ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA - Contextual Question 2
Write an essay on the following extracts saying, briefly, what importance it has in the development and structure of the plot, and commenting on such matters as:
· The revelation of character
· The use of language
· Verse and stage action
· The bringing out of themes.
Relate your answer, as appropriate, to other parts of the play.
ANTONY.
….Come on, my queen,
There’s sap in’t yet. The next time I do fight
I’ll make death love me; for I will contend
Even with his pestilent scythe. [Exit all but Enobarbus.]
5-ENOBARBUS. Now he’ll outstare the lightning.
To be furious Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still
A diminution in our captain’s brain
Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason,
10-It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him. [Exit.]
[Caesar’s camp before Alexandria. Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS, with his Army; Caesar, reading a letter.]
CAESAR. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
He hath whipt with rods; dares me to personal combat,
15-CAESAR TO ANTONY. Let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die, meantime
Laugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS. Caesar must think,
When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted
20-Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot of his distraction. Never anger Made good guard for itself.
CAESAR. Let our best heads
Know that to-morrow the last of many battles
25-We mean to fight. Within our files there are
Of those that serv’d Mark Antony but late
Enough to fetch him in. See it done;
And feast the army; we have store to do’t,
And they have earn’d the waste. Poor Antony!
[Alexandria. Cleopatra ’s palace. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others.]
ANTONY. He will not fight with me, Domitius?
ENOBARBUS. No.
ANTONY. Why should he not?
ENOBARBUS. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune
He is twenty men to one.
35-ANTONY. To-morrow, soldier,
By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live,
Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?
ENOBARBUS. I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’
40-ANTONY. Well said; come on.
Call forth my household servants; let’s to-night
Be bounteous at our meal. [Enter three or four Servitors.]
Give me thy hand
Thou hast been rightly honest. So hast thou;
Thou, and thou, and thou. You have serv’d me well,
And kings have been your fellows.
CLEOPATRA. [Aside to Enobarbus] What means this?
ENOBARBUS. [Aside to Cleopatra]
‘Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots
50-Out of the mind.
ANTONY. And thou art honest too.
I wish I could be made so many men,
And ll of you clapp’d up together in
An Antony, that I might do you service
So good as you have done.
SERVITORS. The gods forbid!
ANTONY. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night.
Scant not my cups, and make as much of me
As when mine empire was your fellow too,
And suffer’d my command.
CLEOPATRA. [Aside to Enobarbus] What does he mean?
ENOBARBUS. [Aside to Cleopatra] To make his followers weep.