Antony and Cleopatra, quotes, "no, no, no , no, no, no," for the love of love; nature's infinite book of secrecy; age cannot wither her...her infinite variety
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I have just finished reading Antony and Cleopatra. As usual, a whirlwind of powerful emotions. This is the 17th of his 37 plays that I have read and I am beginning to know and describe events and characters as being "Shakespearean" when I encounter a mix of overpowering emotions...pathos...chaos...subterfuge...and love and passion.
“to
cool a gypsy’s lust” I.i.10
Gypsy, which I had not realized, is a shortening of the word Egyptian (first used in 1537, Shakespeare's play being written in 1606). Gypsy referred to someone from Egypt, from where gypsies were thought to originate. It has largely been replaced by "Romani" since the term gypsy has a pejorative connotation.
Gypsy, which I had not realized, is a shortening of the word Egyptian (first used in 1537, Shakespeare's play being written in 1606). Gypsy referred to someone from Egypt, from where gypsies were thought to originate. It has largely been replaced by "Romani" since the term gypsy has a pejorative connotation.
“this
orient pearl” I.v.41 o
The archaic meaning of orient is radiant, as well as rising from the sky. A word of great beauty. Originally, to orient meant to position a church so that it faced East. I assume that this probably became associated with the radiance of the rising sun from the East. Shakespeare has used this in several other plays but I will have to review my notes for this...
The archaic meaning of orient is radiant, as well as rising from the sky. A word of great beauty. Originally, to orient meant to position a church so that it faced East. I assume that this probably became associated with the radiance of the rising sun from the East. Shakespeare has used this in several other plays but I will have to review my notes for this...
“ …My salad days When I was green in judgment, cold in
blood,” Cleopatra, I.v.73
To me, the experience of reading this phrase encapsulates my joy in reading Shakespeare in general. There are such orient gems to be found in the phrases and poetry of his writing. This is the original use of the phrase 'salad days' as first used in 1606 in Antony and Cleopatra. How incredible and moving. It denotes youthful exuberance, innocence and joy, which I think we can all relate to, as well as the indiscretions of youth, which none of us can relate too. Of course, there is Shakespeare’s creative, poetic association of this simile (salad) with the words “green” and “cold.”
To me, the experience of reading this phrase encapsulates my joy in reading Shakespeare in general. There are such orient gems to be found in the phrases and poetry of his writing. This is the original use of the phrase 'salad days' as first used in 1606 in Antony and Cleopatra. How incredible and moving. It denotes youthful exuberance, innocence and joy, which I think we can all relate to, as well as the indiscretions of youth, which none of us can relate too. Of course, there is Shakespeare’s creative, poetic association of this simile (salad) with the words “green” and “cold.”
“My
powers are crescent” Pompey, II.i.10
There is beauty in describing something as 'crescent' instead of saying, "my powers are increasing." Crescent...as in the gradual, continual, subtle, almost inevitable waxing of the half moon. Like the word 'orient,' I have read this use in his other plays and will try to find those references for you.
There is beauty in describing something as 'crescent' instead of saying, "my powers are increasing." Crescent...as in the gradual, continual, subtle, almost inevitable waxing of the half moon. Like the word 'orient,' I have read this use in his other plays and will try to find those references for you.
“Now for the
love of Love and her soft hours” Antony I.i.44
“Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note
the qualities of people,” Antony (with Cleopatra)
I.i.53, 54
“In nature’s infinite book of secrecy
A little I can read”
Soothsayer, I.ii. 8
“I love long life better than figs,” Charmian
I.ii.31
“I have seen her die twenty times
…she hath such a celerity in dying,” Enobarbus about
Cleopatra, I.ii. 138
“her passions are made of nothing but the finest
part of pure love,” Enobarus, I.ii.143
“What should I do, I do not” Cleopatra I.iii.8
“salt Cleopatra” II.i. 21 salt: lustful
“Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were lovesick with them,” Enobarus
speaking of Cleopatra’s pursuit of Antony,
II.ii.194, 195
II.ii.194, 195
“Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies.” Enobarus about Cleopatra,
II.ii.236-239
“the conquering wine hath steeped our sense
In soft and delicate Lethe,” Antony, II.vii. 106
“The April’s in her eyes: it is love’s spring,
And these the showers to bring it on.” Antony, III.ii.43, 44
In this play, Shakespeare frequently uses a new dramatic technique of repetition:
“Why, why, why?” Enobarus to Cleopatra, III.vi.2
“Naught, naught, all naught!” Enobarus, III.ix, 1
“No, no, no, no, no” Antony to Cleopatra, III.xi, 29
“Let be, let be… false, false, this, this” Antony to
Cleopatra, IV.iv. 8
“He wears the rose of youth upon him,” Antony,
III.xiii, 20, 21
And Shakespeare's ubiquitous references to the moon:
“And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon,” Cleopatra on Antony’s
death, IV.xv. 67, 68
“now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine” Cleopatra, V.ii.240
Vocabulary:
Crescent, orient pearl, Narcissus, Isis, Gorgon,
Mars, Bacchanals, Lethe, Jupiter, nonpareil, Vestal, vulgar fame, terrene moon,
onion-eyed, man of steel, gypsy, Vesper, Dido, Aeneas
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