Antony & Cleopatra Flashcards
“Caesar gets money where / He loses hearts.”
Said by: Pompey
Context: Pompey and his men talking about how the battle is going
Powerplay: Wealth cannot always keep power, even if you are rich you can still be unpopular
Techniques: Metaphor - losing hearts means losing popularity and followers, Antithesis - “money” and “hearts” are contrasting elements, emphasizes the idea that pursuit of financial gain conflicts with ability to maintain the support of others
“As nearly as I may / I’ll pay the penitent to you”
Said by: Antony
Context: apologising to Caesar for not helping him in battle
Powerplay: While admitting you were wrong usually makes you seem weaker, Antony is using it to be the bigger person and control the conflict
Technique: Alliteration - use of gentle ‘p’ sound makes Antony sound soft-spoken and seem weaker
“Caesar and Antony have ever won / More in their officer than person.”
Said by: Ventidius
Context: Ventidius has killed someone for Antony
Powerplay: Achieved more through their positions than through their individual selves - power and accomplishments are from positions of authority rather than their personal attributes
Technique: Metaphor - have more power through their position than their personal achievments
“The Egyptian admiral, / With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.”
Said by: Enobarbus
Context: Cleopatra has fled battle with all her ships
Powerplay: Fleeing from the situation actually gives her power over the situation in case they lost the battle she wouldn’t be associated
Technique: Metaphor - By comparing her actions to flying and turning the rudder, it implies it was a decisive and strategic maneuver
“I’ll yet follow / The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason / Sits in the wind against me.”
Said by: Enobarbus
Context: Enobarbus is staying in battle even when Antony has followed Cleopatra
Powerplay: Loyalty can get in the way of reason - heart is stronger than mind
Technique: Symbolism - wind represents forces (loyalty) acting against his reason
“Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command”
Said by: Antony
Context: He is ashamed that he ran from battle to follow Cleopatra
Powerplay: Love makes Antony weaker instead of stronger as he lets his private life interfer with his public life and loses control of everything
Technique: Euphamism - “lost command” means to lose control/power
“How I convey my shame out of thine eyes… what I have left behind / ‘Stroyed in dishonour”
Said by: Antony
Context: Ashamed of running from battle to follow Cleo
Powerplay: Love has caused him to shame himself and everything he stood for
Technique: Diction - “shame” and “dishonour” highly emotive
“The itch of his affection should not then / Have nicked his captainship”
Said by: Enobarbus
Context: Talking to Cleopatra about Antony
Powerplay: Antony’s love (private life) shouldn’t affect his job (public life)
Technique: Metaphor - “itch of affection” implies he cannot resist Cleopatra
“When valour preys on reason, / It eats the sword it fights with”
Said by: Enobarbus
Context: Cleopatra and Antony have made up
Powerplay: Antony’s blind bravery has caused him to lose reasoning and strength
Technique: Personification - “valour eats the sword it fights with” bravery has no strength when you have no reason
“By some mortal stroke / She do defeat us; for her life in Rome / Would be eternal in our triumph”
Said by: Caesar
Context: Cleopatra is threatening to commit suicide
Powerplay: While commiting suicide usually means giving up, in this case it means winning
Technique: Metaphor - keeping her alive would give Caesar eternal fame as his aim is not to kill her but to display power
List 10 quotes
- “Caesar gets money where / He loses hearts.”
- “As nearly as I may / I’ll pay the penitent to you”
- “Caesar and Antony have ever won / More in their officer than person.”
- “The Egyptian admiral, / With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.”
- Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command”
- “I’ll yet follow / The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason / Sits in the wind against me.”
- “How I convey my shame out of thine eyes… what I have left behind / ‘Stroyed in dishonour”
- “The itch of his affection should not then / Have nicked his captainship”
- “When valour preys on reason, / It eats the sword it fights with”
- “By some mortal stroke / She do defeat us; for her life in Rome / Would be eternal in our triumph”
