Discuss Shakespeare’s presentation of Cleopatra Essay

‘A woman of infinite variety’. This may be a very accurate portrayal of Cleopatra in my opinion. Cleopatra is a very interesting character in Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’. She is presented in many ways; she is a great lover yet childish within her actions. Her actions are a reflection of her personality and shows how her character develops throughout the play. She goes from childish to suffering her consequences of this. The presentation of Cleopatra contributes to the play’s audiences and the things she does are a reflection of her love for Antony. Shakespeare’s presentation of Cleopatra helps to make her a credible character and helps audience to relate to her actions taken. An aspect of Cleopatra’s presentation is when she is with and without Antony. It is noticeable how her actions change, with the juxtaposition of scenes where she is in Egypt without Antony. Without him, we see her as a woman in love. She spends hours wondering where her beloved Antony is and what is he doing. She often ponders if he is thinking of her. She is infatuated with him. She can’t bear to be apart from him. This is shown in act 1 scene 5 when Cleopatra asks to drink ‘mandragora’. This is a type of sleeping drug. She is effectively saying that she can’t bear to be parted from her lover so she might as well sleep the time away. This is in contrast to her behaviour towards him when he returns to her. It as if when he’s around her he can never please her or at least she will never show her pleasure with him. She is hesitant as if she doesn’t want him to see her true love for him. This makes me think that because of her past with men, which never seems to work out she may realise that he is the ‘one’ for her but she is afraid that she may lose him. This can be seen by her anger when Charmian praises Caesar Cleopatra demands they say ‘ the brave Antony’ by Shakespeare using the word brave this shows Cleopatra see’s him as strong and noble. Her actions also show she is hard to please for example she tells Charmian that if she finds Antony sad then ‘say I’m dancing.’ This shows how perverse she can be, especially towards Antony; it shows her childlike actions towards him. Shakespeare has presented Cleopatra as a very alluring character, who seems to be able to charm and enchant any man or woman. Her ladies seem to be under a spell. They love her so much and are so loyal towards her. She has a great sex appeal and is able to use it to her advantage, although some characters see her as a ‘strumpet’, they believe she has used her enchantment to control Antony. This can be seen by the way he is so in love with her he leaves wives just to be with her. Some may argue he is not truly in love with her, that it is lust, but it doesn’t explain the consequences he suffers to be with her. Maybe Shakespeare is trying to show how one person can have such an impact on a person’s life through love. This would be valid as the play is a great love story. Shakespeare presents Cleopatra as a very controlling and overpowering woman. This can be seen as even the cynical Enobarbus admits to the power of Cleopatra’s appearance. He describing her as ‘beggared all description’ shows that to describe the barge exhausts the power of language. She is of course a queen and all queens have a very regal presence, this is seen in the famous barge speech by Enobarbus, where he describes this wonderful barge with ‘purple sails’, purple is associated as very regal colour and he talks of the gold on the barge which represent her wealth. These images are used to show her status and importance. Enobarbus also describes a scent surrounding her ‘a strange invisible perfume hits the sense’. This sensual imagery for her presence as perfume is associated with a sweet smell. The movement of the oars of the barge are described in a powerful image ‘ tunes of flutes kept stroke,’ This means that the music kept the oars at a rhythmic pace. He also says she ‘o’erpicturing that Venus’ this is saying how she is almost better than Venus, the goddess of love. By comparing her to a Goddess this shows her influence upon people. Shakespeare’s barge speech gives the impression of her charm and attraction, to enhance her enticement and sex appeal towards men. In the last scene where Cleopatra kills herself she want to die wearing all her jewels and fine cloths and crown. This is to show how proud she is of herself and for people to remember her as a queen. Even when she is dead Charmian straightens up her crown. This shows the loyalty of Cleopatra’s woman and their love for her such that they want Cleopatra to look her best even in death.