
“Hear the ambassadors ..” |
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Comment |
Cleopatra is spoken of as a low kind of woman by Philo. This contrasts
with our first experience of Cleopatra as Queen of Egypt advising
Antony.
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Scene 2 |
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Lines 134 – 198
- Eno: “… we kill
all our women. We see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they
suffer our departure, death’s the word.”
- “under a
compelling occasion let women dies; it were a pity to cast them away
for nothing; though between them and a great cause they should be
esteemed nothing.”
- “… I have seen
her die twenty times upon far poorer moment.”
- “… her passions
are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love.”
- Ant: “She is
cunning past man’s thought.” Line 146
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Comment |
Enobarbus presents a view of women’s worth in general terms but also a
recognition of Cleopatra’s manipulative behaviour and yet the
genuineness of her love.
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Scene 3 |
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- “I am sick and
sullen …Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall:/ It cannot thus
be long, the sides of nature/ Will not sustain it.” Lines 14 – 18
- “… where be the
sacred vials thou shoulds’t fill/ With sorrowful water? Now I see, I
see,//In Fulvia’s death, how mine receiv’d shall be.” Lines 64 - 66
“… my oblivion is a very Antony/ And I am all forgotten.” lines 91 - 92 |
“
… your honour calls you hence/Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
/And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword/ Sit laurel victory!
Smooth success? Be strew’d before your feet. |
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Comment |
Charmian and Cleopatra reveal contrasting attitudes to dealing with men.
Cleopatra then behaves in a way that supports Enobarbus’ conclusions in
the previous scene. Cleopatra talks Antony down when he tries to tell
her he must leave. He is patient for most of the scene.
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Scene 4 |
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Scene 5 |
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“… The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm/ And burgeonet of men.” Lines
24 – 25
“… my brave Mark Antony…” line 39
“… my man of men…” line 73 |
“He was not sad, for he would shine on those/That make their looks by
his …” lines 54 - 55 |
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Cleopatra speaks glowingly. Contrast with Scene 3. She also evaluates
what he does setting an example for his men. |
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