Comparing Shakespeare And Plutarch's

In Plutarch’s lives, Antony seems like a man who was easily taken up by vices. He also, though, seems like a man who could live a life of hardship just as fast as he could live a life of pleasantries. He also appears to be somewhat gullible or at least unobservant of the things around him. In Shakespeare, Antony seems like a man who is simply controlled by his own passions. He loves Cleopatra yet he sometimes hates her because of her control over him. Shakespeare’s version of this story almost makes Antony look like Gollum who loves the ring yet hates it. In Plutarch’s lives, Cleopatra appears to be a greedy snake. She uses her attractiveness to control Antony not seeming in love but in a thirst for power. When she thought that Antony’s real

He also appears to need respect for his true wives, especially Octavia who is said to be one of the most virtuous pagans of her time. It may also be said that they both make him out to be a man who, when in the midst of his pleasures, did not care much for anything else until he finally came to his senses after he had gotten into trouble. In Plutarch’s Lives, Antony seems to have a great greed for pleasure. At the same time, though, he comes across as a man who is courageous and can abstain from these pleasures just as fast as he could take part in them. In Shakespeare, Antony also seems courageous. Shakespeare also makes him appear as a man of great love who only marries Octavia for patriotic reasons. Cleopatra is made to be a very clever woman by both Plutarch and Shakespeare. In Shakespeare, however, she uses her cleverness for the love of Antony, while Plutarch seems to say that she used her cleverness for her own greed of power. In Plutarch’s Lives, she appeared to be prideful. She would rather die than be seen in Octavius’ triumph. In Shakespeare, though, it almost seems like another Romeo and Juliet. It seems that she killed herself due to Antony’s death but then there is mention of wanting to not be placed in the triumph just as in Plutarch’s Lives. Octavius seems kind of sneaky in both of them. He treats Cleopatra kindly only to be able to place her in his triumph. He also, though, seems like