ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA: PRESENTATION OF WOMEN

1. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA: PRESENTATION OF WOMEN By Sam

2. The power of female sexuality ‘In these plays the female characters function to oppose the values of a world that is constructed as masculine.’ • In the Shakespearean times, the woman were looked at as weak and people who had no power and were not allowed to speak out or have an opinion. It was the men who were suppose to look masculine, tough and in everyone’s eyes, men were supposed to be the ones who should have all the power and rule all the kingdoms. • Cleopatra, however, is looked at as the most sexual character and in some ways she embodies a particular feminine identity. I think Cleopatra is attractive for Antony because she is in a position of power. For all her feminine charm, the only reason she is a really remarkable woman is because she has power as the Queen of Egypt. We see the significance of her figure by the constant mention of her, even when she is not on the stage. • Throughout the play, the male characters rail against the power of female sexuality. Caesar and his men condemn Antony for the weakness that makes him bow to the Egyptian queen, but they clearly lay the blame for his downfall on Cleopatra. On the rare occasion that the Romans do not refer to her as a whore, they describe her as an enchantress whose beauty casts a dangerous spell over men. As Enobarbus notes, Cleopatra possesses the power to warp the minds and judgment of all men, even “holy priests” who “bless her” when she acts like a whore. In this way, women are saddled with both the responsibility for men’s political alliances and the blame for their personal failures.

3. What representations of woman are present in the play? • The representation of Cleopatra I think is different to what the audience might have been expected. She is the type of woman who always wants to be centre of attention and will use her body to get what she wants. She is looked at as being sexy and someone who is empowered. • Cleopatra is looked at as being different to others because she is empowered as a woman. This is different and unusual because it is usually the men who are empowered and are in charge. The woman who were ‘different’ and empowered were accused of being witches because they’re different. (audience’s perspective)

4. Are these representations negative or positive? • I think these representations are negative because the audience would of thought that she was a bit crazy because they thought that she was a witch. I also think this because she is so caught up about describing her love like you would have to move the heavens and earth. This doesn’t seem like something you would say, its seems a bit supernatural as you can’t move the heavens and earth. • Cleopatra's sexual control over Antony conflicts with what is considered the unimportant role of women during the time. Enobarbus supports the lesser role of a female by adding that there is no reason to be sad at his wife's death because there are more women to be found.

5. Does the play support or challenge the role of woman in Elizabethan society? How? • I think that it challenges the role of woman in society because she is a woman that is in charge of a country (Egypt) and there is quite a substantial amount of pressure on her to live up to the other men’s standards. She takes advantage of herself as being a woman that is running a country because she can use her body to get what she wants, and she knows that the men will fall for her.

6. How might the audience have reacted to the presentation of woman in the play? • We think that they would be outraged because she is portraying herself as a whore and she is different so therefore they think that she is a witch. I think the audience react badly towards Cleopatra because she is different so therefore I think the audience feel like Cleopatra shouldn’t be acting the way she does because in a way, it is giving the image that all woman are like Cleopatra; voluptuous, sneaky, always wants to be the centre of attention, dramatic and will manipulate anyone to get her way and what she wants.