Antony and Cleopatra can be described as… Throughout this prose, Antony is faced with the complexity of the persuasive influence and stature the conflicting characters of Octavius Caesar and Cleopatra present. In “Celebrating Idleness: Antony and Cleopatra and Play Theory”, Abigail Scherer maintains the idea that Caesar uses manipulation as a strategic tactic just as much as Cleopatra, explicating on the perception that Caesar exploits others politically to gain the advantage in his conquests. Although starkly different in technique, both Caesar and Cleopatra use their strength in prestige to incite dominance not only over Antony, but over anyone, in an attempt to gain authority. The contrast between Caesar and Cleopatra’s essence of manipulation can be identified as being politically or emotionally driven. …show more content…
As a strategy to overcome his adversaries and broaden Rome’s provincial land, Caesar manufactures multiple arrangements such as marrying off his sister to strengthen alliances, generating catalysts towards future political gain. Caesar’s use of civic manipulation is imperially motivated, as he hopes to assimilate other territories’ cultures with Roman traditions. Caesar overcomes Antony, by forcing Antony’s traitorous soldiers to fight within the front line, and causing Antony internal dishonor. Caesar maintains his title, not by inheritance, but by defeating and manipulating his counterparts mentally. Cleopatra can be compared to Caesar in her ability to manipulate her counterparts towards her gain, however, she is different in her ability to manipulate her own emotions and sensuality. Her inconsistent adoration and dramatic political prowess can be seen as she describes Antony’s love: And when good will is show'd, though't
Camryn Cook History 337 Dr. Overtoom 02/26/23 Reading Summary #3 Group 2: Cleopatra Chapters 7-9 and Epilogue This summary paper examines chapters 7 “The Operation of the Kingdom”, 8 “Scholarship and Culture at the Court of Cleopatra”, 9 “Downfall”, and the Epilogue of Cleopatra by Duane W Roller. Chapter Seven “The Operation of the Kingdom” begins with the section titled “Royal Administration” which highlights the financial and political struggles of the empire the Cleopatra inherited and ruled over. Her father owed major debts to officials of the Roman Empire, which had not entirely been paid off, most notably to Caesar. These debts are one of the primary reasons for Octavian’s eventual attempts of conquering Egypt and ending Cleopatra’s
The movie Cleopatra (1963) and the Plutarch passage (Warner, 1958) cited in Fear (2008, p. 17) are in different mediums and were meant for different audiences. However, their representations of the relationship between Cleopatra and Caesar are in many ways similar. The 1963 movie depicts the relationship between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra as a power play between two tacticians, as Fear mentions (The Open University, 2008, p. 3), Cleopatra uses the Roman’s preconceptions about her to her own advantage. Similarly, the Plutarch passage (Warner, 1958) alludes to Cleopatra’s smart tactical skills in how she used a trick to get around the guards to see Caesar.
“She was naturally a ruler, with a rich, velvety voice, a dominant presence and a tendency to interact with her citizens. Co-reigning with her father, Ptolemy XII, for a limited amount of time before he died was the most effective thing Cleopatra did in her life. From that experience she learned how to build a fleet, control, change, and improve a currency, keep a stable government through a famine, and do more than anyone else to unite the eastern and western mediterranean countries. Along with building a fleet, she knew how to pick her relationships wisely, Caesar and Mark Antony knew that she had the money for their military needs and that they could help secure her time and safety in the throne. Cleopatra knew how to make a profit, she taxed everything from salt, to pastures, to dikes, to oil, and kept the economy strong when she resold products, helping her with Caesar and Antony’s military needs.
Which she has a personal relationship and now he is involved in what's happening to Caesar. In this case can ruin her relationship. Finally when Anthony asks his servant to go see if it's safe for him to go and see dead Caesar. What Anthony did endangered the servant for political reason. This action was to see if the other would kill Antony in addition to Caesar, which crosses a boundary.
Cleopatra is probably one of the most recognised figures from the ancient world, she was represented in many different ways and we could find number of historians who wrote about her. (‘Surpassing beauty she was, young, most striking women, being brilliant to look upon and to listen to’). (Dio in AA100 Assignment booklet 2015, p.20), that’s how Cassius Dio the roman historian (born.16, died after 229CE) described the main features of the Egyptian queen, Dio also presented condensed version of a speech Octavian is presented as giving to his army before the battle of Actium between Octavian on the one hand and Mark Antony and Cleopatra on the other, in this speech Cleopatra is presented as a fatal influence on Antony, she is temptation personified and Antony is incapable of resistance,(‘He is either blind to reason or mad, for I have heard and can believe that he is bewitched by that accursed woman’).(AA100 Book 1 Reading 1.1 Augustus on Cleopatra, p.27).
First, In Cassius Dio’s Roman History, Cleopatra is also depicted and treated as manipulative due to her gender. While Cassius Dio describes Cleopatra’s beauty without negative connotations, he uses such as an explanation as to how she was able to persuade Caesar for his help, referring to it as a “scheme.” Cassius Dio’s characterization of the act, similar to the way in which Lucan presents it, is of a meticulous plan created by a manipulative woman. Additionally, while Cassius Dio gives more credit to Cleopatra in terms of her power, such as naming her as in control of Caesar, he frequently makes the point that she was disliked by her subjects as a sole ruler, even claiming that there was fear of a rebellion.
His love for her trumps expectations from a soldier and a leader like Antony. Like Antony, Cleopatra overlooks her duties to her people and decides out of
Since the fortune had it that Rome’s imperial regime was born from her defeat, Cleopatra played the role, as a unique as it was involuntary, of link between the Hellenistic and the Roman world. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony permanently have impacted on Ancient Rome and Egypt. Her being with Caesar and Anthony led to deaths, Cleopatra had been part of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony deaths. He began to make unwise decisions. Cleopatra was thus heir to a line of determined women who were often the object of sincere devotion on the part of the Egyptian people of inept or discredited.
By refusing to read the will several times and admitting that what it contains will cause the people to have such a great love for Caesar that knowing he is now dead will be unbearable, Antony ignites curiosity in the people and furthermore, a subconscious feeling of respect and graciousness toward Caesar. Basically, Antony uses Caesar’s will to convince the people that Caesar was a selfless, kind-hearted man and those who killed him should be ashamed and punished for killing an innocent man. Through Antony’s use of paralipsis, he is able to plant a seed of admiration for Caesar and one of hate for the conspirators in the hearts of the plebeians. In his speech to the citizens, Antony also asks many rhetorical questions to cause his audience to pause and reflect on how they really feel, or how Antony wants them to feel, about certain people and events that have recently become important. In one instance.
This has shown that if one can be manipulated too easily, it can cause for some serious problems and consequences. Brutus is such an easy example because his devout loyalty to Rome and the simple fact that he would do anything for Rome leaves him open to numerous chances of manipulation. Shakespeare then proceeds to use Caesar to show that someone high and mighty can sometimes get so caught up in everything, and themselves, that they do not see the consequences of their actions and choose to believe and not believe what they want. The Romans are then the epitome of being easily manipulated. Manipulation is everywhere; it is a part of everyone 's lives and always will
Sydney Stone Mrs. Paul English 10A 16 October 2017 Rhetorical Analysis Essay William Shakespeare, a very famous writer, tells the story of Julius Caesar. In his play, Marc Antony delivers a powerful speech that uses many different rhetorical devices, appeals, and different styles of writing. Some of these include repetition, rhetorical questions, pathos, logos, ethos, and diction. These help enhance Marc Antony’s speech by persuading the audience towards considering that Caesar was a good man.
This praising of Octavius's virtues by Shakespeare transforms Octavius from a leader and an Emperor into a God-like figure who deserves to be the ruler of the world. Shakespeare in his praising and glorifying of the Romans, particularly Octavius Caesar, he ignores, dehumanizes and marginalizes the Egyptians who are either silenced, so we do not hear a voice of an Egyptian who objects or tries to refuse Caesar's orders, or when an Egyptian tries to represent any feeling toward Rome or the Romans we feel the glorification of the Romans in his speech. Charmian, one of Cleopatra's maids, when she is asked about Julius Caesar, as a Roman, to be compared with Antony, she replies: Charmian. O that brave Caesar! Cleopatra.
Marc Antony’s Persuasiveness The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is a play that explains the assassination of Julius Caesar and the civil war after his death through a tale of friendship and betrayal. In act III, scene ii of the play, Julius Caesar’s right-hand man, Marc Antony, is able to persuade the crowd at Caesar’s funeral to go against the conspirators and seek revenge for Caesar. Antony used great techniques to win over the crowd that was, moment earlier, all in favor of Brutus and were glad that he killed Caesar.
This realignment to Cleopatra is perfectly fitting with the symbolism of Jesus shown throughout this act. Upon hearing that his love has met her ultimate end, Antony is thrashed back into his old ways, aimed at the ends beyond the political community. His paradigm of glory and victory and eradicated in favor of sacrifice and generosity. Antony resolves to kill himself, so Cleopatra might not have to travel through the afterlife alone. Despite the on-going conflict still impacting all those around him, Antony abandons the community’s aim of conquest.
When Caesar was assasinated, she cried “My son” rather than mourning for him. After Caesar, was Antony her real love or just another attempt to rule the known