Shakespeare uses grand imagery in Antony and Cleopatra for many reasons, including to contrast Rome and Egypt and to give the characters new dimensions. The main themes of the play are imperial wealth, honor, and love. The story is told with a strong emphasis on the stakes. It’s not just a romantic story about two men and a woman, but it’s a tale that involves the interrelationships between the rulers of these empires. These relationships have far-reaching effects, from the personal and political. The play is full of cosmic analogies and allusions, as well as the powerful triumvir. Shakespeare is also hinting that these royals, who seem to be larger than life, are in fact mortals, with their own set of insecurities, desires and transgressions. This can also be read as a criticism of the injustice of a political structure where a handful of people determine the fates for entire populations on the basis of their whims.

Antony’s and Cleopatra has many scenes that portray extreme debauchery. This reinforces a view of power assertion that has been discussed previously, but also reveals the perceptions and fascination of both cultures. Rome represents Occidental rationalism and Egypt the mystique as well as the supposed hedonistic brutality of the Orient. Alternatively, a further imperial comparison can be made here with the British occupation of India.

Ansari’s essay An Image of Liquefaction elaborates on a major theme, namely liquefaction. He says that the whole play is about a gradual disintegration of the characters’ fortunes, which he calls’melting.’ Shakespeare may have hinted at this in the very first scene by using Antony’s words “Let Rome Melt” to describe the current situation.

Shakespeare makes many references to classical literature. This allegorical representation is particularly insightful. These powerful, hyperbolic symbols, which are the divine Roman lovers, give the protagonists a sense of grandeur and hyperbole. Antony’s soldiers and Caesar testify to his machismo by comparing him to Mars. Cleopatra’s magnificence and charm are compared with the Goddess of beauty, love and fertility.

In the play, rulers often refer to themselves as empires in order to show their superiority. Serpents are another motif that appears repeatedly in the drama. Many references to serpents are made in different contexts. This could be an intentional foreshadowing of Cleopatra’s demise. Cleopatra’s character is a prime example of the sexual undertones that are prevalent in this play. As well as being the focus of many fantasies she is also often portrayed in her own words with evocative or naughty images, like when she mocks Mardian.

Enobarbus’s speech is a glorious eulogy in praise of Cleopatra. The image of Cleopatra is not only beautiful, but it also reflects on the Roman fascination towards Egypt. Enobarbus often has the same voice as the author, who is a rational, objective character. Enobarbus gives a laudatory and uninhibited account of Cleopatra, which is more powerful in reasserting her beauty and charm.

Enobarbus brilliantly recreates Cleopatra’s tryst with Antony in Cygnus using lavish metaphors and similes. Cleopatra appears to be a mystical entity that has a sweeping effect on all those around her. William Shakespeare’s genius can be seen in the lines below:

The silver oars that were stroking to the tunes of flutes made the water they pounded to move faster.

“Whistling at the air. That, but for the vacancy, would have also gone to see Cleopatra and left a gap”

The sheer beauty of these images is not worth praising. Ansari is making a point that is interesting – the fact that even Cleopatra can’t resist her charm. Earth, Fire, Water and Air were all deemed to have great philosophical importance in ancient times, because they were regarded as the four fundamental elements of the world. Shakespeare, using his rhetorical skills, tries to make Cleopatra seem more powerful by implying that she has control of these elements.

— —

(5.2.82-92)

“His legs ran the ocean…as plates fell from his pockets”

Cleopatra offers her own eulogy to Antony. She emphasizes his strength, valour and position. The eulogy is not objective as Enobarbus was, but a woman ruminating about her lover’s death. Shakespeare portrays Antony in a magnificent light by using allusions that are reminiscent of the Colossus, a marvel of ancient Greece. Shakespeare also praises Antony’s generosity and honourable nature by comparing it to the bountiful season. “In His Livery Walk’d Crownets; realms And Islands Were As Plates Dropp’d From His Pocket”, Shakespeare conjures a powerful image of excess.

Antony knew what he was doing, as shown on 4.14.57.59. “I, who with my blade quartr’d a world, o’er Neptune’s snout with ships made city” – a wonderful image that comes straight from the horse.

In conclusion, we can observe that Caesar praises Antony on several occasions, whether he does so knowingly or unknowingly. Caesar’s monologue from 1.4.60 to 71 seems aptly to illustrate this dilemma. It reveals Antony’s grudging admiration. The play’s ambivalence forces multiple interpretations. Caesar may have been attempting to contrast Antony with his former self to convince Lepidus. Moreover Caesar’s hyperbolic imagery in his praise could also be a mere denigration, as suggested in RS Sharma’s essay, titled,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

“Vanish if you don’t want me to give thee what is due… With her nails prepared” (4.12.32-38)

Antony’s vitriol is a result of his frustration and anger when he believes Cleopatra plotted against him. By speculating about Caesar’s triumphal intent, he paints a picture of impending doom. He finishes the insults with a remarkable sentence: “And Octavia, patient and prepared with her nails, plough thy face with”. Cleopatra flees in terror from Antony’s tirade. Cleopatra kills herself because of this vision. She recreates the scene at 5.2.207-219. It includes elements of mockery and degradation.

An empress would not be happy with such a fate. She would prefer to die, and to be with fallen Antony. Both lovers were convinced that they would meet again in the afterlife. This is evident in the fanciful sentences at 4.14.50-54. This optimism is in line with general belief, especially during the Egyptian period. The story, according to critics, has a hopeful and bittersweet ending, despite Cleopatra’s tragic death. The truth is that Antony and Cleopatra, whether they were reunited with each other in another world or not, have certainly been immortalized here.

dylanwest

Dylan West is a 33-year-old education blogger and traveler. He has a degree in education from the University of Texas and has been blogging about education since 2009.