Summary:
Shakespeare certainly shifts the perspective from Rome to Egypt regularly so the audience can reassess the central situations and characters. These perspectives not only highlight Antony's tug of war between reason and emotions, but the manipulative power of words, the instability of the world and the cultural clash between the East and the West.
From the opening lines of Demetrius in Act 1:1, it is clear the Romans' regard Antony as "a strumpet's fool", abandoning his military endeavours in Rome, while seeking pleasure in Cleopatra's domain. This perspective is further emphasised through Antony's words: "let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall!" From the opening scene of the play, the audience should concur with Philo's view that Antony loss his honourable reputation from being "the triple pillar of the world" to merely "the fan to cool a gypsy's lust." However, Antony's refusal to Cleopatra's enticements in Act 1:3 "you'll heat my blood no more," illustrates Antony's ability to prioritise honour and nobility over lustful pleasures. The audience should reassess Antony's character, for this change completely contradicts Philo's criticism of Antony's "dotage." Is Antony indeed.....
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