FREE ESSAY ON ANTONY &CLEOPATRA

ANTONY &CLEOPATRA

Nature, described as mysterious and secretive, is a recurrent theme throughout
Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Cleopatra, the ill-fated queen of Egypt, is both
mysterious and secretive, and her emotional power is above and beyond nature's great
strength. Whether described in a positive or in a negative manner, both nature and
Cleopatra are described as being "great natural forces." Throughout the first act, the
two are compared and contrasted by various characters in the play. 
The first act, set in Alexandria, Egypt, sets the stage for the play and presents the
majority of the actors. Scene two introduces one of the major themes of the play, Nature.
This raunchy, innuendo- filled scene has two of Cleopatra's close friends and one of
Antony's discussing her and Antony's life. Charmian, one of Cleopatra's best friends,
Alexas, one of Cleopatra's servants (as well as the link between her and Antony),
Enobarbus, one of Antony's trusted Lieutenants, as well as a Soothsayers are all present
and discussing their fortunes. During this discussion, the Soothsayer states, " In
Nature's infinite book of secrecy/ A little I can read" (I.ii.10-11). The Soothsayer
explains to the others that there is little she can do outside of not only her powers,
but also what nature allows her to. One of the first references to nature and the mystery
that revolves around it, this quote simply demonstrates how little power the people have
over something as great as nature. 
Nature and the elements surrounding it are simply a mystery to the people of Rome. In his
discussion with his commanding Lieutenant, Enobarbus refers to Cleopatra, the queen of
Egypt and Antony's soon-to- be lover, as a great natural force that is above nature's
powers. In the second scene of the first act, Antony states, "She is cunning past man's
thought" (I.ii.145). This statement is then followed by Enobarbus' statement about
Cleopatra: "…her passions are made of noth/ing but the finest part of pure love. We
cannot call her /winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater /storms and tempests
than almanacs can re- port. This/ cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a show'r
of /rain as well as Jove" (I.ii.146-151). In this quote, Enobarbus shows great respect
and admiration towards Cleopatra. Not only does he defend her from Antony's statement,
but also he regards her with such high esteem that he compares her to Jove, the ruler of
the gods in charge of rain, thunder, and lightning. 
In the latter part of the play, Cleopatra affirms the claim made by Enobarbus stating
that her powers are greater that nature's. In scene 13 of the third act, she states, "Ah,
dear, if I be so, / From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, / And poison it in the
source, and the first stone/ Drop in my neck;" (III.xiii.158-161). In her discussion with
Antony, Cleopatra is openly asserting her "supernatural" powers that she believes she
has. Not only does she believe she has supernatural powers, but she also believes that
she is Egypt. 
Throughout the first act, various characters claim and make references to Cleopatra as
being "Egypt" itself. On page __________________. These claims are later affirmed several
times towards the end of the play. In his discussion with Lepidus and Pompey, Antony
states, "The higher Nilus swells. / The more it promises," (pg.56). In referring to Egypt
and its conditions, Antony has made the comparison between Cleopatra and Egypt. In this
quote, Antony states two things: That Egypt rises and falls along with Cleopatra, and
Cleopatra is comparable to the nature of Egypt. This statement not only makes the
comparison between Cleopatra and Egypt, but by Antony obliviously stating that Cleopatra
"is Egypt", he reaffirms Cleopatra's great natural strength. 
In Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, nature, the elements surrounding it and its
mystery are continuously compared to Cleopatra. In several instances in the book, we see
Cleopatra's strength over God's natural powers. Throughout the first act as well as in
the latter acts of the novel, references are made to both nature and to Cleopatra's
powers over it.