The representations and interplay of types of power: In Shakespeare's famous play Antony and Cleopatra, the powerful are portrayed including their personalities, their reactions to other powerful figures and the interplay of these powers as the characters interact.
Antony's Power: Shakespeare uses Rome and Egypt as binary opposites not just to reflect qualities inherent in the two places, but the changes that come upon Antony depending on which place he is in. The changes in Antony's behaviour and power-usage patterns can be seen through Shakespeare's constant juxtaposition of the Egyptian and Roman worlds. Antony's behaviour tends to change as in the exotic place that is Egypt Antony is allowed to escape from his Roman self : "I will to Egypt
I'th' east my pleasure lies."2.3.38-40. The word "pleasure" indicates that Egypt has a sexual appeal to him in the form of Cleopatra. He adores his role as king in Egypt, being the self-indulgent lover of Cleopatra. However in Rome,......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 419
Approximate Pages: 2 (260 words per double-spaced page) |