C Mason - RHS 2020: Recent Episodes
C Mason
"there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon".
The Egyptian navy deserts, leading the defeated Antony to believe that Cleopatra has betrayed him to Octavius. She is so angry that she retreats to her monument and sends false word to Antony that she has committed suicide.
Appalled, and echoing the suicide of the conspirator Brutus at Philippi, Antony begs a faithful servant to hold his sword while he falls upon it. Unwilling to do so, the servant, Eros, kills himself. Antony then attempts suicide but fails, leaving himself badly wounded.
A messenger arrives from Cleopatra, telling Antony of her deception. Antony instructs his guards to take him to Cleopatra's monument where he is raised up to the top of the monument to die in her arms.
"Triple turned whore!" - the escalation and fall of Antony's brief moment of redemption - death begins to permeate the main action of the play rapidly...
"This is a soldier's kiss..." - a brief moment in which Antony seems to regain himself in Act Four before all is lost...
"I am Antony yet" - an analysis of the 'aftermath' of Actium, and the moment building up towards a possible redemption for our tragic heroes!
"I will to Egypt/ And though I make this marriage for my peace/I' the east my pleasure lies..." VERSUS "Our graver business/ Frowns at this levity".
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned....! The best example of 'Don't Shoot the Messenger' in all of Literature!
If only we were all described at least once in our lives like Enobarbus describes Cleopatra.... !
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextus_Pompey
A bit of a historical overview to the character!
"O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!"
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/sandro-botticelli-venus-and-mars
If you have any questions or additional comments, please post them on our Microsoft Teams forum and I will try to answer them in the next episode!