'Cynicism and Idealism in Antony and Cleopatra'

'Of all of Shakespe atomic number 18s plays, Antony and Cleopatra is the one that just slightly dramatically reveals the affair amongst cynicism and idealism. In the play, Shakespeare uses capital of Italy as a attribute for cynicism, which he oftentimes evokes to as politics, and Egypt to refer to the notions of idealism. This fighting between capital of Italy and Egypt makes up the central conflict of the play and drives the characters towards just about of their actions. Characters in Antony and Cleopatra prominently associate Rome and Egypt with competing points of view (Hirsch, p.175). This is condescension the fact that, obviously, Romans are capable of idealism and Egyptians capable of existingism. though Egypt did not reserve the same invasion on European hi layer that Rome had, to thin that Egypt had a history of marvelous political federal agency and that its rulers must moderate been capable of practice very pragmatic sanction and cynical decisions is to ignore history. It is this very real history that drives the story line in the play. In fact, had Antony and Cleopatra not been rulers of their respective realms, and, therefore, symbols of cynicism and idealism, their fare affair would not have been tragic. Antony would not have been censured for locomote prey to Cleopatras charms, he would not have been pass judgment to marry another(prenominal) woman, and he whitethorn have triumphed in the even offtual difference of opinion to rule Rome. However, by falling in love with Cleopatra, Antonys Roman cynicism go prey to idealism, and he can eight-day be aught more than a pragmatic politician. Therefore, it is lick that, Under the public press of historical destiny Voluptas must lose, whether represented by Cleopatra or Falstaff; but the whelm is not the easily and obvious event of a morality play (Kermode, p. 1345). On the contrary, throughout the play, even though the earreach knows the outcome, there is a ceasel ess emphasis between idealism and cynicism, and a constant strain about which one should prevail.\nIt is outstanding to...'