Techniques On Cleopatra And Anthony Powerplay

Elective 2: Powerplay вЂ" Antony & Cleopatra

Consider representations of and the interplay of types of power

Analyse portrayals of the powerful

Consider how the depiction of particular relationships provides insight into the nature of politics

Consider the extent to which power resides with the people

Techniques

Suspense

Delays entry of main characters and Caesar

Caesar powerful- delayed entrance- magnifies his power for audience (dramatic technique)

Soothsayer foreshadowing/foretelling

“You shall outlive the lady whom you serve” (Cleopatra’s death)

“I thou dost play with him at any game, thou art sure to lose” (Antony’s fall to Caesar)

Soliloquy- dramatic monologue

climatic- heightened sense of the character’s soul being laid bare

Antony berating himself for not being strong enough to break the ties with Cleopatra- stupid enough to follow her ships

Foreshadowing his own death вЂ" “O’ Sun, thy uprise shall I see no more”

Sounds of battle

Cannon fire, trumpets, drums вЂ" dramatizes it, makes it more realistic

Dramatic terms- limited by stage, can’t have proper battle scene

Symbol of warfare

Dialogue

Cleopatra’s power over Antony seen when Antony tries to tell Cleopatra about Fulvia, but she constantly cuts him off.

Eg. “now, my dearest queen вЂ" “ ; “Cleopatra вЂ" “ ; “Most sweet queen вЂ" “ ; “Hear me queen:”

Dashes used to signal when he is being cut off and Cleopatra’s speech takes over

Trumpet flourishes/fanfares

Represents Caesar’s power

Ambiguity

“But stirred by Cleopatra” вЂ" moved by her emotionally and sexually

Simile

So extensive are the lands involved that on many occasions the word вЂ?world’ is employed with regard to the central characters eg Fulvia: “Wars twixt you twain would be As if the world should cleave”

Animal References

Horses:

“oh happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!”

“he did’st drink the stale of horses”

Caesar describes himself and Antony as two war-horses that could not �stall together’

Snakes:

Prepares us for the вЂ?pretty worm of Nilus’ вЂ" the asp that frees Cleopatra from Caesar’s power

Eg �serpent of old nile’

Metaphor

“O’ thy vile lady! She has robbed me of my sword” вЂ" swordÐ" manhood which he sacrificed in his sojourn in Eqypt

dramatizes, imagery

Visual actions

Cleopatra beating messenger Ð" abuse of power

Adds drama/action and excitement to the play with the message being displayed visually

The play covers a period of several years making the rhythm rather vigorous- giving the audience the impression of perpetual shift in power.

Types of Power

Political Power

Military Power

The Power of Sex/Love

Power through Deception

Personal Power (suicide)

Political Power

Rome: democratic state, the senate ultimately decided what and what not was to be done. Leaders need the respect of the roman people to retain their power. Ð'

The three pillars of the world represent an image of power - a triumvirate - that has, by definition, to be shared but will, in fact, never be evenly distributed.

Powerplay existed strongly in the triumvirate - it was a constant battle for more power between the partners, especially between Antony & Caesar.

o Caesar defeated Lepidus illegally by claiming he was a traitor and put him in jail

o and Antony & Caesar went to war against each other, unable to rule alongside each other

As Caesar said (regretfully): “we could not stall together In the whole world”- the world was not big enough for them both to rule.

The nature of the relationship between Caesar & Antony: Caesar refers to Antony as “our great competitor”.

Example of Antony’s imperial power: he saw the world as property that he could carve up and do what he liked with

”I will piece

Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East…

shall call her Mistress.”

Unfortunately, such a large amount of power also requires responsibility- which Antony neglected. This misuse of power led to his downfall.

Caesar

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