Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Antony and
Cleopatra
Rex Gibson
Series Editor: Rex Gibson
System QuarkXPress
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN
Contents
Introduction
Imagery
Antithesis
Repetition
Lists
Verse and prose
Critical approaches
Traditional criticism
Modern criticism
Political criticism
Feminist criticism
Performance criticism
Psychoanalytic criticism
Postmodern criticism
Organising your responses
Books
Films and audio books
Antony and Cleopatra on the Web
4
5
6
70
70
71
74
75
76
78
79
80
81
82
82
87
88
90
91
92
92
96
98
100
103
106
107
108
109
117
122
124
125
125
128
128
Contents
Commentary
Act 1 Scene 1
Nay, but this dotage of our generals
Oerflows the measure.
(lines 12)
(lines 1013)
Commentary
(lines 356)
Act 1 Scene 1
play: paradox. Neither Philo nor Demetrius will appear in the play
again, but they have served their dramatic function to draw attention
to:
the vast difference between Egypt and Rome;
Antonys change from noble soldier to infatuated lover;
potential antagonism between Antony and Caesar.
Act 1 Scene 2
The first 70 lines of Scene 2 reveal the frivolous, pleasure-seeking,
sexually obsessed nature of Cleopatras court. Charmian and Iras,
ladies-in-waiting to the queen, joke together as their fortunes are told
by the Soothsayer. His formally spoken prophecies contain ominous
meanings, but the two women refuse to see any menace in his words.
Both womens chatter is full of sexual innuendo: figs were thought to
look like vaginas; an oily palm was believed to signify sensuality; Iras
claim that she would prefer an inch Not in my husbands nose is
obviously a phallic joke; and both women tease Alexas unmercifully
about his future as a cuckold (deceived husband). Their banter is
interrupted by Cleopatra, who is evidently concerned about a change
in Antony:
He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden
A Roman thought hath struck him.
(lines 778)
Commentary
Things that are past are done, with me. Tis thus:
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flattered.
(lines 935)
(lines 11213)
Act 1 Scene 2