... beyond our mortal capabilities. Such a demanding love borders on the self-destructive, as in "Romeo and Juliet," making both Shakespearean plays tragedies. The accessibility of Antony and Cleopatra's love is aided by the accessible moral duty and social order exposed in the play. While we can sympathise with Antony's passion for Cleopatra, we can also understand his emotional dilemma, "these strong Egyptian feathers I must break," his sense ... he admits "in me "tis villainy; in thee't had been good service." Enobarbus's growing struggle of faithfulness to Antony is another tributing fa...

• Word Count: 1463
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... the theme of damnation, feeling that he has shown this in his earlier plays. Ribner continually refers to both Antony and Cleopatra's actions throughout the play as both sinful and evil for they were not acting, as he terms it: Morally. "The destructive power of evil and the magnificence of evil are simultaneously displayed." Ribner give the impression of being a heavily religious man, as he ... now consumed by his own indulgence, which Ribner backs up by stating that Antony shows an inordinate love of vice and dissipation. "Antony and Cleopatra uses as a moral exemplum to teach the evi...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate