Cynicism and Idealism in Antony and Cleopatra

Of all of Shakespeargons scats, Antony and Cleopatra is the one that most dramatically reveals the battle between cynicism and noble-mindedness. In the play, Shakespeare uses capital of Italy as a symbol for cynicism, which he ofttimes refers to as politics, and Egypt to refer to the notions of idealism. This infringe between Rome and Egypt makes up the central conflict of the play and drives the characters towards most of their actions. Characters in Antony and Cleopatra conspicuously associate Rome and Egypt with competing points of fit (Hirsch, p.175). This is despite the fact that, transparently, romans are undetermined of idealism and Egyptians overt of realism. Though Egypt did not absorb the same impact on European record that Rome had, to ignore that Egypt had a hi twaddle of tremendous political federal agency and that its obtainrs must befool been capable of exercising really pragmatic sanction and cynical decisions is to ignore history. It is this very real history that drives the story line in the play. In fact, had Antony and Cleopatra not been rulers of their respective realms, and, therefore, symbols of cynicism and idealism, their enjoy affair would not have been tragic. Antony would not have been censured for travel prey to Cleopatras charms, he would not have been judge to marry another woman, and he may have triumphed in the eventual battle to rule Rome. However, by falling in love with Cleopatra, Antonys Roman cynicism falls prey to idealism, and he can longer be nothing more than a pragmatic politician. Therefore, it is clear that, down the stairs the pressure of historical fatality Voluptas must lose, whether represented by Cleopatra or Falstaff; but the land is not the easy and obvious matter of a theology play (Kermode, p. 1345). On the contrary, throughout the play, even though the auditory modality knows the outcome, there is a unending tension between idealism and cynicism, and a constant edition about which one should prevail.\nIt is classical to...