How is Cleopatras infinite variety reflected Essay Example for Free

How is Cleopatras infinite variety reflected Essay How is Cleopatras infinite variety reflected in the language that she uses? In your answer you should include detailed reference to at least 2 passages from the play. Throughout the play many sides of Cleopatra are shown, this suggests she is constantly masking her true feelings, this ability shows her as a good queen of Egypt, but also a stubborn, yet scared person. The first passage I will refer to is Act I, Scene 1, where Antony and Cleopatra are happy and flirtatious. Here Cleopatra is portrayed as a flirtatious and dominant character, almost like a femme fatale with her use of language suggesting this via words and statements such as If it be love indeed, tell me how much, Hear the ambassadors, these two statements are direct and dominant, she tells Antony to do these things rather than asking him. Also, the way she talks about love in this manner shows her as independent and strong. In this scene she also teases and manipulates Antony with her talk of Fulvia, his wife, and Caesars hold over him, this is encouraging him to write them off and declare his loyalty to her, as he seems to be doing with his statement Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch of the rangd Empire fall: here is my space. Although this scene shows Antony and Cleopatras love, it also shows Cleopatras strong will and manipulation skills, as can be seen on many occasions throughout the play. Another side to Cleopatra is seen in Act III, Scene 11, where she has abandoned Antony at sea, and is now apologizing to him. In this scene, I feel her true feelings start to show through, especially through her language used; Oh lord, my lord, forgive my fearful sails here she is calling Antony lord, so talking of him highly, yet putting herself down by insinuating her and her navy are fearful, so basically, weak. Her reference to Antony as My lord the second time round is significant as it shows her fear of losing him because of her actions. Overall, Cleopatra does not say much in this scene, showing her shame and sorrow at the situation she is in. When she does speak she is very apologetic and says very little, especially in comparison to Antonys long speeches. Her final words in this scene say it all; Pardon, pardon. In these two scenes Cleopatras variety of personalities are shown through these two polar facades, in one she speaks a lot, is dominant, demanding and manipulative, in the other, she says very little, is apologetic almost to the stage of begging, and speaks to Antony with respect. This seeming role reversal between Antony and Cleopatra is seen a number of times throughout the play, in accordance with the events occurring in the plot. Another variety of Cleopatra is shown in Act III, Scene13, where she is deliberately masking her true thoughts and feelings in order to fool Caesars man Thidias. She is playing her cards very close to her chest by flattering Caesar and his men, asking questions about him rather than talking about herself and talking of the past rather than the present; Say to great CaesarI kiss his conquering hand: tell him I am prompt to lay my crown at his feet this shows her sweet-talking Caesars messenger and also shows her signaling to him that she will go along with Caesars words. Cleopatra asks for the messengers name, this is a change from her usual abrupt way with messengers, showing her flattery to make him think that she cares what him name is and also stalls the conversation to give her time to think. She talks of the past by bringing up Caesars father, whom she was with before Antony. She talks of him fondly, suggesting she still cares for Caesars father, and in turn, Caesar and Rome also. In two of these three scenes Cleopatra is able to mask her feelings completely, with her use of language being sophisticated enough to manipulate two powerful men. In all three scenes she is seen in a different light, almost like it were three different characters. Shakespeare keeps the audience intrigued by these changes, and shows Antony and Cleopatras relationship advancing, and also different characters roles and personalities, through Cleopatra and the other characters language. Cleopatras language is very clever, showing a surface meaning that could be completely different when looked at on a deeper level, this close textual analysis allows me to see what her true feelings were, in comparison to these masked emotions that are portrayed to the other characters. This could be Shakespeares way of pre-empting the tragic end and other major events in the play.