CLEOPATRA

Cleopatra

Cleopatra

Part One

Plutarch's opinion indicates that Anthony's involvement with Cleopatra becomes a sort of parable of how the great can be destroyed by their moral flaws. . Plutarch's view of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra seems to comprise of the key components of any lustrous infatuation, something, which was regarded by the Romans as showing a weakness of character. At the start of the extract Plutarch informs us that Cleopatra provides Antony with 'fresh delight and charm' providing relief from his usual 'hours of seriousness or mirth', which in itself appears like any normal courtship but he then hastens to add that she releases him 'neither night nor day', which adds an obsessive and intense passion to their relationship, which is devoid of real love or romance (Peter, 1990, 661).

Plutarch then follows by saying that Cleopatra keeps Antony in constant 'tutelage', which gives her a more formal almost superior role in their relationship. All talk of charm and delight is now eradicated as we learn that it is she who is wearing the proverbial trousers whilst he remains her besotted follower desperate to please and impress (Peter, 1990, 661).

When Antony first arrived in the East in 41 B.C he landed at Ephesos. There he was hailed by the population as the New Dionysus and he was welcomed with bacchantes, satyrs and the music of pipes and zithers. Octavian was to spitefully reproach Antony for touring the East as a god, but Roman precedents for his action existed: Caesar had claimed descent from Venus and when Octavian had Caesar deified he claimed to be divius filis, the 'son of the god (Walker, 2001, P 15).'

Since the expulsion of her last King, Rome had been a republic with a mixed constitution, with the Senate representing the aristocrats and the tribunes of the plebeians representing the people. The political system of monarchy, and especially divine monarchy, was held to be foreign in Rome. However, in the Hellenistic East the blend of Greek and Asiatic cultures equated the king with a living god (Walker, 2001, P 15).

In the book it is clear that in Roman society, women were not high in authority and the thought of this was hateful. It seems that society felt that she was incapable of such a position as she was portrayed as 'mad' and 'crazed' as she was drunk with misfortune to destroy Rome, and her followers described as 'contaminated flock of men diseased by vice' . This severe negative approach is a clear concept of how they saw Cleopatra; she was a 'sexual predator that captivated two of the greatest Romans of all time'. . Cleopatra used her flirtatious and seductive ways against these men to secure her position in Egypt. As she became in a relationship with Anthony it appears that she wanted to portray a strong and indestructible relationship as both were viable rulers of the Roman Empire. Looking at the poem in the book The poet seems to want its audience to see both sides of ...