Summary:
By changing the title of `Antony and Cleopatra' to `Cleopatra and her Antony' it would be stating that within the play Cleopatra is in control and Antony is a possession. Both during the period this play was written and was set, the head of the family would have been a man and it would have been him in charge.
By changing the title of 'Antony and Cleopatra' to 'Cleopatra and her Antony' it would be stating that within the play Cleopatra is in control and Antony is a possession. Both during the period this play was written and was set, the head of the family would have been a man and it would have been him in charge, he would have gone to work whilst the woman stayed at home and complied with his every wish. However, Cleopatra would have been in a different position to the ordinary woman as she had wealth and power of her own without the tie of marriage and so could afford to conduct herself in any way she pleased.
Cleopatra was a domineering intelligent woman, she had to be otherwise she could not have ruled over a country. With this responsibility and power came the need to be in charge, we can perceive this with the manner she uses when speaking to her waiting staff,
'See where he is, who's with him, what he does.
I did not send you. If you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.' 1.3.3-6
She is used to giving orders and expects nothing less than for people to obey her. Antony it would seem is no exception. From the very first scene, 'Nay, hear them, Antony.'1.1.20 we see Cleopatra notifying Antony of what to do, and in return he looks to her for solutions to decisions, 'How, my love"' 1.1.25 and 'What sport tonight"' 1.1.48.
We, the audience, are not the only ones to notice this, characters in the play who are close to the central roles, also comment on this, especially on the change in Antony. Philo and Demetrius comment at the beginning of the play,
'And is become the bellows and the fan
To cool a gipsy's lust.' 1.1.9-10
This is emphasising Antony's disposition before and when he is apart from Cleopatra and the difference to his nature when he is in her company. When describing his character in the absence of Cleopatra they show respect and use language such as 'captain', 'general' and 'triple pillar of the world'. However, when he is with Cleopatra he is merely a 'strumpet's fool'. It seems that Antony becomes a different person when he is in the company of Cleopatra, so by using 'Cleopatra and her Antony' as the title it could be seen to mean that 'her Antony' is the Antony displayed when she is with him, whereas among others he is a completely different Antony.
Cleopatra is not always seen as a controlling, commanding woman. There are glimpses throughout the play of her affection and genuine longing for Antony,
'That I might sleep out this great gap of time
My Antony is away.' 1.5.5-6
We occasionally glimpse a woman who is in love and misses her lover in the long periods of time when he is absent. However, these feelings often lead to Cleopatra displaying her jealousy and possessive nature. And though this does show her love and strong feelings for Antony it also shows a violent covetous side of her nature as displayed in Act II when a messenger brings news of Antony's marriage to Octavia,
'MessengerMadam, he's married to Octavia.
CleopatraThe most infectious pestilence upon thee!
Strikes him down' 2.5.60-61
It appears that Antony is a possession of Cleopatra's which she does not wish to share.
Although the majority of the play at this stage gives the impression that Antony follows in Cleopatra's shadow, when he sets himself a task and remembers his duties back in Rome we occasionally see him stand up for himself,
'The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile,' 1.3.43-44
However, his weakness, his love for Cleopatra, materialises straight after, as if he is afraid of upsetting her,
'but my full heart
Remains in use with you.'1.3.44-45
He then continues with excuses and explanations of why he must depart as if he must answer to Cleopatra for all his movements both in Egypt and Rome. She is not impressed by the fact he shall be leaving her and until she realises his departure is actually for a reason which agrees with her, the death of Fulvia, Antony's wife, does she give him 'permission' to leave by blessing his journey and hopes for his victory.
A man of Antony's wealth and position, a triumvir, a general, a 'pillar of the world' should have the masculinity, strength and power to be in charge of himself and others. This he has, for the majority of the time, except for when he is around Cleopatra. I agree that this play should have the title 'Cleopatra and her Antony' as it is Cleopatra who is in charge in this relationship, though Antony is heard to deny this, 'I am not married, Caesar.' 2.2.130 Here he tries to show that he has some control over his own life however, both the audience and Caesar know that this is not the case. Antony is treated by Cleopatra as a possession she wishes to keep in her company permanently and share with no one. Cleopatra makes the decisions and it is Antony who looks up to Cleopatra rather than vice versa. As the play is called 'Antony and Cleopatra' you would expect Antony, as his name is first, to play a more prominent role than Cleopatra, or Cleopatra to be slighty more insignificant and subservient compared to Antony. This is deceiving and the way to correct this deceit would be to rename the play 'Cleopatra and her Antony'.
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