The Unlikely Heros of Antony and Cleopatra

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The Unlikely Heros of Antony and Cleopatra

In Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra the two eponymous heroes, and lovers frequently contend with each other in a battle of words and wills. It is from these conflicts, that the reader learns most about each characters true nature. From the start of the play Antony is portrayed as a ruler who has lost his desire for dominance, a ruler who has lost his rigid loyalty to his empire, but instead has found his lover - Cleopatra. From the outset we have many reasons to dislike this influenced hero, yet as we find ourselves captivated in a play of conflicts, loyalty and war, he eventually wins our admiration.

Antony is a character that has lost many of the fine qualities he once possessed. Love strips Antony of the things he has previously valued: power, ambition, honour, integrity as a soldier and leader. Throughout the play Antonys diminish is clearly shown by his actions, as Cleopatra gradually influences him.

Primarily Antonys new disloyalty to his country and the triumvirate is a reason we di...

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