Foreshadowing Cleopatra's Betrayal Cleopatra's betrayal is not at all unexpected if you carefully read the text in Antony and Cleopatra. There is ample foreshadowing of Cleopatra's corrupt morals and sense of self. Antony's infatuation with Cleopatra leads him to overlook her behavior and forgive her almost instantly. Her love is blinding in the end and if Antony had been more aware and focused with his brain rather than his heart, he would have understood what Cleopatra is really like. What struck me as interesting were all the little examples warning of Cleopatra's future betrayal that could easily be overlooked not only by Antony, but also by readers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Cleopatra's behavior is brought to light when Ahenobarbus and Antony talk to each other in Act I, Scene II. The way Enobarbus speaks of Cleopatra implies that he had been close to her once before. As narrated, “Alas, sir, no, his passions are made of // nothing but the fairest part of pure love // We cannot call it victories and waters, sighs and tears; they are // storms, and storms larger than almanacs can // report. This cannot be cunning in her; if so, // it rains rain as does Jupiter. (Act I, scene II). Enobarbus paints Cleopatra as the dramatic image of a woman who recognizes and wants Antony to recognize. Despite her “stormy” personality, she is also suggested to be kinder when associated with “rain showers.” Indeed, Ahenobarbus recognizes both Cleopatra's toughness and her ability to seduce and show affection. If you read carefully, you will also notice that Enobarbus speaks of Antony's woman as if she had once been his too. Antony does not seem to realize this or think that Ahenobarbus could have sexual encounters with Cleopatra. However, if the two had previous relationships together, it foreshadowed his disloyalty. Antony's heart lies directly with Cleopatra and we see him as he refuses to listen to Enobarbus. As can be seen, the foreshadowing of Cleopatra's betrayal connects the simple words of Shakespeare's lyrics to the larger consequences Antony faces. Whether through Cleopatra's behavior or her actions, with the help of inference and careful reading, one can see the direction the work was headed towards from the first pages. With the speech provided by Ahenobarbus, we gain insight into what other characters besides Antony think of Cleopatra and their unique ways of describing her, ultimately embodied in her actions..
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