Cleopatra infinite variety
- 1. CLEOPATRAS INFINITE VARIETY How Shakespeare represents the character Cleopatra in the his play Antony and Cleopatra
- 2. First Impressions of Cleopatra in Act I Scene I FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CLEOPATRA
- 3. Manipulative/dominant over Antony: The triple pillar of the world transformd/ Into a strumpets fool Antony seems to be under Cleopatras spell Underlying insecurities: Cleopatra needs to be reassured that it is her that Antony loves and no other If it be love indeed, tell me how much Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? Sexual allure: reneges all temper Antony seems lovesick gipsys lust
- 4. Shakespeare uses a range of contradictions to describe Cleopatra to represent her infinite variety SHAKESPEARES USE OF LANGUAGE
- 5. royal wench She has status Contrasts her title as the word wench implies of someone of lower-status Implies that she has a human side Power Noble birth
- 6. CLEOPATRAS REGAL SIDE Her previous lovers were of noble status: Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey The barge scene (Act II scene II) describes an extravagant entrance and enforces her dominance burnishd throne purple the sails the oars were silver Associated with the Goddess Venus; this emphasises her power and status Oerpicturing Venus Respected, and has natural authority empress O eastern star Has resources: messengers, sixty sails, she convinces Donabella to help her She dies as a queen, in her monument, surrounded by riches Bring our crown and all our referring to herself in the third person
- 7. CLEOPATRAS HUMAN SIDE Insecure: she needs reassurance from Antony and her servants If it be love indeed, tell me how much (Act I Scene I) Jealous Report the features of Octavia (Act II Scene V) Violent streak which is not regal or lady-like. Example: when she beats, and tries to kill, the messenger in Act II scene V Lusty: Cleopatra has had previous lovers, and the Romans disapprove of her sexual appetite gipsy's lust strumpet My salad days Joins Antonys side at the Battle of Actium: the battle field was no place for a woman, she also turns her ships around in battle most probably out of fear (another human emotion)
- 8. Cleopatra takes on many different roles in the play, some consciously feminine in order to achieve her desired objectives REPRESENTATION
- 9. CONSCIOUSLY FEMININE ROLES The Seductress/Siren: she uses her feminine charms to manipulate men around her such as Antony, Thidius and Donabella The Damsel in Distress: Act V scene II The Tease: Thidias The Actress: Act I scene III Weak, Subordinate: Act V Caesar The Queen of Egypt: She refers to her status in times when she wants to put emphasis on her power The mother: in Act V she tries to secure the kingdom for her children
- 10. THE SEDUCTRESS Act II Scene II: The Barge Scene She did lie/ In her pavilon, cloth-of-gold of tissue, Oerpicturing that Venus (lines 207-209) Enobarbus paints a very sensual, Goddess-like image Act III Scene XIII: Thidias
- 11. THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS Act V Scene II Cleopatra is very solemn towards Donabella and makes him feel sorry for her I dreamt there was an emperor Antony/ O, such another sleep (lines 75-76) Hell lead me, then, in triumph (line 208)
- 12. THE TEASE Act I Scene I Cleopatra taunts Antony about his wife, Fulvia, who is in Rome. This shows her manipulative side as well as her insecurities as she wants to be lavished in affection and his absolute attention Nay, hear them, Antony./ Fulvia perchance is angry (lines 20-21) Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? (line 42) Cleopatra gets what she wants as Antony ignores the messengers and spends the night with Cleopatra; and Antony declares his love: Her is my space (line 35)
- 13. THE ACTRESS Act I Scene III: Antony decides to go back to Rome, and Cleopatra pretends to be sick in attempts to keep Antony in Egypt with her Act IV: Cleopatra pretends to be dead and sends a messenger to Antony
- 14. WEAK Act I Scene III Cleopatra pretends to be sick in order to keep Antony in Egypt If you find him sad,/ Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report/ That I am sudden sick
- 15. THE QUEEN Act V Scene II Cleopatra demands for her robes and crown to wear before she dies Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have / Immortal longings in me (lines 279-280)
- 16. THE SUPPORTIVE WIFE Act IV Scene IV It is the morning of the battle, and Cleopatra is assisting Antony by putting on his armour There is a slight reservation of hope from Cleopatra at the end of the scene as she says Then Antony-but now-. Well on. (line 38) Does she doubt his chances at war, or his abilities?