Cleopatra_and_Antony

What does the following passage tell us about Plutarch’s views on Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship' Plutarch wrote the autobiography ‘Life of Antony’ in the second century CE. Cleopatra was the Queen of Egypt and the last in the Hellenistic line and Antony was a Roman general. Using the extract, Plutarch’s views about their relationship will be explored. The Romans lived by values of civility, discipline and traditions which did not recognise “romantic love” or “mutual attachment” (Fear, 2008, p11). Plutarch believed Cleopatra used her female wiles to mislead and pamper the once manly Antony. The words “fresh delight and charm” show how Cleopatra relieved Antony in his “hours of seriousness or mirth” (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). She entertained him leaving him “neither night nor day”, illustrating the intensely infatuated and stifling behaviour from Cleopatra (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). Antony was kept under her “constant tutelage” suggestive of Cleopatra being his keeper (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). The words “mad follies” portrays Antony’s enamoured behaviour (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). Cleopatra was said to be Antony’s “crowning mischief” that brought out the “madness” within (Scott-Kilvert, 1965, in Fear, 2008, p.9). She “played”, “drank”, “hunted” and “watched” with Antony (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). This implies that the Egyptian queen was almost unfeminine in her behaviour going so far as dressing as a servant with Antony to spy on commoners. The extract hints at the two manipulating each other. This is shown when a “vexed” (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet) Antony is fishing, not wanting to lose face; he cheats by having a fish hooked onto his line. However the manipulative side of Cleopatra is revealed, as she is aware of Antony’s deception. To humiliate him, she invites friends to watch “her lover’s skill” and has a “salted Pontie herring” fixed onto his line (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). This displays how cunning Cleopatra, according to Plutarch, was and how she mocked and disrespected Antony in front of others. Cleopatra provokes Antony when she tells him that the fishermen of “Pharos and Canopus” are better than a Roman “Imperator” (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). Her alleged use of the title “Imperator” seems in context ironic. The feeling created by Plutarch in the passage is that ‘love’ is a game between them, where they try to outwit each other than anything romantic. Plutarch’s disposition towards Cleopatra is felt by the way her name is mentioned three times and she is called “Egyptian” in the extract (Plutarch, Assignment Booklet). Illustrating the distrust and aversion he has for this “destructive sexual predator” (Fear, 2008, p14). Egypt was viewed as “reckless, indulgent and debauched” which had ruined Mark Antony by his “moral flaws” (Fear, p14, 2008). Antony was seen as a selfish brat who had corrupted all his “redeeming qualities” in his “passions” for Cleopatra (Scott-Kilvert, 1965, in Fear, 2008, p.9). ‘Life of Antony’ was written a hundred and fifty years after the events. Therefore Plutarch was not a primary source but a ‘character illustrator’, influenced by propaganda created by Octavian discrediting “his most powerful enemy” (Fear, 2008, p14) the Egyptians. It was overlooked that Antony had betrayed his country; instead it was a war was against foreigners and not a fellow Roman. (508 words)