The tragic in Antony and Cleopatra Essay - 3706 Words

The tragic in Antony and Cleopatra His captains heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsys lust. Antony and Cleopatra seems to have a special place in Shakespeares works because it is at a crossroad between two types of play. It clearly belongs to what are generally called the Roman plays, along with Coriolanus and Julius Caesar. But it is also considered a tragedy. The importance of history in the play cannot be denied, especially where it is compared to Shakespeares great tragedies such as Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. But one might wonder what is specifically tragic in Antony and Cleopatra, and what can be†¦show more content†¦The heroes of Antony and Cleopatra have high rank and ability because they are above the level of common people. This is a general characteristic in tragedies. Tragic heroes are extraordinary specimens of mankind. They can be remarkable for their intelligence (as is Oedipus, the main character of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles), their cruelty (like Medea, in the eponymous tragedy by Seneca), or their nobleness in mind, (like Caesar in Cinna by Corneil le). Very often the tragic hero is from royal blood. Antony, in Shakespeares play as well as in Roman history, is a military leader of incredible power, intelligence and courage. Caesar himself shows his esteem for him when he reproaches him for his present moral decay: ..................................................When thou once Was beaten from Modena, where thou slewst Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow, whom thou foughtst against (Though daintily brought up) with patience more Than savages could suffer. (...) ..................................................And all this (It wounds thine honour that I speak it now) Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek So much as lankd not. (Act I, scene IV) If Cleopatra does not have such a strong moral sense, she is remarkable for her royal rank - she is the last queen of Egypt - her beauty,Show MoreRelatedTragic Heroism in Shakespeares Antony And Cleopatra Essay1737 Words   |  7 PagesIn the tragedy â€Å"Antony and Cleopatra†, Shakespeare presents our protagonist Mark Antony as a tragic hero. He does this by using a number of dramatically effective methods, including language, staging techniques and structure. Aristotle defines a tragic hero as a character of noble stature who has a tragic flaw (usually hubris which is over confidence/arrogance) and suffers a downfall that is partially their fault but also due to factors beyond their control. The downfall they suffer exceeds the â€Å"crime†Read More Essay on the Love Story of Antony and Cleopatra1645 Words   |  7 PagesStory of Antony and Cleopatra      Ã‚   The tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra can be said to have an overall effect of comical lightness. 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