knockmydoor: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra

The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra is another love story which is created by the most famous playwright in the world-William Shakespeare. This love story actually has a tragic ending such Romeo and Juliet story. The tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra was written in 1606-1607 in London, England. Then, it was published in 1623 by the First Folio. The setting time of the story is in 40-30 B.C.; and the setting of place is The Roman Empire and Egypt. These stories actually tell us about the relationship between Marc Antony, one of the triumvirs of Rome with the Queen of Egypt known as Cleopatra. Antony has an affair with Cleopatra and made her become his mistress. Actually the Triumvirs are consisted of three members, Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus. After the Civil War at Philippi, the power holder competition is continuing between Antony and Octavius. Then an agreement was made to decrease the tension. Antony lead the east area consisted of Greece, Macedonia, Anatolia, Syria, Judea to Egypt; Octavius lead the west area include Italy, Spain, Gaul and Germania; while Lepidus receive rations in most of North Africa. Besides, after the Death of Julius Caesar in civil war, Cleopatra is falling in love with Antony. Although Antony is also Married to Octavius’sister-Octavia, Antony is still trying returns to live with Cleopatra and it raise an attack to Egypt. On that Attack, Antony get a news that Cleopatra was died due to that attack. Then, Antony try to suicide himself using the sword. However, the death of Cleopatra is fake. Cleopatra who knows that Antony was dead is trying to suicide herself by let the poisonous snake bit her.

The plot seems to be the same with Romeo and Juliet story. However, Antony and Cleopatra story is quite interesting for me since the love story is not done by the youngsters, but it done by mature couple who had been left by their mates. This story actually told us about the uncommon relationship between Marc Antony and Cleopatra which is not only romantic, but also historical. In addition, I can see that different background of story bring different tragic sense. This story is not merely told about the romantic side, but also about how the male pride can bring them to the defeat and failure.

There are some parts which I like from this play. The first is the fact that both Marc Antony and Cleopatra are a widower and widow. Marc Antony actually has already married with Fulvia when he has an affair with his mistress Cleopatra. This fact is shown from the first chapter of this story “Cleopatra is thinking. Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not. “Antony will be himself.” Fulvia actually has already dead of an illness as shown in the certain lines in the play stated” Antony stares down, thinking. “Fulvia is dead.”

The second thing which is impressed me is that the process of the death of Antony and Cleopatra. As I mentioned before, Octavius is trying to be the only person who lead the Rome and change the Position of Julius Caesar. Octavius was angry because Antony left Octavia for Cleopatra. The attack to Egypt gives news that Cleopatra is dead. Antony who heard this news is surely fell so down. He lost his authority against Octavius and he also lost Cleopatra who always love him so much. He decided to suicide himself using the sword. After the death of Antony, Cleopatra is trying to suicide herself with poisonous snake as imaged in the play,“ As to how she died from the biting of it, what pangs she felt: truly, she made a very good report o’ the snake!... As to how she died from the biting of it, what pangs she felt: truly, she made a very good report o’ the snake!” This is decided by Cleopatra to avoid that she will be paraded in front of the people of Rome by Octavius. “She said that she would rather die in open grave rather than paraded as an object of derision in Rome.”

Then, the third thing that I like from this story is the fact that both Cleopatra and Antony really madly in love each other. It proves when Cleopatra feels so jealous to know that Antony married Octavia. She tries to sent a messenger to see how good Octavia is. When she know that Octavia is less impressive, she get their confident back and try to be the best for Antony till the end of the time.

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