Cynicism and Idealism in Antony and Cleopatra

Of all of Shakespe bes accepts, Antony and Cleopatra is the one that most dramatically reveals the battle between cynicism and idealism. In the play, Shakespeare uses capital of Italy as a symbol for cynicism, which he a great deal refers to as politics, and Egypt to refer to the notions of idealism. This action 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 prominently associate Rome and Egypt with competing points of look out (Hirsch, p.175). This is despite the fact that, diaphanously, roman types are suitable of idealism and Egyptians able of realism. Though Egypt did not allow the same impact on European account statement that Rome had, to ignore that Egypt had a hi reputation of tremendous political military group and that its chancers must afford been capable of exercising very(prenominal) pragmatical and cynical decisions is to ignore history. It is thi s 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 cognise affair would not have been tragic. Antony would not have been censured for move prey to Cleopatras charms, he would not have been expect 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, under the pressure of historical prerequisite Voluptas must lose, whether represented by Cleopatra or Falstaff; but the thwarting is not the easy and obvious matter of a ethics play (Kermode, p. 1345). On the contrary, end-to-end the play, even though the sense of hearing knows the outcome, there is a constant tension between idealism and cynicism, and a constant anatomy abou t which one should prevail.\nIt is big to...