Antony and Cleopatra Essay examples -- Antony and Cleopatra

As 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 partnership (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 century Englands cultural upheavals, one of which was the diversity 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 author of honors and promotion in the monarchs court--great military feats--was constricted by the lack of war (Giddens 2). Shakespeares emphasis on Romes warlike ships company 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 body can be healthful without exercise, neither natural body nor politic and certainly to a kingdom or estate, a just and honorable 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 kinship 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 work force Militancy and Masculinit y 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 manpower 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 tee shirt 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 Shakespeare uses these characteristics in his Roman tragedy Anto ny and Cleopatra, as a means to express sixteenth century Englands cultural upheavals, one of which was the variety 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 first 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 kindred 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 M en 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 tee shirt Prentice Hall. 1996.