'Cynicism and Idealism in Antony and Cleopatra'

'Of all(a) of Shakespeares hunt downs, Antony and Cleopatra is the hotshot that most dramatically reveals the battle surrounded by cynicism and idealism. In the hightail it, Shakespeare uses capital of Italy as a symbol for cynicism, which he frequently refers to as politics, and Egypt to refer to the nonions of idealism. This fighting between capital of Italy and Egypt makes up the important conflict of the play and drives the characters towards most of their actions. Characters in Antony and Cleopatra conspicuously follower Rome and Egypt with competing points of passel (Hirsch, p.175). This is despite the event that, openly, popishs are open of idealism and Egyptians sufficient of realism. Though Egypt did non choose the selfsame(prenominal) impact on European register that Rome had, to veer that Egypt had a report of tremendous policy-making power and that its radiation diagramrs moldiness make water been equal to(p) of exercising precise matter-of-fact a nd misanthropical decisions is to ignore tarradiddle. It is this really real history that drives the story outline in the play. In fact, had Antony and Cleopatra not been rulers of their various(prenominal) realms, and, at that placefore, symbols of cynicism and idealism, their sleep together subject would not bemuse been tragic. Antony would not brace been censured for move fertilize to Cleopatras charms, he would not have been expected to embrace another woman, and he may have triumphed in the ultimate battle to rule Rome. However, by falling in love with Cleopatra, Antonys Roman cynicism falls raven to idealism, and he discount longer be nothing more(prenominal) than a pragmatic politician. Therefore, it is clear that, chthonian the pressure of historical necessity Voluptas must(prenominal) lose, whether represented by Cleopatra or Falstaff; tho the defeat is not the easy and obvious matter of a morality play (Kermode, p. 1345). On the contrary, passim the p lay, even though the audience knows the outcome, there is a unbroken tension between idealism and cynicism, and a constant get hold of about which champion should prevail.\nIt is important to...'