How do you, in the 21st Century, respond to Shakespeares dramatization of Cleopatra - Essay Example

English: 5 October 2005 How do you, in the 21st Century, respond to Shakespeare's dramatization of Cleopatra I believeShakespeare's dramatization of Cleopatra does not step to far away from the actual person and leader she was. However, Shakespeare seems to have placed a much larger emphases on her love life; more so than what probably took place in reality. As a matter of fact, Shakespeare presented her to the theatrical audience as more in-depth and humanistic than any other character in the play, "Antony and Cleopatra". He removed the shears of symbolism enshrouding her in order to express a more evolved character in ways that were much more, "fascinating, complex, dramatic, and human-like" than just the past points of view about her (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). Shakespeare gives the audience intrigue and mystery in regards to Cleopatra's character. His betrayal of how she calculates and monitors others emotions emphasizes the fact that she was a woman whose every action and gesture had an ulterior motive. I believe, through Shakespeare's depiction, and reading the historical literature as well; there can be confirmation that Cleopatra used those feelings of others to exploit and serve her own needs as she saw fit. One example of this is in Shakespeare's play in Act I, scene iii when Antony has just learned of his wife's death. Cleopatra makes the somewhat sarcastic statement that Antony was not disturbed by his "beloved" wife's demise and says, "Now I see, I see/In Fulvia's death how mine receiv'd shall be" (I, iii,ll 64-65). Of course, her words are only meant in an impish type of playfulness but also carry a motive as well. Beyond a doubt, I believe it is safe to assume that Cleopatra desired nothing more than for Antony to profess his love to her and act on it. Her need for love, to have Antony's love is not very different from the emotional behavior of all women in love. Though Shakespeare presents her as trying to trick and twist words to get her way there truly is no differentiation in that. I believe all females; at some point in their lives can be conniving and a little devious in romantic relationships. That is unless their relationship is solidly perfect which I highly doubt any relationship is problem free. Throughout history, Cleopatra has been defined as the legendary seductress. This is seen in Shakespeare's play as well; due to all the underlying sexual implications involved amongst mixed wordings such as in Act I, scene I: "But stirr'd by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, let's not confound the time with conference harsh: There's not a minute of our lives should stretch without some pleasure now. What sport tonight" (I,i) Obviously this insert of the play isn't discussing holding hands while strolling through the courtyard. It's no surprise to learn through reading the various literary documentations; Cleopatra was a very seductive and sensuous woman. Shakespeare truly had the spirit of her breathtaking aura impeccably shadowed into her character throughout the play. In proof of this, parts of the play indeed point to her beauty and feminine charms. After personally reading the drama myself, it is my opinion that one of the most descriptive parts describing her physical attributes and womanly wiles is the scene where Antony's good friend Domituis Enobarbus literally falls into poetic verse. Rather vividly, he is relaying how her approach upon the barge impacted all that saw her. Her gentle women, like the Nereides, So many mermaids tended her I' the eyes, and made their bends adornings: at the helm a seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands that yarely frame the office. From the barge strange invisible perfume hits the sense of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast her people out upon her; and Antony, Enthroned I' the market-place, did sit alone, whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, and made a gap in nature. (II,ii). The interpretation I personally take from this verse is one of awe, fascination and inspiration of the person she represents. I can't help but feel Shakespeare's writing shapes a woman that was unmatched in beauty and feminism. However, history relays a totally different version of her in regards to her physical beauty. Plutarch, a biographer and author in the Hellenistic era attests to the fact that Cleopatra was not much in beauty but "so sweet was her company and conversation that no man could resist her"(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). Continuing on historically we find her depicted as a queen who was strikingly intelligent, politically shrewd, could speak over a half dozen languages, and a queen who was proud to take time to discuss political matters with other foreign ambassadors and in their own languages. The land of Egypt that Cleopatra ruled over is considered to be very languid and sleepy, "a seductive lotus land" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). Now, looking at Shakespeare's depiction in retrospect, I personally find very little in the way of her intelligence and how she dealt with political aspects of her kingdom. Again, Shakespeare is more enthralled with the Cleopatra who is a woman intensely in love, a woman behind a mystery. Also, from what I have read and discovered about her, she was very calm and took issues at a slow pace, very precise and planned out. Shakespeare however presented her as, A queen always bustling about and never appearing by herself. A queen full of vitality, energy, intensity, exuberance, a life force, impish, bawdy, endlessly fascinating, and in Enobarbus's words, "A wonderful piece of work". (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). From reading the play to the various pieces of literature that have been written about her there is one thing for certain. A person can always find many descriptions depicting her rule and character. I think Shakespeare's historic play was only one facet of these descriptive pieces of her essence. Enobarbus's description of her varies from one degree to the next proven in the following written text by him: "Age cannot whither her", he states, nor custom stale'/her infinite variety" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). He goes on to give very vivid and colorful wording used to express the true person she was such as this following list of adjectives. She is proud, smart, witty, dazzling, sensuous, alluring, fickle, playful, narcissistic, jealous, tyrannical, cruel, impatient, demanding, arrogant, petulant, volatile, tempestuous, selfish, capricious, and finally a woman of enormous passions and immense mystery (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2005). In closing this paper I believe it has been found that Cleopatra was indeed a very universal Queen. Her historic presence is obvious as it is read and discussed today and most assuredly will continue to be a center point of English History and Literature for centuries to come. Shakespeare brought her character to life better than any other writer ever could. He placed a passion in his play and in her character that was undeniably amazing work. It fascinates and astonishes so many audiences as if it were being performed for the first time. This points out that the magnificence of this play and the magnitude which the characters present is an epic piece of work. What I truly believe draws people to Shakespeare's works such as, "Antony and Cleopatra" is the truth he portrays in them, such as in the role of Cleopatra. He kept to the facts and the philosophical and sociological readings about her and her history which brought such great inspiration into her character. I felt my own self drawn to her character as that of a magnet. Because the truth is more compelling than the myths, and Shakespeare definitely attempted to focus more on the truth of Cleopatra, his portrayal of her was a huge hit in all four corners of the world. It could be said that because of his representation of her, there emerged a woman of immense political stamina and power during a historic point in human history. Shakespeare truly showed her as a Queen of much dignity and honor in one of the last scenes of his play as the next paragraph details. Cleopatra refused to allow Octavian to have the pleasure of gloating in her defeat by humiliating her. The following shows how regal her last hours might have been. After Antony has died in her arms she turns to her handmaiden Charmaian and says, "Our lamp is spent" and finishes "Come we have no friend/But resolution and the briefest end" ( IV, xv, 11,90-91). This scene is in no uncertain terms telling that Cleopatra is determined to take her own life. I believe she felt that she had lost everything after Antony died and also was not about to allow Octavian to disgrace her; so the dignified thing to do in her mind was to take her life. Shakespeare portrayed this very dramatically and with such elegance that it remains a part of the play that holds great meaning in the end. I am certain his depiction of her remains just as powerful in this time as it did when it was first created. Cleopatra truly was a unique woman who captured the pure essence of womanhood within her but at the same time had an air of masculinity that Shakespeare allowed to be expressed as well. She was a power player with the most powerful men of her day. In the end, I believe it was Shakespeare's depiction of the woman herself that gave the whole show its vitality and power. Works Cited "Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator." Britannica. 2005 ed. Chauveau, Michel. Cleopatra: Beyond the Myth. : , 2002. "Plutarch." Britannica. 2005 ed. Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. http://www.guthrietheater.org/pdf/antony.pdf: The Guthrie Theater, 2002. Read More