Shakespeare's Ability to Transcend Time in the Text 'Antony & Cleopatra'
22/6/13
“Shakespeare’s ability to create tragedy transcends time.” Examine how the playwright uses language forms and features to achieve his purpose in ‘Antony & Cleopatra.’
Shakespeare’s 16th century tragic play ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ is able to transcend time due to its ubiquitous and day-to-day themes of the struggle between reason and emotion and the convoluted definition of honour. These themes are still, and always will be, so universally relevant because they are very personally experienced and debated by all individuals throughout their lives.
Arguably the most prevalent and central theme, since it is often reflected in the protagonist’s actions and dialogue, is Antony’s struggle between reason and emotion, epitomised as his constant indecision as to whether to fulfill his duties as a triumvirate of Rome or follow a lifestyle of personal desire in Alexandria with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, whom he has become infatuated with.
Shakespeare instantly represents this struggle in the play’s exposition when Philo, one of Antony’s soldiers, makes an attack on both lovers in very explicitly stating “His captain’s heart, / Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst/ The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper/ And is become the bellows and the fan/ To cool a gypsy’s lust.”
This indicates to the audience that Antony’s appeal to his love for Cleopatra has become so visible that even his subordinate, who once viewed him as powerful and heroic, now criticises him as emasculated and devoid of honour since he would exchange glory for a “gypsy’s lust”.
Moreover, this quotation boasts contrast where the “great” and glorious imagery of battle, associated with Antony’s duty, is juxtaposed to the deceitful and heartless connotations of “cool”, “gypsy” and “lust”, associated with Cleopatra. Altogether, these language forms and features highlight the extent of Antony’s moral battle between logic and passion, therefore enabling the audience to better
“Shakespeare’s ability to create tragedy transcends time.” Examine how the playwright uses language forms and features to achieve his purpose in ‘Antony & Cleopatra.’
Shakespeare’s 16th century tragic play ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ is able to transcend time due to its ubiquitous and day-to-day themes of the struggle between reason and emotion and the convoluted definition of honour. These themes are still, and always will be, so universally relevant because they are very personally experienced and debated by all individuals throughout their lives.
Arguably the most prevalent and central theme, since it is often reflected in the protagonist’s actions and dialogue, is Antony’s struggle between reason and emotion, epitomised as his constant indecision as to whether to fulfill his duties as a triumvirate of Rome or follow a lifestyle of personal desire in Alexandria with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, whom he has become infatuated with.
Shakespeare instantly represents this struggle in the play’s exposition when Philo, one of Antony’s soldiers, makes an attack on both lovers in very explicitly stating “His captain’s heart, / Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst/ The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper/ And is become the bellows and the fan/ To cool a gypsy’s lust.”
This indicates to the audience that Antony’s appeal to his love for Cleopatra has become so visible that even his subordinate, who once viewed him as powerful and heroic, now criticises him as emasculated and devoid of honour since he would exchange glory for a “gypsy’s lust”.
Moreover, this quotation boasts contrast where the “great” and glorious imagery of battle, associated with Antony’s duty, is juxtaposed to the deceitful and heartless connotations of “cool”, “gypsy” and “lust”, associated with Cleopatra. Altogether, these language forms and features highlight the extent of Antony’s moral battle between logic and passion, therefore enabling the audience to better