Explore the crisis of identity
Like many great leaders littered throughout the ages Antony stands on the pedestal of his public image, relying solely on his past achievements and other people's opinions of him to maintain a facade. He is not alone in this dilemma, for many of his fellow world- conquers have fallen into the same trap and suffered the consequences. Napoleon, a great leader of the Georgian era, was quoted on his death bed as saying 'The people, I am what they want of me.' It is in other people's opinions of him that Antony's fall from grace is most evident. In the opening scene Demitrius and Philo, two of Antony's followers, provide an insight into what those who serve Anthony so loyally feel about the way he is conducting himself; 'His captains heart, which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst and is become the bellows to cool a gypsy's lust'. Not only is this incredibly insulting to Cleopatra, but also shows the dismay Antony's men feel for their brave general. Almost as vital to the great leader's identity is his pride at being Roman and it is a testament to how strong a grasp Cleopatra has over him that in 1.1 he proclaims 'Let Rome in Tiber melt. And the wide arches of the ranged empire fall!' Such a gesture, made to placate Cleopat
Faithful Enobarbus remains to 'follow the wounded chance of Antony' despite the boorish treatment he received. Such a humble request shows the extent to which the fires of defiance within Antony have been extinguished, and even his great tactical mind is starting to fail, because he must have realized that to challenge Caesar to single combat would be pure lunacy. He resolves to return to Rome and endeavour to paper over the cracks his wife has caused, disregarding his previous assertions about letting his homeland collapse. Enobarbus, ever the incite full narrator, comments that 'the loyalty well held to fools does make our faith mere folly', expressing the commonly held opinion that Antony the great general is dead and has been replaced by Antony the Fool. He laments to his last remaining companion Eros, musing over the 'towering citadel' of clouds, utterly distracted from the chaos around him. The betrayal felt by Antony's troops is immense: 'Had our general been what he knew himself- it had gone well. In his closing address Enobarbus sadly explains this outburst; 'to be furious is to be frightened out of fear' which all but predicts Antony's failure in the following battle. Of course this slight needs answering to, and so mighty Antony resolves to 'raise the preparation of a war shall stain your brother'. Caudius remarks that that the whole army have become 'women's men', reduced past the lowest level of their social hierarchy. Oh, he has given example for our flight most grossly by his own!' Candidius changes sides, as do several of Antony's lieutenants. Caesar effectively robs Antony of and moral high ground and constructs a very plausible case for war against his former brother-in-arms. Caesar seizes on this monstrous mistake and sends the Egyptian vessels fleeing the battle. Antony blusters through, but Caesar's questions serve to re-affirm his doubts about his tenure in Alexandria and his weakened position at the triple throne of the empire. This slight would have been unforgivable in Roman society, and makes his men doubt Antony's competency.
Common topics in this essay:
Caesar Antony,
Gone Herculean,
Despite Enobarbus',
Enobarbus Antony's,
Demetrius Philo,
Lepidus Caesar,
Faithful Enobarbus,
Romans Lacking,
,
Antony Anthony,
caesar antony,
dying breath,
octavia antony,
rome antony,
people's opinions,
roman people,
return rome,
antony represents,
popular support,
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Acceptance Essays
