All of Shakespeare's works are written with a purpose, usually to entertain or inform the audience of some underlying universal truth. Often it is a theme or idea that might not be easily visible to the characters within the play. Though they operate in view of the audience who easily sees what the author is trying to accomplish, they are unaware of the essential truth. This idea parallels the readers' experience because no person can know their intended role in the universe or the lessons they are meant to learn. This reason is what makes Shakespeare's works so important. One struggle that readers deal with is the feeling of duty versus pleasure, as does Antony in Antony and Cleopatra. The imagery and other examples showcasing this conflict are essential to the plot because they show characters flaws, and how they are real. The struggle evident in characters of the story is almost always involving their pleasure-seeking side versus their loyal and dutiful side. The characters both fear the world of pleasure and all that it contains yet fell that they must challenge themselves into choosing that pleasurable world.

Antony easily shows this struggle more than any other charact

Antony's pleasure-seeking side does eventually win over his entire self, but only after a long and difficult struggle against a deeply ingrained fear. Shakespeare uses this desire versus duty relationship to paint Antony as more man than hero does, as his actions might suggest. Whereas Antony can battle and win on any battlefield for others, he struggles with every step of social interaction that involves his own desires. The reader might wonder if all the time taking orders had taught him a learned helplessness or inability to choose what he wants. It is phenomenal that Antony can fight with himself internally to such violent degrees and not recognize the conflict. Almost every other character in the show sees him afraid to possess the world of pleasure in Egypt, and challenging himself to take that step. But this blindness to internal conflict parallels any reader's experience, because neither people nor characters can know themselves entirely which would be required in order to achieve full sight. People everyday engage in the same fight that Antony had, choosing between the worlds of pleasure and that of responsibility. Whether it be a spouse deciding if he should break his martial vows after being propositioned or it is a college student choosing to go out to dinner as opposed to studying for his or her test. Shakespeare makes his characters and struggles universal, which is why his works are still significant today.

Pompey sees that this constant struggle that Antony must deal with leaves him weak and vulnerable in other areas. He almost seems disappointed that Antony will not be himself when they meet. Pompey may not realize what the struggle is, Antony fearing yet desiring a life in Egypt, but he knows that he has to do with Cleopatra. He also knows that this makes his efforts stronger against Caesar, whom Antony is bound to protect. The pregnant metaphor is a significant addition as the idea of being with child represents sexual relations. This refers to Cleopatra and Antony's relationship; however, it is he who is pregnant with struggle Pompey views and not the leading lady. Sex, is highly linked with Egypt, Cleopatra, and that pleasure-seeking side of Antony. Whereas Rome, from which he hails, is a proper place in which sex is not an open social engagement, rather it is kept well behind closed doors. The idea of Antony pregnant with his love and desire for that world supports the idea that he fears and finds achieving what he wants impossible. Just as it would be impossible for him to be with child.

Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales,

strength of their amity show prove the immediate

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Approximate Word count = 2255
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)