tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post8152294733828892652..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Antony and Cleopatra by William ShakespeareBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-11559031819527197302012-03-30T20:57:54.747-04:002012-03-30T20:57:54.747-04:00Hi Suzy - Thank you for the feedback. I am so glad...Hi Suzy - Thank you for the feedback. I am so glad that you enjoyed the post.<br /><br />You make an interesting point about Antony and Cleopatra possibly attempting to project the image of a couple in love. Their characters are portrayed as super exhibitionists iand I suspect both would want such an image perpetuated throughout the world, both to enhance their power and to stoke their vanity.<br /><br />I think that I would really enjoy it if you put up posts on both Cleopatra and Shakespeare. Though I have an avid interest in history, my knowledge about the real Cleopatra is sketchy at best. Stacy Schiff recently wrote a biography titled “Cleopatra: A Life “that looks great. I will really try to read soon.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58881382425849824622012-03-30T19:10:48.211-04:002012-03-30T19:10:48.211-04:00Hi Brian,
I really enjoyed reading this post, alth...Hi Brian,<br />I really enjoyed reading this post, although I'm not familiar on any of Shakespeare's work, it was very interesting to read. It has also inspired a bit intrest in me to do some research on Shakespeare. <br /><br />The other reason I enjoyed this post is I'm facinated by the story of Cleopatra. I can't personally say I agree with her methods to compete in a blood and power thirsty world, but none the less her character is interesting.<br /><br />As I'm not familiar with the original work, so my thoughts may not be accurate, after reading the above comments on Antony and Cleopatra loveing the concept of love and not actually being in love made me think of the comments you made about Cleopatra being a expert seducer and manipulator. Maybe they weren't in love and gave a vision of love, as a manipulator Cleopatra would well have know that two are stronger than one, and as Queen of Egypt the vision of power and control by love was far more valuble than love itself.<br /><br />Anyways, I could write all day about what I think, so I may in fact do a blog post on both Cleopatra and Shakespeare.<br /><br />Thankyou for the inspiration.<br />Suzyby.suzettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14283172099421564270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1889140770156550702012-03-29T18:02:09.083-04:002012-03-29T18:02:09.083-04:00Hello Himadri - As usual your comments are thought...Hello Himadri - As usual your comments are thought provoking! I think that you are correct on the Puritanism - Octavius parallel. Though I am not certain whether or not Octavius will really make a good ruler (I must point out again, that I am not referring to the real Octavius, just Shakespeare’s fictional character). I often detect a cynicism in Shakespeare towards kings and other men of power. Octavius talks a great game, but like the other Roman leaders, perhaps the lust or power is his prime motivation. Of course, as you mentioned, these characters are so complex it is very easy to see it both ways!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-19276860822375375642012-03-29T13:58:19.209-04:002012-03-29T13:58:19.209-04:00Hello Brian, one of the main problems with trying ...Hello Brian, one of the main problems with trying to discuss this play is that it's so hard to pin the characters down! They all seem to be so many things at the same time. Octavius, I think, displays the qualities associated with Puritanism. (Shapespeare mentions Puritanism directly in Twelfth Night, where it is suggested at one point that Malvolio is a Puritan.) He takes his responsibilities seriously, but is cold: that he is the only man in the play able to resist Cleopatra's attractions makes him good as a ruler, but unlikeable as a person. But then again, he is genuinely moved when he heats of Antony's death!<br /><br />You're right of course - we can only focus on certain aspects of works as inexhaustible as this. I'll certainly report back on the forthcoming production.<br /><br />All the best,<br />HimadriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59199534799398235182012-03-29T05:48:30.524-04:002012-03-29T05:48:30.524-04:00Himadri – I have been thinking about your comments...Himadri – I have been thinking about your comments on Octavius. I think that you got it exactly right when you observed that neither Antony or Cleopatra’s would ever have, or profess to have any kind of world vision. Of course they are much too narcissistic. It is also telling that Octavius does not succumb to Cleopatra’s charms, which makes him a rarity among males in the universe of this play.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-4277551538910563092012-03-28T20:24:58.331-04:002012-03-28T20:24:58.331-04:00Thanks for the comments Himadri. You know I notice...Thanks for the comments Himadri. You know I noticed that you had commentary up about this play when I first discovered your Blog, I think that I was in the middle of this current reread. I intentionally did not read your post at the time, as I was afraid I might unintentionally steal your thoughts. I just read your commentary, it is very insightful and well worth the read.<br /><br />These great and complex works are very difficult to comprehensively cover in a blog. I like the idea of focusing on one aspect that intrigued me a going with it!<br /><br />I agree that it is really difficult to determine if Antony and Cleopatra really loved one another. It might be dependent upon one’s definition of love. It certainly was no match made in heaven! You wrote above, “makes me wonder whether they actually love each other as people, or whether they love the concept of love itself” I agree and would add that they may also be in love with the idea of just talking about love! They are such theatrical personas.<br /><br />I have heard about Michael Pennington's performances, but alas I do not believe that I have ever seen him in a Shakespeare production. Kim Cattrall seems like she was born for the role! Please let us know your impressions after you have seen it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15955182806666632112012-03-28T11:52:30.684-04:002012-03-28T11:52:30.684-04:00Hello Brian, "Antony & Cleopatra" is...Hello Brian, "Antony & Cleopatra" is one of my favourite plays, but the problem with favourite works is that when you want to talk about it, you don't know where to start. (Or, indeed, where to end.) I wrote about it on my blog a couple of years ago (see http://argumentativeoldgit.wordpress.com/2010/03/17/212/: in the comments section that follows, I have a little discussion on the play with my brother.)Looking back on what I wrote, I don't think I'd even begun to scratch the surface.<br /><br />One thing that strikes me now is that although Antony and Cleopatra speak some ebautiful lines about love, they rarely speak these lines to each other. The picture Cleopatra paints on Antony after his death is nothing like what Anony was in real life. It makes me wonder whether they actually love each other as people, or whether they love the concept of love itself. But then again, I think of that wonderful moment when Antony, dying in agony, hears that Cleopatra had only faked her death, and she is really alive: ther eis no bitterness, no acrimony - despite his own state, he is just happy.<br /><br />Octavius is an interesting character. In many ways, he embodies the puritan ideals of work and responsibility. He speaks at one point of a time of "eternal peace" - a concept that would never have occurred either to Antony or to Cleopatra.<br /><br />There is so much to say about this inexhaustible work. Thank you for writing about it. <br /><br />I've been fortunate enough to see this on stge several times - most notably a production featuring Patrick Stewart and Harriet Walter as A&C. This summer at the Chichester Festival, they're putting on a production with Michael Pennington, one of our finest Shakespearean actors, as Antony, and Kim Cattarall as Cleopatra. My wife & I will certainly be booking tickets for that.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br />HimadriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-74077096712953053632012-03-27T20:27:08.579-04:002012-03-27T20:27:08.579-04:00Angie - Thank you so much. I am embarrassed by you...Angie - Thank you so much. I am embarrassed by your kindness! I appreciate the good word!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-69388300553229232042012-03-27T15:39:14.230-04:002012-03-27T15:39:14.230-04:00I gave you an award for your blog. You can see th...I gave you an award for your blog. You can see the award on my blog and get details http://angiesangelsrkids-furkids.blogspot.com/2012/03/award.htmlAngiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06756879973329488003noreply@blogger.com