Antony and Cleopatra Essay examples -- Antony and Cleopatra

As a geniustime outstation of Rome, England was greatly influenced by roman type genealogy-ancestors that were god-like (Mars), superhuman (Hercules), fearless warriors (Pompey) who flourished in a patriarchal beau monde (ancient 4). I would like to discuss how Shakespeare uses these characteristics in his Roman tragedy Antony and Cleopatra, as a means to express sixteenth speed of light Englands cultural upheavals, one of which was the transformation of maleness defined in impairwork forcet of precedent to maleness rooted in humanism. Traditionally, the monarch of a inelegant is the head of the nobleness(Giddens 2) and skilled in weaponry so as to fight typeface by side with his soldiers. Queen Elizabeth shattered this customs with her femininity and personal inability to fight a war. As Eugene Giddens points out, Elizabeth was viewed as conflict-shy. Because she did not venture war lightly, a great worry arose within the army and the English nobility. After all, their major source of honors and publicity in the monarchs court--great armed services feats--was constricted by the lack of war (Giddens 2). Shakespeares focus on Romes military society in Antony and Cleopatra addresses the importance that a soldierly 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 Greatness of Kingdoms and Estates in which Bacon writes No personate can be healthful without exercise, neither born(p) body nor flavorless and certainly to a kingdom or estate, a just and august war is the true exercise . . . for in a slothful peace, both(prenominal) courages will effeminate and manners corrupt (Giddens 13). line the same suasion for the relationship between war, ... ...age and Literature 15 (1990) 79-107.Carducci, Jane S. Brutus, Cassius, and Caesar in Shakespeares Julius Caesar quarrel and the Roman Male. Language and Literature 13 (1988) 1 -19.Giddens, Eugene. worthy Men combativeness and Masculinity in Julius Caesar. reincarnation Forum 5.2 (2001) 34 pars. 6 Oct. 2006. http//www.hull.ac.uk/renforum/v5no2/giddens.htmShakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra The required Shakespeare Second Edition. Ed. David Bevington. New York Pearson Longman, 2005. 752-800.Vaught, Jennifer. Masculinity and Affect in Shakespeares wintertimes 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. 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 Shake speare 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. Military 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.Va ught, 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.