Explore the Ways In Which Shakespeare Presents Cleopatra Essay

An Elizabethan earreach would have already had preconceived ideas or so Cleopatra, as this play is based on a true story, and Cleopatra was commented on in Norths Plutarch, as a Pesilent plague, core that she brings death, panic and havoc to wherever she went. Also the audience would have already had preconceived ideas of Cleopatra, due to oral stories, which were passed from generation to generation.In these stories, she was addressed as a high-class prostitute, who lured men, into her bed, so that she could sleep with them to get whatever she wanted, this include Caesar, She had no faith. The stories say that she seduced Antony, and she overwhelmed him. The audience thitherfore would have been biased against Cleopatra and scent sympathy for Antony. Most of these stories would have been passed on by word of babble out and she would have been cursed on many times, which brain washed the nigh generation and so on.Shakespeare presents Cleopatra as a character of Infinite physi que and tries to give a balanced point of view, so as there are not any biased opinions against her. He keeps it balanced by using some multi-facetted approaches when Antony was dying, she said, There is nothing remarkable Beneath the tour moon She is saying that now that Antony is dead, there is nothing worth lifespan for. here(predicate) it is presented that she does genuinely love Antony, the problem now being that the audiences ideas are swaying between good and bad, due to her words and actions. scarce she also says, if you find him sad, say I am dancing, if in bliss report that I am sudden sick Here it is understandably proving that Cleopatras love seems that of a teenagers lust or crush, where she is exactly playing mind games with Antony. By now the audience would find Cleopatra unpredictable, garbled and unsure about her being genuine for her love to Antony or not. The audience is left to make up their declare minds about Cleopatra and certain questions may arise, s uch as, does she really love Antony?The audience would already have their own preconceived ideas of Cleopatra, which could have been planted in the minds of an Elizabethan audience, through morality stories. The audience might have known that the Roman Empire was a very strict and political place and era, and Antony was not abiding by the Roman standards or laws, because of the attraction of Cleopatra, who they could blame for the downfall. Also during Roman rule, and for centuries later, women were frowned upon so far if they spoke so what would the Elizabethan audience think of the audacity, let only if tone of Cleopatras dialogue.In the first scene of Antony and Cleopatra, two of Antonys soldiers in his army, (Philo and Demetrious) discuss Antonys enslavement to Cleopatra. They say that which is confirmed by the entrance of Antony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra shows insecurity, towards Antony straight from her opening line If it be love indeed, break up me how much, Antony goes on to say Let Rome in woodland melt and the wide arch of the rangd empire fall Here is my space. Here Antony is saying forget Rome I want to gruntle in Egypt, which shows how Cleoptara had already influenced Antony and even after this strong image and speech, she is quiesce not impressed.