Cynicism and Idealism in Antony and Cleopatra

Of each(prenominal) of Shakespeares plays, Antony and Cleopatra is the unrivaled that nigh dramatically reveals the strife amongst cynicism and noble-mindedness. In the play, Shakespeare uses capital of Italy as a symbol for cynicism, which he frequently repairs to as politics, and Egypt to refer to the nonions of idealism. This competitiveness amongst capital of Italy and Egypt makes up the central conflict of the play and drives the characters towards most of their actions. Characters in Antony and Cleopatra conspicuously associate Rome and Egypt with competing points of view (Hirsch, p.175). This is despite the concomitant that, obviously, Romans are capable of idealism and Egyptians capable of realism. Though Egypt did not let the same pertain on European narrative that Rome had, to contract that Egypt had a business relationship of tremendous semipolitical power and that its rulers must discombobulate been capable of exercising genuinely pragmatic 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 several(prenominal) realms, and, therefore, symbols of cynicism and idealism, their love affair would not confirm been tragic. Antony would not suffer been censured for falling mark to Cleopatras charms, he would not have been expected to marry some other woman, and he may have triumphed in the eventual battle to rule Rome. However, by falling in love with Cleopatra, Antonys Roman cynicism falls prey to idealism, and he can lasting be nothing to a greater extent than a pragmatic politician. Therefore, it is straighten that, Under the pressure of diachronic necessity Voluptas must lose, whether stand for by Cleopatra or Falstaff; just now the defeat is not the well-to-do and obvious matter of a morality play (Kermode, p. 1345). On the contrary, throughout the play, even though the audience knows the outcome, there is a unending tension between idealism and cynicism, and a constant strain about which one should prevail.\nIt is important to...