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.
"Antony's morals improved when he married, for Fulvia, his wife, had a good influence over him."
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of romance to me. In my own opinion, this reads to me that Antony felt either deep love or respect towards his wife, enough so that he sought to improve himself to be better for her.
"He was much shocked when he heard of the dreadful deed, but immediately took measures to prevent a civil war."
The drama! The suspense! No doubt this moment was dripping with drama when it occurred, and no doubt could a theatre director or a movie director implement moments of intense emotions during this moment.
Picture Antony, none the wiser, caught in discussion outside. He knew he was late, but surely he thought nothing of it - only for the murderers of Caesar to burst out, telling him the horrific news. No, he cannot grieve right now. He must spring into action before war tears the country apart.
Within this account of Marc Antony's life is my favorite example of Romance and Drama.
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.
I liked this line because I see parallels with Romeo and Juliette but its just the icing on the cake of the Romance between Cleopatra and Antony. Faking ones death to secure the love of your partner clearly wasn't the best choice especially since both end up dead. Its Romance and Drama all at once.
"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. This was called the second triumvirate."
ReplyDeleteThis formation of the second triumvirate has elements of a game-show in it, at least in my opinion. As we have seen, these young and ambitious men after Sulla tended to make up their own rules as they went, and it was no different for these three. Except, they just copied three of the men before them. This also has elements of drama, because at the end of the day, just like the first triumvirate, this one didn't last very long, and there was some betrayal, death, and tragedy involved. One thing that stands out to me about Rome, and specifically this time period of Rome, is that there is so much betrayal. So many unnecessary deaths. So much tragedy. The life of Antony, and the story of the second triumvirate certainly show contain some of these elements.
“When he saw Brutus, the man he had loved and honored, with his dagger drawn against him, an expression of grief and reproach came into his face, and he ceased to resist. He merely covered his head with his robe, and so thick and fast fell the blows that the murderers in their eagerness actually wounded one another.”
ReplyDeleteThe action is shown in the violent scene of Caesar’s assassination, daggers flashing and the attackers striking so wildly that they even hurt each other. The romance is seen in Caesar’s close bond with Brutus. When Caesar sees “the man he had loved and honored” turning against him, it becomes a deeply personal and painful betrayal. The drama comes when Caesar stops fighting back and quietly covers his head with his robe accepting that this is his fate with sadness. It is one of the most powerful scenes in history.
"In ancient times it had always been said that the Antonys were descended from Hercules, and Mark was so proud of this that he dressed in imitation of that god as he appeared in paintings and statues. Besides, he had a noble bearing, his beard was full, his forehead large, and his nose aquiline, so when people looked at him they were really reminded of Hercules".
ReplyDeleteI first chose this line because it shows some drama and the fact that Antony considered himself a descendant of a demigod. This might explain why Antony seems kind of full of himself and why he believes he deserves Cleopatra as a wife, who he also considers a goddess.
"But Antony was too fond of drinking and carousing, which gave great offence to the better class of Roman citizens; so when Caesar came back from Spain, although he was very gentle with Antony and did much towards reforming him, he took Lepidus not Antony, to be consul with him. Antony's morals improved when he married, for Fulvia, his wife, had a good influence over him".
This second line shows both some drama, romance, and even a little of a Bromance between Antony and Caesar. First we can see some drama with the fact Antony has little regard for his position and seems to be a heavy drinker. I think this also plays into the thinking that he is a descendant from a god, so part of him thinks he's above everyone else. Next we can see a slight bromance between Antony, and Caesar. Caesar seems to be very fond of Antony and helps him get better instead of pushing him to the dirt. Finally we get out touch of real romance after Caesar helps reform his actions and Antony finally becomes a respectable man after he meets his wife Fulvia. Which tends to happen to most men after they meet a great women.
"It was long before Antony's soldiers consented to believe that he had basely deserted them"
ReplyDelete"Cleopatra 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."
I chose this because it has elements of drama. Antonys fleet did not want to believe they were abandoned by their commander especially after losing so many men and in the middle of a battle. Antony had left so many people to follow Cleopatra. Cleopatra had faked her death, this and perhaps more news of defeat, cause him to take his own life. I feel this could almost be considered a form of irony, as cleopatra was not truly dead yet.
"Cæsar was so fond of Brutus that he ordered his commanders never to kill him on the field, but if possible to take him alive, charging them at the same time rather to suffer him to escape than to do him the least injury."-
ReplyDeleteI chose this line because it just tells and shows the dramatic and decisive moment in words and i don't think that a lot of people can read that and really understand how important this part is. I think its cool to see how he puts it in words and how to make it seem so important to the reader. The word suffer and ordered just make it better because it brings that drama and intensity to it.