Language (Antony and Cleopatra)

This section explains the Language Used in the Play Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

Poetry versus Prose

Antony and Cleopatra is written predominantly in blank verse, which is unrhymed iambic pentameter, typical of Shakespeare’s tragedies. This form gives the play a formal and elevated tone.

Occasionally, Shakespeare uses prose in the dialogue, particularly for the lower-class characters or in moments of informality. Prose often conveys everyday speech and is used to contrast with the grandeur of the verse.

The contrast between verse and prose can reflect shifts in status, mood, or atmosphere, highlighting the play’s movement between the political realm of Rome and the more emotional world of Egypt.

Example:

The Romans, especially Caesar, often speak in a controlled, rhythmic blank verse, reflecting their rigid sense of order and discipline.

In contrast, Cleopatra’s language is often more fluid and poetic, reflecting her emotional and dynamic nature.

Imagery and Symbolism

Shakespeare makes rich use of imagery and symbolism to convey the themes of the play, particularly when contrasting Rome and Egypt.

Rome is associated with images of war, order, and duty, using language that evokes strength, steel, and military conquest. This imagery reflects the Roman world’s focus on honour and political power.

Egypt, on the other hand, is linked to images of luxury, sensuality, and decay. Cleopatra is often described using images of beauty, nature, and fertility, which reflect her association with both life and death.

Key Quotes:

"The triple pillar of the world transformed / Into a strumpet's fool." (Act 1, Scene 1) – Philo uses derogatory imagery to describe Antony’s fall from a great Roman hero to someone seemingly enslaved by Cleopatra.

"The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, / Burned on the water." (Act 2, Scene 2) – Enobarbus’ description of Cleopatra’s opulent arrival on the barge portrays her as larger-than-life, a symbol of Egypt’s beauty and excess.

Duality of Language (Rome vs. Egypt)

The language of the play consistently reflects the duality between Rome and Egypt, not just in the imagery, but also in the tone and style.

Roman language tends to be more structured, formal, and focused on reason, order, and duty. When Roman characters speak, there is often a sense of stoicism and practicality in their language.

Egyptian language, in contrast, is more emotive, extravagant, and sensual. Cleopatra’s speech, in particular, is highly poetic, filled with hyperbolic expressions of love, anger, and desire.

Key Quotes:

"O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!" (Act 1, Scene 5) – Cleopatra’s language is playful and extravagant, expressing her intense love for Antony through over-the-top metaphor.

"I must be gone, and live, or stay and die." (Act 1, Scene 3) – Antony’s words to Cleopatra are more straightforward and reflect his conflict between personal desire and public duty.

Hyperbole and Exaggeration

Cleopatra, in particular, speaks in a highly hyperbolic manner, using extravagant language to express her emotions and the intensity of her relationship with Antony.

This exaggerated style of speech highlights the grand scale of the characters' emotions and the epic nature of the play itself. Cleopatra’s hyperbole reflects her larger-than-life personality and the excess that characterises her world.

Exaggeration is also used to reflect the superhuman qualities of Antony and Cleopatra, elevating them to almost mythic status.

Key Quotes:

"Eternity was in our lips and eyes." (Act 1, Scene 3) – Cleopatra’s hyperbolic description of her love with Antony conveys the sense that their love transcends time and mortality.

"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety." (Act 2, Scene 2) – Enobarbus’ description of Cleopatra is filled with superlatives and idealised language, emphasising her eternal allure.

Irony and Wordplay

Shakespeare employs irony and wordplay throughout Antony and Cleopatra, often to highlight the duality of characters or situations.

Antony’s fall from greatness is frequently underscored by ironic language. Once the greatest military hero, he is reduced to a figure of mockery, and characters often use ironic statements to reflect this change.

Cleopatra’s playful language is often full of puns and double meanings, which reflect her manipulative and enigmatic nature. Her ability to switch between seriousness and jest further complicates her character, making her appear unpredictable.

Key Quotes:

"You shall see in him / The triple pillar of the world transformed / Into a strumpet’s fool." (Act 1, Scene 1) – Philo’s words about Antony’s degradation are laced with irony, as Antony’s once-glorious status has been diminished by his love for Cleopatra.

"I will praise any man that will praise me." (Act 2, Scene 1) – Pompey’s witty statement reflects the play’s use of irony, as he comments on the political flattery that is rife in Rome.

Antithesis and Paradox

Shakespeare frequently uses antithesis and paradox to highlight the contradictory forces at play in the characters' lives, especially in the conflict between Rome and Egypt.

Antony’s divided loyalties between love and duty, and the stark contrasts between honour and betrayal, are often conveyed through oppositional language.

This use of antithesis emphasises the inner turmoil experienced by Antony, who is constantly torn between opposing forces, such as his public duty to Rome and his private passion for Cleopatra.

Key Quotes:

"These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, / Or lose myself in dotage." (Act 1, Scene 2) – Antony acknowledges the antithetical forces pulling him in two directions: his duty to Rome and his emotional entanglement with Cleopatra.

"I am dying, Egypt, dying." (Act 4, Scene 15) – Antony’s death scene embodies the paradox of life and death, as he reconciles himself to his end, merging personal loss with eternal love for Cleopatra.

Metaphors of Nature and the Elements

Shakespeare uses frequent nature imagery and metaphors involving the elements (earth, water, fire, air) to describe both the grandeur and decay of the characters and their relationships.

Cleopatra is often compared to natural forces, reinforcing her uncontrollable and unpredictable nature. Similarly, Antony’s decline is symbolised through imagery of falling or withering.

The sea and water imagery is recurrent, reflecting the fluidity and uncertainty of the characters’ fates, as well as the sense of expansiveness and chaos in their lives.

Key Quotes:

"His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm / Crested the world." (Act 5, Scene 1) – Cleopatra’s description of Antony uses elemental imagery to portray his heroic grandeur, comparing him to a force of nature.

"O, withered is the garland of the war, / The soldier’s pole is fallen." (Act 4, Scene 12) – Antony’s fall from greatness is captured through the image of a withered garland, symbolising the decay of his military glory.

Rhetoric and Persuasion

The characters in Antony and Cleopatra often engage in rhetorical speech, using persuasive language to manipulate and influence others.

Cleopatra is especially skilled at using rhetorical strategies to maintain power over Antony and to control her own narrative. She shifts between emotional appeals, flattery, and threats to achieve her aims.

Political speeches, particularly those by Caesar, reflect the Roman emphasis on logic, structure, and control. Caesar’s speeches often serve to persuade others of his political strategies and justify his actions.

Key Quotes:

"Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have / Immortal longings in me." (Act 5, Scene 2) – Cleopatra’s dramatic rhetoric before her death asserts her control over her fate, elevating her final moments to a mythic status.

"Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall!" (Act 1, Scene 1) – Antony’s impassioned rhetoric reflects his desire to abandon his responsibilities for Cleopatra, using grand, hyperbolic language.