Student Essay on The Diminishing of Antony

The Diminishing of Antony

Summary:   Essay discusses the diminishing of the character of Antony in the play "Antony and Cleopatra" by William Shakespeare.

The play Antony and Cleopatra is no doubt about the diminishing of Antony as a result of his love for Cleopatra. Shakespeare portrays this through phases which are visualised and witnessed by; Antony himself, his followers, Caesar, Cleopatra and eventually the universe.

Throught the love Antony has for Cleopatra he loses many of the fine qualities he once possessed. Even he, himself states; "The present pleasure by revolution lowering does become"(1.2.132). His love takes away from him the things he had previously valued like; power, ambition, honour and integrity as a soldier and a leader. This is especially revealed when Antony fights at sea to impress Cleopatra. By this a good example is portrayed of how Antony's good soldier-ship is lost. His diminish in power and honour is again shown when he shamefully flees the battle of Actium. He comments;"O thy vile lady! She has robbed me of my sword."

Antony chooses his lust over his empire, this is the first vision we are presented of Antony commencing to "melt" or lose his qualities; "Let rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall" (1.1.34). As a result of this statement Antony's officers Philo and Demetrius are shocked because Antonys comment is an insult to everything they had fought for. Antony begins to deteriorate in the eyes of his followers. This can be observed in Philo and Demetrius's conversation about Antony, Demetrius says; Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight" (1.1.56), with Philo's reply; "He comes too short of that great quality" (1.1.58)

Even Enobarbus who is almost like the other half to Antony through his loyalty (to the extent of killing himself) and time spent together in Egypt, we get the sense of Antony's destroyal through Enobarbus's eyes with his conversation with Menas. Enobarbus states;"But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very stranger of their amity"(2.6.123). Enobarbus states here that Antonys marriage to Octavia is not going to be a stronger tie but it will be the main reason of destroying Antony and Caesars friendship because Antony will go back to Cleopatra.

Certaintly, Antony's irresponsible behaviors have an immense effect on Caesar who is one of the Triumvirs. Antony is insulting Caesar through his actions and causing himself to decay in the eyes of his competitor in leadership. We are given a sense of how Caesar sees Antony when he states;"To give a kingdom for a mirth"(1.4.18). Antony is degraded by Caesar;"It wounds thine honour that I speak it now..."(1.4.70). Clearly, Antonys image even in the eyes of Caesar has crumbled.

Even though Cleopatra tries to fight the fact of Antonys diminishing throughout the play by focusing on he r love and passion, and even just before the death of Antony when she tries to make him stand up, however, she too admits that "Alls but naught" (4.15.82).

The universal diminishing of Antony is also visualized through Cleopatra with the strong metaphoric effect "The crown o'th earth doth melt." This is the finale episode of the disintegration of Antony.

Finally, throughout the play Antony and Cleopatra we behold the events wich takes us through the phases of the diminishing of Antony the great warrior and leader.