Two Images in Antony and Cleopatra

This is a word study of ways that Shakespeare deploys "World" and contrasts of "Light" with "Darkness" in Antony and Cleopatra. The results of both are quite revealing. 

1. World

Depending on who is speaking, the word world is used to show Antony’s power and majesty or to indicate what a disappointment he has become.  With the exception of 1.1.11-13, a pattern emerges when these passages are studied in order. The progression shows world indicating different things over time. It is at first used to

1)   Praise Antony, followed by

2)   Suspicion and criticism of him, then 

3)   Contrasts the failed Antony with his former successful self.

4)   Eventually, the word is no longer used of Antony, but in praise of his replacement, Caesar 

Here is a more detailed look. The numbers correspond with the numbers above.

1) Antony is Praised (note that these examples come early in the play)

    a) Antony boasts, “the world to weet (know) we stand up peerless.” 1.1.39

    b) Antony is called “the greatest soldier in the world.” 1.3.38

    c) Antony tells Octavia, “The world and my great office will sometimes                       divide me from your bosom.” 2.3.1


2) Suspicion and Criticism of Antony

    a) Philo says, “Take but good note, and you shall see him the triple pillar of the world transformed into a strumpet’s fool.” 1.1.11-13. (This is the exception that comes early.)

    b) Antony knows his reputation is sinking. He tells Octavia, “Read not my blemishes in the world’s report.” 2.3.5

    c) In the dialogue between Enobarbus and Menas, Enobarbus says “A (He) bears the third part of the world, man; see’st not?” and Menas replies, “The third part then, is drunk.” 2.7.92-94


3) World is used to contrast the defeated Antony with his former glory following the battle at Actium.

    a) Regarding Antony’s blunder in fighting at sea, Scarus says, “The greater cantle of the world (a large section of the globe) is lost with very ignorance, we have kissed away kingdoms and provinces” 3.10.6-8

    b) Antony describes himself as a man who formerly, “With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased” 3.2.63-64

    c) Antony says, “I, that with my sword quartered the world… condemn myself to lack the courage of a woman” 4.14.58-60

    d) and says, “…my former fortunes, wherein I lived; the greatest prince o’ the world” 4.15.53-54

    e) Cleopatra says of Antony's former glory, "His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm crested the world" 5.2.81-2

4) Caesar is now praised. With Antony dead, world comes to describe Caesar’s power and majesty, just as it once did Antony’s.

   a) Proculeius says of Caesar, “let the world see his nobleness well acted” 5.2.44-45

   b) Cleopatra calls Caesar, “Sole sir o’ the world.” 5.2.120 and says he has the power to take his leave, “through all the world.” 5.2.134


There are other uses of world that do not fit this pattern but the pattern when applied to Antony and Caesar is revealing. Shakespeare uses world 42 times in all in Antony and Cleopatra, far more often than is usual in his plays.

2. Light and Darkness

A typical Shakespearean image cluster is to associate light with life and darkness with death. He did this ten times in nine plays, plus once in sonnet 78. He does this seven times in Antony & Cleopatra, making the contrasts especially important here.

Light and associative words such as moon and stars that give illumination, describe the quality of Antony’s life in two ways.

1) Lepidus says of Antony, “His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven (stars), more fiery by night’s blackness” 1.4.11

2) Cleopatra claims, “His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck a sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted the little O, the earth” 5.2.79

Darkness is used as Antony declines and dies

1) The Soothsayer tells Antony, “Thy luster thickens when he (Caesar) shines by” 2.3.27

2) Antony says, “…our… moon is now eclipsed” 3.8.153

3) The Second Guard looks at the dying Antony and says, “The star in fall’n” 4.14.106

4) When Cleopatra sees the dying Antony, she says, “O sun, burn the great sphere thou movest in! darkling stand the varying shore of the world” 4.15.9

5) In her speech after Antony’s death, Cleopatra says, “Our lamp is spent, it’s out” 4.15.84

There are other key words in this play that will reward your study. Look for:

  The Nile coupled with snakes or flies
  Comparing Antony to the gods
  Cleopatra and light
  Fortune
  Cleopatra as gypsy and witch
  The ocean
  Anything large (the earth, the firmament, etc.)
  Anything changing (melts, etc.)

Bibliography

Bartlett, John, A Complete Concordance to Shakespeare, New York, 1894

Clemen, Wolfgang, The Development of Shakespeare’s Imagery, London, 1951

Spurgeon, Caroline, Shakespeare’s Imagery and What it Tells Us, Cambridge, 1935