Paper Summary:

An in-depth analysis of four main characters in two of Shakespeare's plays. This essay details Anthony and his inner conflict between his longing to rule the Roman Empire and his strong love for Cleopatra. It also details the very fickle and dramatic character of Cleopatra and the many versatile parts she can play. It includes a brief discussion of the overwhelming love between Romeo and Juliet as well as their families' feud. Finally, it compares the plays and their characters.

From the Paper:

"Antony is a man in conflict throughout this play. He struggles between his need to rule the Roman Empire, and his great love for Cleopatra. When he with Cleopatra, she is the only thing that matters. He says in the first act, "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.i.35-36). In just a few moments however, he worries that his love will cause him to "lose [him]self in dotage" (Cohen, Howard, and Greenblatt I.ii.106) and then he is afraid that his wife had died because of him, and that this is just one ill befalling because of his "idleness." He has a hard time deciding whether to follow his passion, and stay with Cleopatra, or follow his duty, and return to Rome."

Visitors who viewed this Comparison Essay also liked these:

• Comparison Essay # 17167 : "Anthony and Cleopatra"
• Essay # 85107 : "Fidelity in "Romeo and Juliet"
• Research Paper # 91395 : "Romeo and Juliet"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: