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.

 

4-ANTONY. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only

I here importune death awhile, until

Of many thousand kisses the poor last

I lay upon thy lips.

CLEOPATRA. I dare not, dear.

5-Dear my lord, pardon! I dare not,

Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show

Of the full-fortun’d Caesar ever shall

Be brooch’d with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have

Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.

10-Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes

And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour

Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—

Help me, my women—we must draw thee up;

Assist, good friends.

ANTONY. O, quick, or I am gone.

15-CLEOPATRA. Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!

Our strength is all gone into heaviness;

That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,

The strong-wing’d Mercury should fetch thee up,

And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.

20-Wishers were ever fools. O come, come, come,

[They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra.]

And welcome, welcome! Die where thou hast liv’d.

Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,

Thus would I wear them out.

ALL. A heavy sight!

ANTONY. I am dying, Egypt, dying.

25-Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

CLEOPATRA. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high

That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,

Provok’d by my offence.

ANTONY. One word, sweet queen:

Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!

30-CLEOPATRA. They do not go together.

ANTONY. Gentle, hear me: None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

CLEOPATRA. My resolution and my hands I’ll trust;

None about Caesar.

ANTONY. The miserable change now at my end

35-Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts

In feeding them with those my former fortunes

Wherein I liv’d the greatest prince o’ th’ world,

The noblest; and do now not basely die

Not cowardly put off my helmet to

40-My countryman—a Roman by a Roman

Valiantly vanquish’d. Now my spirit is going;

I can no more.

CLEOPATRA. Noblest of men, woo’t die?

Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide

In this dull world, which in thy absence is

No better than a sty?  O, see, my women,

[Antony dies.] The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt.

My lord! 0, wither’d is the garland of the war,

The soldier’s pole is fall’n! Young boys and girls

Are level now with men. The odds is gone,

And there is nothing left remarkable

Beneath the visiting moon. [Swoons.]

CHARMIAN. O, quietness, lady!

IRAS. She’s dead too, our sovereign.

CHARMIAN. Lady!

IRAS. Madam!

CHARMIAN. O madam, madam, madam!

IRAS. Royal Egypt, Empress!

CHARMIAN. Peace, peace, Iras!

CLEOPATRA. No more but e’en a woman, and commanded

By such poor passion as the maid that milks

And does the meanest chares. It were for me

To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;

To tell them that this world did equal theirs

60-Till they had stol’n our jewel. All’s but nought;

Patience is sottish, and impatience does

Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin

To rush into the secret house of death

Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?

65-What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian!

My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look,

Our lamp is spent, it’s out! Good sirs, take heart.

We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,

Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion,

7n-And make death proud to take us. Come, away;

This case of that huge spirit now is cold.

Ah, women, women! Come; we have no friend

But resolution and the briefest end.

[Exit; those above bearing of Antony's body.]