Cleopatras hand Essay Example for Free

Cleopatras hand Essay After listening to Cleopatras poor advice he then flees the battle to follow her, his heart. Once Antony has recovered from the embarrassment of fleeing battle he regains the upper hand in a violent scene with a messenger from Caesar who has kissed Cleopatras hand. This scene parallels a similar scene between Cleopatra and a messenger when she found out about Antonys marriage to Octavia. Throughout the argument there are recurrent references to food, love and the supernatural. The hyperbolic language is an open expression of their excessive love and passion for each other. Antony shouts and makes a lot of noise throughout the argument as he is trying to regain his once respected position. He is totally aware of the fact he is loosing power to Cleopatra this is why he is acting in such an arrogant manner toward the messenger and his lover. In Act three scenes eight, nine and ten the battle of Actium is about to begin and there is fierce fighting and violence in the next three scenes but the audience would not see this as it is set offshore. In Act four Scene twelve Antony is infuriated as the Egyptian fleet has surrendered and he feels Cleopatra has betrayed him. He takes a very Roman view of Cleopatra and refers to her as a witch. Antony foresees his own demise and this is delivered to us through imagery in his speech; Osun, thy uprise shall I see no more. This is suggesting Antonys thoughts about his suicide. The two lovers have a bitter quarrel in which Antony uses very graphic imagery for example; Octavia plough they visage up/ With her prepared nails! Cleopatra flees in terror and goes to her monument. The uses of hyperbolical and simple language throughout this scene show the contrast between the two main characters in their struggle for power. At the end of this scene Antony has the upper hand as Cleopatra has left, but she soon regains power over him. Act four Scene fourteen shows Antony at a remarkably low point. Mardian, a messenger from Cleopatra brings news of her death and Antony decides it must be the end for him too. But Cleopatra is not actually dead. Even in Antonys low times his soldiers would rather die than kill him as we find out when Eros kills himself. Even as Antony falls on his sword he is making reference to love and sex: A bridegroom in my death and run intot / As to a lovers bed. Cleopatras power over him it at its most evident when he kills himself because of her death. Whilst he is bleeding to death he finds out that she is not dead and has a very unusual reaction. It shows his great love for her yet again, even thought she had lead him to make the most flawed decision possible, killing himself. Even in Act four Scene fifteen, Antonys death scene, we are aware of Cleopatras power over Antony. She takes control and wants to speak even though Antony is dying, interrupting his dying words; No, let me speak Cleopatra says this so she can have the final word, though this is not intended as she does love him. As Antony is dying he speaks about himself in the third person, giving himself a regal address to prove he has achieved honour even if it is in death. Not Caesars valour hath oerthrown Antony,/But Antonys hath triumphd on itself. Cleopatra changes her tone considerably after Antonys death. She becomes very subdued and dignified which leads to a restrained end to a tempestuous scene. Cleopatra ends the play in Act five with all the power, as Antony is dead and she still has the final scene to herself which is very unusual as a female character is never given the final scene. She has achieved power over Antony in his life and his death proving she is a domineering and ingenious woman, much to the Romans disapproval. In conclusion, Shakespeares handling of the balance of power is wonderfully documented through the plot of the play and through his use of language. The lifestyle enjoyed by Antony and Cleopatra is shown through the hyperbolical poetry.