Mark Antony Analysis

Antony was born the son of “a man of no great repute in public life, nor illustrious, but kindly and honest, and particularly a liberal giver.” Some fifty years later, Mark Antony died in the arms of one of the most famous and stirring women in history. He had served at the highest positions attainable in the politically savage world of the Roman Empire after the chaos that ensued with the death of Julius Caesar. Plutarch’s Antony tells the tale of not only one of the most pronounced and controversial figures in Roman history, but delineates Antony’s personality, character, and nature along with his mighty accomplishments, which some may say were achieved in spite of his traits not because of them. Plutarch’s message, however truthful, leans

Plutarch described this readily enough. “He had also a noble dignity of form; and a shapely beard, a broad forehead, and an aquiline nose were thought to show the virile qualities peculiar to the portraits and statues of Hercules.” It is challenging to envision higher acclaim, but easy to see how such influence touches the masses and sets the table in our vision of

Rome and antiquity would have you believe that it was merely a coupling of political need, but Plutarch undoubtedly believed they were in love, the explanation being that Antony was led askew beyond even his norm. He makes it clear that “the nature of Antony, where now as a crowning evil his love for Cleopatra supervened, roused and drove to frenzy many of the passions that were still hidden and quiescent in him, and dissipated and destroyed whatever good and saving qualities still offered resistance. And he was taken captive in this manner.”

Despite the half-truths behind claims of his enemies, Plutarch saw Antony as a tragic hero. Already recognized as a prodigious warrior and leader, it fit Plutarch’s constant summary to denunciate Antony’s downfall by his enemy’s claims. It was said that after meeting with Octavian, Antony dreamt “his right hand was struck by a thunderbolt.” Was this another revision spun by Octavian, generating an impression of a foolish Antony unable to grasp the idea that Caesar was unbeatable? Plutarch seems to suggest as