Essay title: Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of Cleopatra so far, how accurate Enobarbus’ description of her ‘infinite variety’

Essay title: Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of Cleopatra so far, how accurate Enobarbus’ description of her ‘infinite variety’

William, Shakespeare, the most influential writer in all of English literature, is the mastermind play write o behind Antony and Cleopatra, it was written in 1606; it is one of the last, great tragedies that Shakespeare produced. The play is set between 40-30BC, and geographically sweeps; a dominant part of the play is based in Egypt and the other part, is set in the Roman Empire.Furthermore, William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is a play filled with political intrigue, power struggles, war and its consequences, and the plight of the two desperately impassioned lovers. Shakespeare’s female protagonist, Cleopatra, is one of the most well recognizable historical figures, of all time, hence, why she is the main focus throughout this essay.

Before someone delves in to Shakespeare’s play Antony and Cleopatra; is important to look at the world of the main character’s   and the events that proceed, to the plays action. Approximately, two thousand years ago, Cleopatra, ruled over Egypt, in its capital city Alexandria. Shakespeare’s primary source of research for Antony and Cleopatra, was a historical book of analysis, it was called ‘the life of Marcus Antonio ‘and was written by Plutarch, and was translated in English, in 1579. Historically, Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship, takes place over a ten year span, whereas in the play the story is evidently compressed, in order to fit the stage (duration of the audience views the play. In addition, most of the political battles, depicted are also historically accurate.

Shakespeare initially uses Philo’s speech is a chorus that therefore projects to the audience, the Roman’s view of Cleopatra. Their complaints  about Antony’s  neglected duties  frame the audience’s understanding  of Cleopatra .Within the first ten lines of the play, Philo declares  Cleopatra as lustful ’gipsy’, therefore demeaning the love that she shares with Antony; this description  is repeated throughout  the play, which highlights  the extent  of this as a commonly  viewed thought, that Egyptians  were inferior  to  Romans. In addition, the imagery, Shakespeare creates Cleopatra as an irresistible temptress, in order to convey the extent of the elaboration of her enemies.

Furthermore, once more Philo, uses a derogatory term and refers to Cleopatra as ‘Tawny’; caesura is indicated at the end of ‘tawny’ which is used to define the harshness behind such an unnecessary comment; Shakespeare therefore lets the actor knows how to covey the character, demonstrating to the audience the shear spite and bitterness behind it. The word tawny refers to her dark skin. Here Shakespeare, reflects then views  of his original audience, in Elizabethan England; the paler your complexion, the higher up the  social ladder  you are, and vice versa,  having connotation of claiming her royal power as inferior, or lowly, in comparison to there vast kingdoms. Furthermore, here Shakespeare indicates the contrast between Eastern and Western culture.

Significantly, Shakespeare intends for the audience to initially see a rather narrow minded, and both biased perspective of Cleopatra, it is demonstrated as hyperbolic, in order for him to gradually reveal to us the development of her character. So as time throughout the play progresses, as do our views of her.

Alternatively, the biased view, conveyed through Philo may be fuelled, (since he along with the Romans), feel as if Cleopatra threatens them, because, Antony is now preoccupied with Cleopatra, which they fear could threaten their honour or kingdom ’his captain is heart, which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst’. The metaphor, that Shakespeare uses, states that the pride Antony had, for his country, was based on a high level of vigour, so much so, that it burst out his chest in order to boast. The metaphor is referred in past tense, in order to convey the frustration that the Romans and Philo feel, as their leader  he is now neglecting his duties ‘let Rome in Tiber melt’; now that he has met Cleopatra. Certainly, the feeling, of threat that the Roman’s have, has much to do with Cleopatra’s beauty and open sexuality, rather than solely due to her relationship, with Antony. Enobarbus, points out that she is ’awe inspiring’; juxtaposing the ideas of Philo, thus indicating that they are in denial, which is similar to Jane Austen’s  character  Mr Darcy ,he sees himself  as being in ‘danger’ due to  find Elizabeth attractive, since he is of  a   far superior  class.

In addition, Philo blames Cleopatra  for the potential collapse of the Roman Empire, as he is now distracted by Cleopatra, rather than fulfilling his duties as the Roman general and as one of the three rulers of the world. Philo claims that Antony has become the ‘bellows and the fan, to cool a gypsy lust’. This metaphor Shakespeare has used intends us, as the audience; to see that Antony’s every effort is spent on fuelling Cleopatra, then cooling her sexually. The irony Shakespeare highlights is that Cleopatra is being accused of leading Antony astray, despite Antony being a mature adult, who should e able to be responsible for his own actions, and take responsibility for his personal failures. This indeed, reflects an n element of a patriarchal society (male dominated).Shakespeare clearly denotes, that women were second class citizens, as Cleopatra, is depicted as a scape goat.

 Moreover, Shakespeare, conveys Cleopatra as a ‘femine heroine ’. She embodies feminism that is exotic, seductive and ultimately deadly. When Antony, leaves her for Rome, Cleopatra, is left bored.‘Or is he on his horse? Happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony’, here sexual connotations are present, in the form of erotic imagery; this enables the audience   to conjure ideas, that are beyond what is being portrayed before them; Shakespeare, wants the audience   to interact with play, to feel involved and entertained. The imagery, depicts, that Cleopatra would like to feel Antony’s weight on top of her.

Subsequently, Cleopatra has a natural lusting spirit, Enobarbus calls her ‘riggish’. This is demonstrated, through Shakespeare’s constant use of innuendos, she says’ I take no pleasure in aught a eunuch has’. She misses her sexual intimacy with Antony; it is almost as if mocking her eunuch makes her feel good about herself, thus revealing her insecurity.

Enobarbus, notes Cleopatra possesses the power to ‘wrap all men round her little   finger ‘this includes ‘holy priest’ who’ [b]less her ‘when she is seductive. Shakespeare is trying to highlight, that Cleopatra, has a right in order to convey her power to her advantage. Shakespeare presents Cleopatra on the barge, which conveys her beauty and power, clearly intended to captivate Antony. Cleopatra’s efforts do not go UN noticed; she is described as being’ burned on the throne’. The best way to describe this is a colloquial cliché,’ she is on fire’, this demonstrates her sexual charisma. ’So perfume’d that the winds were lovesick with them’. Shakespeare is implying that, her seductive essence is so fragment that it can personify the wind and captivate everyone’s attention.

Enobarbus states: ’they beat to follow faster’ .The, metaphor portrays that all hearts skipped a beat, stunned by her beauty. Shakespeare uses the barge to enunciate that Cleopatra is using her feminine powers, in order to rise above a patriarchal society, she has converted her weakness in to strength, and she knows she has to secure Antony, so she can maintain her power, highlighting her cunning. The extravagance of Cleopatra’s barge, and of her persona’ she made a gap in nature’ drew attention away from herself as a person ; emphasising that she ahs created an alter ego a façade, highlighting insecurity that she doesn’t ant any one to see the real her. Antony is dazzled by Cleopatra’s wit, glamour and mystique: ‘he had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too’ he is now under her spell therefore weakening him.

Antony refers to Cleopatra as a ‘serpent’ has biblical symbolism, where Eve tempted Adam. Through this symbolism, Shakespeare portrays the extent of power that Cleopatra has over Antony. This fore shadows her leading him to eventual destruction, connoting her occasional vindictive and deceitful attitude. Occasionally, her vindictive and aggressive behaviour demonstrates her love for Antony. When Charmian Cleopatra’s close friend teases her about her passed lover Cesar, she replies’ will give thee bloody teeth’. This demonstrates, her delicate temperament, serious she feels about Antony. On the contrary, when Antony is going back to Rome she apologises for her bad attitude towards him: ‘but sir forgive me’. This demonstrates  humility; a quality we have not see  before; she admitted when she was wrong, here the audience gets to see a fraction of her vulnerability, however, her apology could also be seen  as cunning, if he leaves in a good frame of mind, he is more inclined to come back. Shakespeare’s use of oxymoron (depicted through her character imbalance) heightens to the audience the different dimensions that make up Cleopatra’s character, as a whole.

Cleopatra is a powerful and  clever manipulator, she wants to control of Antony’s  thoughts and feelings, in order  to maintain her power,’ If he is happy, say I’ve suddenly taken  sick’. Here Shakespeare   demonstrates to the audience, her obsessive yearning for power and dominance, therefore translating to the audience as if Cleopatra, in a sense may derive much from the emotional and physical control she wields over Antony. What is more, as woman of contemporary society, I admire Cleopatra’s spirit of refusing to be submissive and down trodden by men. She has succeeded to control Antony, to the extent that he feels like he is ‘los[ing] [himself] in dotage’.

Moreover, Antony is bewitched by Cleopatra, ’I must from this enchanting queen break off’. Shakespeare created this metaphor in order to make bold, the extent of the firm grip that she has over him. He has to exert himself excessively, if he has a hope to even attempt to pull away. Therefore, Shakespeare presents Cleopatra in a manner that would have been considered UN orthodox, the superiority of power she possesses, both by being ruler of Egypt and ruler over Antony, would have been considered as a male role.

Cleopatra, hears that Antony is considering, retuning, back to Rome, she says ’a Roman thought hath struck him’. She  says,  Antony  has been ‘struck’ t by a Roman  thought, she described this like she is scared tat he will be inflicted or  contaminated by  Roman influence; for  the first time  Cleopatra, is frightened, she breaks that facade, this hard exterior that Shakespeare, has presented her with. Here Shakespeare uses pathos, as the audience we are saddened to see her  upset, because here Shakespeare  strips Cleopatra  back, we are able to see her, heightening the fact that she has now become real to the audience. Furthermore, the vulnerability here gives indication, that her security and anxiety sparks mood swings.

When Cleopatra takes the stage, she does so as an actress, devilling   her passion, grief and outrage at the most dramatic captivating level. When Antony is about to leave for Rome she pretends to faint ’help me away dear Charmian shall fall’. She uses her emotions, both volatile and theatrical, in order to control; therefore holding on to comfort when she is in doubt. As Enobarbus says the queen is not walking  through the street, but rather ’ho[pped] forty paces and having lost her breath, she spoke and panted, that she did make defect perfection, and breathless, pour breath  forth’. Cleopatra’s melodramatic personality causes her to come across as artificial, but I feel like it’s a defence mechanism that shields her insecurities from the rest of the characters, creating dramatic irony because only we as the audience know exactly what is going on. Enobarbus claims that Cleopatra’s love is pure and very much real.

‘We can not call her winds and waters sighs and tears. They are greater storms and tempest than almanacs can report. This can not be cuming in her. If it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove’Here Shakespeare uses a beautiful metaphor, in order to convey, the extent of Cleopatra’ love fro Antony he compares her emotional imbalance to great winds and floods. This is natural, majestic, and triumphant and has great impact. Enobarbus says that Cleopatra can make it rain as well as Jove (supreme Roman god) which demonstrates the strength and power that her love possesses.

What is more, Lucy Hughes-Hallet, a Shakespeare production critic, says that ’Shakespeare’s Cleopatra is consistent only in her consistency. She is a woman as changeable as water’. I agree with this, but I feel that when Shakespeare exposes the character by portraying to us all the different aspects of her character; enabling the audience to perceive the character as they will. Sometimes she is portrayed in a bad light, when she ‘strikes’ the messenger, who is the bearer of bad news. This drastically contrasts with Cleopatra when she is in love she refers to Antony as ‘man of men’. Here she praises Antonia’s states how superior he is, in comparison to any man, she has even met or been with. This demonstrates that she thinks highly of him.

Plutarch the historian author of Cleopatra, several different personalities, lie side by side, the opposed natures UN reconciled in text. Shakespeare, on the other hand synthesises them, together in order to create the entrancingly UN predictable queen’ who’s infinite variety custom can not stale’. In conclusion, the juxtaposition of both the love and war in he rcharcter, wrapped amongst Shakespeare’s poetic language therefore provided a work that is compelling and eloquent to watch.