Does Shakespeare put Antony or Cleopatra in a more positive light?
I do not personally think Antony or Cleopatra are portrayed in a positive light, but the layers of political power and strategy that are present make it difficult to determine who is the "protagonist" of the story. While I would assume the "protagonists" are... Antony and Cleopatra... I don't think it's uncommon to side with one of the title characters and hold them to a higher standard. In this case, I've bet on the wrong horse.But, as I've said before, I think Antony is a spineless little bitch.
Whether Shakespeare uses his most poetic language to describe the heroic and honorable actions of the Great Antony, I still can't get the image out of my mind of a horny teenager willing to chop his own nuts off to sleep with Cleopatra.
He has constantly and consistently abandoned his honor in favor of his lust for the Queen of the Nile. From totally disregarding his deceased wife in Act 1 Scene 3 ("And that which most with you should safe my going, Is Fulvia’s death."), to abandoning his men to Pompey's forces at sea in Act 3 Scene 10: "She once being loofed, The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard, Leaving the fight in height, flies after her."
Antony's self-interests toward his own position in Rome has been clouded by Cleopatra. He is so pussy-whipped that he literally left his men to die to be with Cleopatra. Not only that, but he forgave her for it!!!! He eventually realized his mistakes, and chided himself for doing so. However, I still think his actions are indefensible.
As for Cleopatra, her actions are so selfish that it is almost admirable. She has sight of what she wants, whether it's more power or just having power over Antony.
In the end, I still think Antony is a piece of shit. Screw him.
Look Mr. Brown, I have to agree that Cleopatra had to have some sort of fair intelligence. I mean she had both Caesar's and Antony's children. That shows intelligence and drive. That said, I have to disagree that she was put in the more positive light. While in Rome Antony is seen as the absolute most honorable and noble man there is. Sure, he gets distracted by the exotic Queen of Egypt who probably gives it to him good. I get that. He's blinded. But, he always does everything in his power to avoid conflict between the two parties, one being Rome, the other being Egypt. He does everything he can to avoid conflict and then when it does come it's Cleopatra who turns her back not Antony. She left him to die out there dog. Come on now. Good blog though.
ReplyDeleteDylan, this may have been the dumbest thing I have ever laid eyes on, just because he is trying to get his PP touched doesn't make him a horrible person. When he forgave her that showed strength and smarts, the worst thing he could have done was to let in hang over her, that would have made it so he couldn't smash later. He has made some pretty dumb choices, but it was all so he could go home and get his dick felt later. The second to last paragraph was also pretty garbo, that is not admirable, that is called being a selfish hoe.
ReplyDeleteAlright Dylan, I can see where this hatred of Antony comes from. We know you know what you want and will never be pussy whipped but just for a second think about what it must be like to be in love with someone. Antony had everything in Egypt and he LEFT to go to Rome and marry someone he clearly didn't want to be with for the stability of Rome and the good of the people instead of satisfying his selfish needs. Cleopatra, as you say, does not really know what she wants. Through Shakespeare's depiction of her, she seems confused and flighty, which is exactly how the writer wanted her to be seen as. She goes back and forth between wanting him and not wanting him, being angry and happy, even revealing her instability through trying to literally "killing the messenger".
ReplyDeleteOkay Dyl, you used quotes which is good and you backed up what you said which is also good. But other than that WTF??? Antony is literally being tempted by the freaking devil. He had everything he could ever want, but he still left for his country. I think you may need to reread this play because Cleo is portrayed as a manipulative lil beotch and it's hard to be on the other end of that. Give the man a break.
ReplyDeleteDylan reading this post made me realize the type of person you are. Besides being wrong about almost everything at least your post is better than Olivia, Larry, and especially Kyle. Enough about your blog post let us admire this wonderful and "so beautiful is brings a tear to my eye" reply by Keaton Williams. He perfectly deconstructs your entire argument piece by not leaving a single survivor and then as he had his sword to your throat (sexually) he spared you leaving a "Good blog though." at the end. What a noble and honorable man.
ReplyDeleteI believe Antony is far from being a "spineless little bitch." He owned half the world and was only promoted to Legate by Julius Caesar. He just had two legions under legions under his control which is about 7,500 men. His downfall was falling in love with the Queen of Egypt. "Actions are so selfish that it is almost admirable." you have to be kidding me. This is single-handedly the worst thing I have read since Kyle's blog. There is not one respectable action she carries out.
DeleteOh my fucking god dustin, I LITERALLY say that it's not uncommon to side with at least one of the two "protagonists." Learn to fucking read. I said "I don't think it's uncommon to side with one of the title characters and hold them to a higher standard. In this case, I've bet on the wrong horse," in case you've forgotten.
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