Please read this abridged edition of Plutarch's Life of Antony. Pick out a line or several lines that seem to you particularly good examples of action, drama, romance, or "game show" in the story of the 2nd Triumvirate. Explain your choice. How do these lines show action, drama, romance--or the game show atmosphere?
If you prefer, you can read the abridged edition of Plutarch's Life of Marcus Brutus. Again, you can talk about elements of actions, drama, romance or the "game show" atmosphere of the 2nd Triumvirate.
I particularly liked these lines because they show a great example of romance. The story of these two fit together to form quite a romantical situation.
ReplyDeleteCleopatra was so afraid that Antony might accuse her of having betrayed him that she sent him word she was dead. As soon as he heard the sad news he went to his room and requested Eros, a faithful servant, to kill him. Eros drew his sword as if he meant to obey, then turning away, slew himself, and fell at his master's feet. "This, Eros, is well done," said Antony; "you show your master how to do what you had not the heart to do yourself." He then plunged the sword into his bowels, and threw himself on a couch near by to die.
Then several line later Cleopatra killed herself because she heard Antony killed himself. She however mainly killed herself because she was going to be captured by Caesar.
These lines from Antony's life shows great romance. Antony and Cleopatra loved each other a lot. Cleopatra pretended to kill herself to see how Antony would react to her death and he reacted in an extreme romantic way. Maybe this is where Shakespeare got his idea of writing the play Romeo and Juliet. Even drama can be fit into this story because of how dramatic Antony was with the death of Cleopatra. The action of drama and romance were littered throughout Antony and Cleopatra's life and the lines I used were great examples of that. I also chose these lines because it gives us a great example of the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. This relationship between these two had a great affect on the Roman world.
The lines that I decided to choose were “Octavius Cæsar, as we have said, was anxious to make a friend of Antony because he knew that it would be a benefit to himself, so as soon as he heard how Antony had increased his forces by his alliance with Lepidus, he sent messengers to propose a conference. It was agreed upon, and the three leaders, Lepidus, Octavio Cæsar, and Antony, met on a small island. The conference lasted three days. It was decided that the three should divide the empire among them, and under the name of triumvirs they should have supreme authority for five years.”
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned, power was hopefully attained by all 3 men. All three men had the ideologies and the wantingness to take control of Power in Rome and felt that there were people/things in their way of doing so. One of the other reasons why Antony in particular helped form the Triumvirate was because of the senate, and the senate's control over the Romans, particularly these three men. As with most cases with men a part of Roman society, they wanted power, and they realized that the power they wanted to have, wouldn’t be accessible if they didn’t coincide with one another and form a greater power with the three. Obviously, if the power was set to each individual, that would be preferred, but the three men realized that they needed each other, and they wanted to have at least some form of power. All three men as part of this Second Triumpvriate sacrificed men including their own family members and even Cicero. This was utilized as a power they had, but really signaled more issues in Rome than ever before. This led to a dangerous period in Rome, which was singalied to be going do a much different and more consuming path than anticipated. As far as the game show component to this, this is just opening a lot more contestants and really a lot more people in general that are competing or wanting to compete for power. We see not only during this time period but through other time periods in Roman society as well, trying to find the big winner. Sometimes that winner is coincidentally the winner due to various factors such as the only option, or others becoming killed. In this case, the three men are fighting for power and fighting really for change in Rome, and are sacrificing other people, or people they feel won’t benefit them or benefit their long road game which is to lead Rome or have somewhat politically and socially influence throughout Rome.
- Nile Hesson
This reading is equal parts action, drama, and romance, and I have the corresponding quotes listed below.
ReplyDeleteAction: "Even then he ought to have won the victory, for his fleet was twice the size of Cæsar's, and everything was in his favor; but the Romans set fire to all the Egyptian vessels except sixty, and long before the battle was decided those sixty hoisted sail, in obedience to Cleopatra's order"
- This quote paints a very vivid image in one's head, and the brutality of setting fire to a majority of a naval power showcases the viciousness of both parties, and the lengths they were willing to go to.
Romance: "He then plunged the sword into his bowels and threw himself on a couch nearby to die." and "when she was secretly informed that she was to be sent a prisoner to Rome, she had an asp brought to her in a basket of figs, and let it bite her arm."
-Very reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, these two quotes show what some people may call a "doomed" or "forbidden" love. People love a tragic love story, and the story of Marcus Antony and Cleopatra is surely one of them.
Drama: "It was abominable to the Romans, who blamed Antony most of all...He made himself still more obnoxious by going to live in the house of Pompey the Great, ... filling it with actors, jugglers, and all sorts of bad people, on whom he spent enormous sums of the public money, seizing it in many instances by violence and cruelty."
- This showcases, again, the lengths the Antony was willing to go to prove a point or make a statement. The audacity to proscript Cicero, a man who had been well-regarded as an upstanding, morally right person, and turn his house into a melting pot of the dregs of Roman society was audacious and intentional.
-Haylee Bohnet
The lines I chose were, "Cleopatra had joined Antony, and he was so much in love with her that he wanted to marry her. He therefore neglected Octavia, in consequence of which Cæsar brought serious charges against him in the senate, for it displeased the conqueror exceedingly to have so virtuous and noble a lady as his sister badly treated.”
ReplyDeleteAntony and Cleopatra’s romance was pretty iconic when it comes to looking at history. These lines help outline the start of it, as he was married to Octavian’s sister in order to strengthen the second triumvirate, but instead cheated on her with Cleopatra. Antony was breaking apart the second triumvirate all for the goal of love, so he was quite devoted to Cleopatra. Even later in their life, Antony and Cleopatra have a similar end to that of Romeo and Juliet, one of the most well-known romantic plays. After Antony heard news of Cleopatra’s end, he was devoted to the point of death. One line says, "As soon as he heard the sad news he went to his room and requested Eros, a faithful servant, to kill him.” Antony gave up his life for Cleopatra, and later she died for him as well (although she was also avoiding Roman punishment through her death). In general, the story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra’s love is a great example of romance in the story of the second triumvirate.
I chose the quotes: "However, feeling that he had little to lose, and possibly much to gain, he disguised himself in a large dark cloak, made his way into the trenches, and began to address the army of Lepidus." AND "But that night, two of the soldiers, disguised in women's clothes, were sent by their comrades to confer with Antony."
ReplyDeleteI think these quotes are great examples of drama. These scenes sound like they were taken from a fictional book--dark cloaks and men disguised as women. The process of Antony arriving at Lepidus' camp is rather dramatic, as he could not just walk in there. Even the section where he refuses to attack Lepidus and is the first in his army to plunge into the river and swim across it is full of drama. I think Marc Antony's entire life is full of dramatic, action packed events along with some romance to spice it up a little. I could've taken quotes from almost every paragraph and would be able to explain my stance just as well.
-Lauren Bland
I chose the quote: "He expressed his horror at the murder, showed the bloody stains on the dead man's clothing, and called those that had committed the deed villains and assassins. The populace grew so excited over his remarks that Brutus and his party were obliged to leave the city, and Cæsar's friends joined themselves to Antony, whose power became absolute.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these lines are excellent examples of drama. The lines show a man riling up the populace to enforce his will. It sounds like something out of the climax of an intense fantasy novel. Reading it pushes me to the edge of my seat, where I just want to know what is going to happen next. A person invoking a crowd into their will using nothing but emotional speech is powerful, and very dramatic, and would lead to even more action and drama during the riots and the civil war.
"After his defeat, Antony determined to make his way to the other side of the Alps, to join his army with that of Lepidus, whom he had befriended on several occasions. But when he came in sight of the camp he received no encouragement to approach nearer. However, feeling that he had little to lose, and possibly much to gain, he disguised himself in a large dark cloak, made his way into the trenches, and began to address the army of Lepidus".
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of drama in this line that one would think they would see in a movie. The whole idea of him disguising himself to make his way into their trenches is a cool things to read about in history. Very dramatic indeed.
"Later, he went to Egypt and spent some time at Alexandria, where he was entertained in a most sumptuous manner by the beautiful, gifted queen Cleopatra. He was suddenly recalled to Italy, because of a war which his brother and his own wife had declared against Octavius Cæsar; but before he reached there his wife died, and that event put an end to the trouble.
ReplyDeleteA reconciliation was effected between Octavius and Antony, which was strengthened by the marriage of the latter with Octavia, sister of Cæsar. After this took place a new division was made of the empire, the eastern provinces falling to Antony, the western to Cæsar, and Africa to Lepidus. Antony lived quietly for a couple of years, then went back to Asia, where he engaged in a long and difficult war with the Parthians. Never was a more splendid army gathered together than the one he led; but he made many mistakes, and was at last badly defeated.
Cleopatra had joined Antony, and he was so much in love with her that he wanted to marry her. He therefore neglected Octavia, in consequence of which Cæsar brought serious charges against him in the senate, for it displeased the conqueror exceedingly to have so virtuous and noble a lady as his sister badly treated."
There is so much drama throughout the 2nd Triumvirate but the infidelity of Antony with Cleopatra is certainly one of the main kickers. Infidelity within a relationship never ends well!