FRYE, Northrop. Antony and Cleopatra. In: BLOOM, Harold (Ed. .

Blooms Shakespeare Through the Ages: Antony and Cleopatra. Ne! Yor": In#o$a%e &'$l(%h(n), *++,. pp. **-./0. I don1t "no! !hat play !(ll loo" 2o%t 3entral (n the t!enty.#(r%t 3ent'ry, a%%'2(n) !e )et there, $'t Antony and Cleopatra (%, I th(n", the play that loo"% 2o%t l("e the "(nd o# !orld !e %ee2 to $e 2o4(n) (nto no!. (p. *0+ It1% a2a5(n) ho! 4(4(dly 6ha"e%peare ha% (2a)(ned a !orld %o 2'3h 2ore l("e o'r% than l("e h(%. 7here1% no 7'dor an8(ety a$o't !ho the Lord1% ano(nted (% or !ho h(% %'33e%%or %ho'ld $e. (p. *0+ 9e1re not (n a 3lo%ely "n(t "(n)do2 any2ore: there1% only one !orld, %o there1% no patr(ot(%2, only 2ore or le%% loyalty to the 3o2pet(n) leader%. :;< the 3reator o# 7y$alt 'nder%tand% that (n this !orld per%onal d'ell(n) (% an (2po%%($ly 3orny not(on. :;< B't !h(le there (% one !orld, there are t!o a%pe3t% o# (t: the a%pe3t o# la! and order repre%ented $y Ro2e, and the a%pe3t o# %en%'al e8tra4a)an3e and l(3en3e repre%ented $y E)ypt. 7he l(4e% and #ort'ne% o# 2(ll(on% depend, ='(te %(2ply, on the !h(2% and 2ot(4at(on% o# three people. 7he #a3t that t!o o# the2 are lo4er% 2ean% that !hat (% nor2ally a pr(4ate 2atter, the %e8'al relat(on, $e3o2e% an (ll'2(nated #o3'% o# 3onte2porary h(%tory. (pp. *0+,> O# the t!o a%pe3t% o# the Ro2an.E)ypt(an !orld, Cae%ar $elon)% 3on%(%tently to the Ro2an %(de, Cleopatra 3on%(%tently to the E)ypt(an one, and Antony 4a3(llate% $et!een the t!o. :;<7he Ro2an !ay o# l(#e 2a"e% no %en%e o# any "(nd to her, de%p(te her pre4(o'% e8per(en3e o# (t, !hen %he !a% atta3hed to ?'l('% Cae%ar. (p. *0> 9e not(3e ho! o#ten tra)edy (n3l'de% a% a 3entral the2e a r'pt're !(th(n a #a2(ly, a% (n Hamlet and King Lear, and (n th(% play Cae%ar, and Antony $y 4(rt'e o# h(% 2arr(a)e to O3ta4(a, are $oth (n4ol4ed (n (nter.#a2(ly #e'd%. 7here (%, o# 3o'r%e, a 3on%(dera$le d(##eren3e $et!een Ro2an and E)ypt(an 4(e!% on !hat 3on%t(t'te% a per2anent %e8'al relat(on%h(p. In Ro2e there (% no o$%ta3le to Antony1% 2arr(a)e to O3ta4(a $e3a'%e Cleopatra ha% no le)al %tat'% a% a !(#e@ $'t (n the 3lo%(n) 2o2ent% o# the play, !hen Cleopatra plan% her entran3e (nto the ne8t !orld, (t ne4er o33'r% to her that any$ody (n that !orld !o'ld $e %t'p(d eno')h to re)ard Antony a% %t(ll 2arr(ed to O3ta4(a. Her only pro$le2, a% %he %ee% (t, (% to )et (nto the ne8t !orld $e#ore her attendant Char2(an, %o that %he !on1t ha4e to )et Antony pr(ed loo%e #ro2 %o2e$ody el%e. 7he po(nt here (% not ho! pr(2(t(4e her 4(e!% o# the ne8t !orld are, $'t the #a3t that %he 3an1t 3on3e(4e o# any !orld at all !here %he !o'ldn1t 3ont(n'e to $e Cleopatra. (p. *00 One o33a%(onally hear% %o2e %'3h ='e%t(on a$o't the play a%: AB(d Cleopatra really lo4e Antony or !a% %he C'%t play.a3t(n)D1 7he !ord Areally1 %ho!% ho! !ron) the a%%'2pt(on 'nderly(n) the ='e%t(on (%. Cleopatra (% not an a3tre%% !ho 3an $e E(4(en Le()h or El(5a$eth 7aylor o##%ta)e: the o##%ta)e doe% not e8(%t (n her l(#e. Her lo4e, l("e e4eryth(n) el%e a$o't her, (% theatr(3al, and (n the theatre (ll'%(on and real(ty are the %a2e th(n). (p. *00 6he ha% the #e2ale e='(4alent o# the "(nd o# 2a)net(%2 that 2a"e% Antony a $orn leader, !ho%e %old(er% !(ll #ollo! h(2 (n the #a3e o# o$4(o'% d(%a%ter. (p. *0/ O# 3o'r%e there (% a pr(3e to $e pa(d #or $e(n) (n 3onta3t !(th %'3h a 3reat're, the pr(3e o# $e(n) 'p%ta)ed $y %o2eone !ho (% al!ay% 3entre %ta)e. :;< An o$%olete pro4er$ %ay% that $eh(nd e4ery )reat 2an there (% a de4oted !o2an, $'t Cleopatra (% not a de4oted !o2an and %he1% not %tand(n) $eh(nd any$ody. (p. *0/ Her )reat $etrayal o# Antony 3o2e% (n the 2(ddle o# the $attle o# A3t('2, !hen %he %(2ply p'll% her part o# the #leet o't o# the $attle. 9hat (% )o(n) on (n her 2(nd (% pro$a$ly %o2eth(n) l("e: A9hat %(lly )a2e% the%e 2en do play: no$ody1% pay(n) any attent(on to 2e at all1. 6he 2ay not e4en $e a!are that her a3t(on !o'ld lo%e Antony the $attle, or that (t !o'ld 2a"e any d(##eren3e (# (t d(d. 6he %ay% to Eno$ar$'%, AI% Antony or !e (n #a'lt #or th(%D1, and (t %ee2% 3lear that (t (% a real ='e%t(on #or her, e4en tho')h %he1% o$4(o'%ly d(%%at(%#(ed !(th Eno$ar$'%1% patr(ar3hal Ro2an an%!er that the #a'lt !a% ent(rely Antony1% #or

pay(n) attent(on to a !o2an (n a $attle. 9e 2ay %t(ll !onder !hy %he (n%(%ted on enter(n) the $attle (n the #(r%t pla3e: the rea%on %ee2% to $e that Cae%ar !a% %hre!d eno')h to de3lare the !ar per%onally on her, p'tt(n) her (n the %potl()ht o# attent(on. 6o, altho')h Antony 3o'ld ha4e !on hand(ly on land, %he (n%(%t% on a %ea#()ht, $e3a'%e there !o'ld $e no!here to %ee her (n a land operat(on. (p. *0/,F All o# !h(3h %t(ll doe% not %ho! that Cleopatra (% a 2on%ter o# %el#(%hne%%. 6el#(%hne%% (% a prod'3t o# 3al3'lat(on, and Cleopatra, at lea%t at the 2o2ent o# Antony1% death, (% not 3al3'lat(n). Her rea3t(on% are too (n%t(n3t(4e to $e 3alled %el#(%h: %he1% C'%t $e(n) Cleopatra. (p. *0F It !o'ld not o33'r to Cleopatra to tr'%t any$ody: !hat %he doe% !(th all the people %he 2eet% (% to a%3erta(n, !(th(n a #e! %e3ond%, !hether %he 3an )et !hat %he !ant% #ro2 the2 or not. &ro3'le('%, pre3(%ely $e3a'%e he (% tr'%t!orthy, !al"% (nto her 2on'2ent and ta"e% her pr(%oner :;<. (p. *0G :;< Cleopatra (% one o# the lea%t 2otherly hero(ne% (n l(terat're, and hardly e4en "no!% that %he ha% 3h(ldren. (p. *0G All o# !h(3h %ee2% 2erely to $e a33'2'lat(n) e4(den3e that Cleopatra !a% Antony1% e4(l )en('%. It1% tr'e that %he her%el# doe%n1t %ee2 to $e really e4(l, (n the !ay that Honer(l and Re)an are e4(l. No do'$t %he1d $e 3apa$le o# (t, (n %o2e 3onte8t%. B't !hat !e %ee (% a !o2an po%%e%%ed $y 4an(ty, and 4an(ty, !hate4er the 2oral(%t% %ay, (% a rather d(%ar2(n) 4(3e, (n a !ay al2o%t (nno3ent, e8po%(n) the %po(led 3h(ld 'nder the 2o%t (n#'r(at(n) $eha4(o'r o# the ad'lt. And %o2et(2e% !e e4en !onder (# %he1% %'3h a %(2ple th(n) a% an e4(l )en('% at all. :;< 6o the really #atal 2(%%tep that Antony 2a"e% (% not ret'rn(n) to Cleopatra $'t 2arry(n) O3ta4(a. :;<7he !orld1% )reat %nare (% !ar )enerally, and !ar !(th Cae%ar (n part(3'lar. 7he po(nt (% that 2o%t 2oral(%t% !o'ld %ay that the !orld1% )reat %nare #or Antony !a% Cleopatra her%el#, and Cleopatra1% '%e o# %'3h a phra%e 2ean% that %he ha% a d(##erent po(nt o# 4(e! on the %'$Ce3t, perhap% one to $e re%pe3ted. (p. *0I 7here are d(##erent le4el% on !h(3h 3hara3ter% 3an $e pre%ented to '% (n l(terat're. :;< Cae%ar1% )reate%t %tren)th (% h(% l(2(tat(on to that role: he (% %(n)le.2(ndedly de4oted to leader%h(p, and let% noth(n) el%e )et (n h(% !ay. :;< >. B(4(ne $e(n), hero de%3ended #ro2 )od%, hero !ho (% a protJ)J o# the )od%, et3. *. Ro2ant(3 hero and lo4er, h'2an $'t not %'$Ce3t to ord(nary h'2an l(2(tat(on%. 0. K(n)% and other 3o22and(n) #()'re% (n %o3(al or 2(l(tary a'thor(ty. /. Ord(nary people. F. Fool(%h, o$%e%%ed, 'n#ort'nate people@ people a%%'2ed to $e (n a %tate o# le%% #reedo2 than !e are. (p. *0I,, Antony (% a leader, !e %a(d, $'t he ha% a hero(3 d(2en%(on that 2a"e% h(2 a ro2ant(3 le)end, on the %e3ond rather than the th(rd le4el, e4en (n Cae%ar1% eye. (p. *0, 7he )reat ro2ant(3 heroe% are nor2ally )reat lo4er% too, and Antony1% lo4e #or Cleopatra )(4e% h(2 a)a(n a d(2en%(on that p't% h(2 $eyond the '%'al h'2an 3ate)or(e%. (p. *0A% #or Cleopatra, the ='een o# E)ypt was a )odde%%, an (n3arnat(on o# I%(%, the )odde%% o# the %ea :;<. (p. *07he de%ert(on o# Antony $y Her3'le% 2ean% that Antony ha% #a(led to $e3o2e a pa)an (n3arnat(on, a Her3'le% or B(ony%'% !al"(n) the earth :;<.6o2e tra)ed(e% are a$o't heroe% !ho%e #la!% were the(r 4(rt'e%, !ho%e hero(%2 !a% %(2ply too de%tr'3t(4e a #or3e to the !orld aro'nd the2 to %'r4(4e (n (t. (p. */+ 9hat (% tr'e o# hero(%2 (% tr'e o# lo4e a% !ell. 7here are no %'perh'2an lo4er%, and all atte2pt% at %'3h lo4e ha4e $een tra)(3. Antony1% pa)e, !ho "(ll% h(2%el# to a4o(d ha4(n) to "(ll Antony, (% na2ed Ero%, and (t %ee2% 3lear that 6ha"e%peare '%e% the na2e #or the %a"e o# (t% re%onan3e%, and #or the a%pe3t o# the play (n !h(3h (t (% a tra)edy o# Ero% :;<. (p. */+

Antony1% tra)edy (% (n 2any re%pe3t% l("e the tra)edy o# Ada2 a% %een later $y M(lton. Ada2 #all% o't o# Eden $e3a'%e he !o'ld rather d(e !(th E4e than l(4e !(tho't her: theolo)(3ally he 2ay ha4e $een !ron), $'t dra2at(3ally e4eryone appla'd% h(% de3(%(on. 6'33e%% (n hero(3 lo4e $e(n) (2po%%($le, $etter to #a(l hero(3ally than to %'33eed (n 2ed(o3r(ty. (p. */> 7here (% a 3hara3ter (n one o# Bla"e1% &rophe3(e% !ho %ay%, at the end o# a lon) poe2, AAtte2pt(n) to $e3o2e 2ore than 2an !e $e3o2e le%%1. It (% $e3a'%e Antony (% %o 2'3h $())er a 2an than Cae%ar that he (% al%o, at other t(2e%, %o 2'3h %2aller. Alon) !(th Cleopatra, he (% o#ten not %(2ply ord(nary $'t %(lly and 3h(ld(%h. Cae%ar ne4er de%3end% to that le4el, $e3a'%e he ne4er r(%e% a$o4e h(% o!n: he ha% no drea2% o# d(4(n(ty, and %o no a!a"en(n)% (nto the all too h'2an, a% N(et5%3he 3all% (t. Cleopatra (% o#ten %po"en o# a% tho')h %he had 3har2% or lo4e pot(on% or 2a)(3 %pell% or other apparat'% o# a !(t3h. 6he ha%n1t any o# the%e th(n)%: !hat )(4e% the (ll'%(on o# the2 (% the (nten%(ty o# her h'2an(ty, and the %a2e th(n) (% tr'e o# Antony. B't (nten%e h'2an(ty (% a t!o.!ay %treet.(p. */> 7he 3h(ld(%h pet'lan3e (n Antony1% a3t(on 3o2e%, #(r%t, #ro2 the #a3t that (t1% o$4(o'%ly Cleopatra that he !ant% to ta"e the !h(p to, and, %e3ond, that he1% rea3t(n) (n a %2all.2(nded !ay to d(%a%ter, $y retreat(n) #ro2 the pre%ent (nto #anta%y and re2(n(%3en3e o# the pa%t. (p. */> I# the !(ll% o# Antony and Cleopatra had $een e='al to the pa%%(on% they e8pre%% (n the(r lan)'a)e, there !o'ldn1t ha4e $een 2'3h le#t o# the 3o%2o%. (p. */* Antony ha% #allen (nto the !orld o# pro3e%% and 2eta2orpho%(%, a #ar $())er !orld than Cae%ar1%, $'t a !orld that no one 3an 3ontrol 'nle%% he 3an al%o 3ontrol death (t%el#. Cleopatra 3o2e% to #eel that to 3hoo%e death !(th Antony (% a )reater de%t(ny than Cae%ar :;<. (p. */* One 3annot read or l(%ten #ar (nto th(% play !(tho't $e(n) re2(nded that the a3t(on (% ta"(n) pla3e a$o't th(rty year% $e#ore !hat 6ha"e%peare1% a'd(en3e !o'ld ha4e 3on%(dered the t'rn(n) po(nt o# h(%tory, the $(rth o# Chr(%t. 7here are re#eren3e% to Herod o# ?e!ry, !h(3h are (n &l'tar3h $'t ha4e o4ertone% #or the a'd(en3e that they !o'ld not ha4e #or &l'tar3h, and Cae%ar, !(th h(% 4(3tory pra3t(3ally (n %()ht, re2ar"%, 7he t(2e o# 'n(4er%al pea3e (% near, !here a)a(n the a'd(en3e "no!% 2ore o# h(% 2ean(n) than he doe%. It !o'ld ha4e $een %tran)e (# Chr(%t had $een $orn (nto a !orld !ho%e te2poral 2a%ter !a% a protJ)J o# Her3'le%, r'l(n) the !orld pro$a$ly #ro2 E)ypt. It (% partly (n th(% 3onte8t that the 'pper l(2(t% o# Antony and Cleopatra $e3o2e %o %()n(#(3ant: o# Antony a% a #a(led pa)an or hero(3 (n3arnat(on, o# Cleopatra a% a )odde%% o# lo4e, o# the %ea, and o# the o4er#lo!(n) N(le. 7he E)ypt o# th(% play (% partly the B($l(3al E)ypt, !ho%e &haraoh !a% 3alled (n the B($le the )reat dra)on that l(eth (n the 2(d%t o# h(% r(4er%, and !ho%e r'ler here (% the %erpent o# old N(le !ho2 !e la%t %ee n'r%(n) a $a$y %erpent at her $rea%t. (p. */0 7here are %o2e $oo"% on 2ytholo)y that tell yo' th(n)% a$o't the a3t'al )ra22ar o# 2ytholo)y that yo' !on1t #(nd (n 2ore 3on4ent(onal hand$oo"%. I re#erred earl(er to Ro$ert Hra4e%1% The White oddess, a $oo" that appeared a$o't #orty year% a)o, !h(3h tell% '% o# a )odde%% per%on(#y(n) the #ert(l(ty o# the earth, !ho ta"e% a lo4er early (n the year, then t'rn% h(2 (nto a %a3r(#(3(al 4(3t(2, then era%e% the 2e2ory o# h(2 and %tart% the ne8t year !(th a ne! lo4er. 9e re2e2$er that Cleopatra hate% to $e re2(nded that %he on3e !a% the 2(%tre%% o# ?'l('% Cae%ar, and %he apparently doe% not rea3t to the na2e Herod, tho')h %he had $een (n4ol4ed !(th h(2 too. (p. */0