Antony and Cleopatra Essay examples -- Antony and Cleopatra

As a erstwhile(prenominal) outpost of Rome, England was peachyly influenced by Roman genealogy-ancestors that were god-like (Mars), superhuman (Hercules), fearless warriors (Pompey) who flourished in a venerable monastic order (ancient 4). I would like to discuss how Shakespeare uses these characteristics in his Roman disaster Antony and Cleopatra, as a means to express one-sixteenth century Englands ethnic upheavals, one of which was the transformation of masculinity define in terms of spring to masculinity rooted in humanism. Traditionally, the monarch of a country is the luff of the nobility(Giddens 2) and skilled in weaponry so as to cope side by side with his soldiers. Queen Elizabeth tattered this tradition with her womanhood and physical inability to fight a war. As Eugene Giddens points out, Elizabeth was viewed as conflict-shy. Because she did non enter war lightly, a great anxiety arose within the military and the English nobility. After all, their major write r of honors and promotion in the monarchs court--great military feats--was constricted by the lack of war (Giddens 2). Shakespeares emphasis on Romes martial society in Antony and Cleopatra addresses the importance that a martial society held for men in England during Elizabeths reign. Military prowess defined masculinity by power and honor. Giddens highlights a Francis Bacon quote from Of the True impressiveness of Kingdoms and Estates in which Bacon writes No be can be healthful without exercise, uncomplete natural body nor politic and certainly to a kingdom or estate, a only and honourable war is the true exercise . . . for in a indolent peace, both courages will effeminate and manners impair (Giddens 13). Note the aforementioned(prenominal) sentiment for the relationship between war, ... ...age and Literature 15 (1990) 79-107.Carducci, Jane S. Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar in Shakespeares Julius Caesar Language and the Roman Male. Language and Literature 13 (1988) 1-19.Gidd ens, Eugene. Honourable men Militancy and Masculinity in Julius Caesar. Renaissance assemblage 5.2 (2001) 34 pars. 6 Oct. 2006. http//www.hull.ac.uk/renforum/v5no2/giddens.htmShakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra The Necessary Shakespeare Second Edition. Ed. David Bevington. New York Pearson Longman, 2005. 752-800.Vaught, Jennifer. Masculinity and furbish up in Shakespeares Winters Tale Men of intent from the Renaissance by the Enlightenment. 1650-1850 Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era 10 (2004) 305-325.Wofford, Susanne L. ed. Shakespeares recent Tragedies A Collection of Critical Essays. New jersey Prentice Hall. 1996. Antony and Cleopatra Essay examples -- Antony and CleopatraAs a onetime outpost of Rome, England was greatly influenced by Roman genealogy-ancestors that were god-like (Mars), superhuman (Hercules), fearless warriors (Pompey) who flourished in a patriarchal society (ancient 4). I would like to discuss how Shakespear e uses these characteristics in his Roman tragedy Antony and Cleopatra, as a means to express sixteenth century Englands cultural upheavals, one of which was the transformation of masculinity defined in terms of power to masculinity rooted in humanism. Traditionally, the monarch of a country is the head of the nobility(Giddens 2) and skilled in weaponry so as to fight side by side with his soldiers. Queen Elizabeth shattered this tradition with her femininity and physical inability to fight a war. As Eugene Giddens points out, Elizabeth was viewed as conflict-shy. Because she did not enter war lightly, a great anxiety arose within the military and the English nobility. After all, their major source of honors and promotion in the monarchs court--great military feats--was constricted by the lack of war (Giddens 2). Shakespeares emphasis on Romes martial society in Antony and Cleopatra addresses the importance that a martial society held for men in England during Elizabeths reign. Mili tary prowess defined masculinity by power and honor. Giddens highlights a Francis Bacon quote from Of the True Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates in which Bacon writes No body can be healthful without exercise, neither natural body nor politic and certainly to a kingdom or estate, a just and honourable war is the true exercise . . . for in a slothful peace, both courages will effeminate and manners corrupt (Giddens 13). Note the same sentiment for the relationship between war, ... ...age and Literature 15 (1990) 79-107.Carducci, Jane S. Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar in Shakespeares Julius Caesar Language and the Roman Male. Language and Literature 13 (1988) 1-19.Giddens, Eugene. Honourable Men Militancy and Masculinity in Julius Caesar. Renaissance Forum 5.2 (2001) 34 pars. 6 Oct. 2006. http//www.hull.ac.uk/renforum/v5no2/giddens.htmShakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra The Necessary Shakespeare Second Edition. Ed. David Bevington. New York Pearson Longman, 2005. 752-800.Vaught, Jennifer. Masculinity and Affect in Shakespeares Winters Tale Men of Feeling from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment. 1650-1850 Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era 10 (2004) 305-325.Wofford, Susanne L. ed. Shakespeares Late Tragedies A Collection of Critical Essays. New Jersey Prentice Hall. 1996.