Classical Masculinity in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra

<p>This thesis uses the formula of classical masculinity to examine Marc Antony’s value as a Roman man in Shakespeare’s <em>Antony and Cleopatra</em>. Examining Antony’s history as a Roman hero, I distinguish how his reputation is destroyed through his romantic involvement with Cleopatra. Furthermore, I consider the divine representations of Cleopatra and Octavian Caesar as they oppose each other, and how Antony’s role within their conflict defines his value as a classical Roman man. I then deliberate his sexual fetishism for the matriarch pharaoh, and how their relationship functions as sadomasochistic, defining Antony as the masochist and Cleopatra as the sadist. In conclusion, I focus on Antony’s suicide, and determine the masculine value of his final moments within the play.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Grams, Timothy N.

Contributors dc:contributor

• David Wood, Ph.D

• Masculinity
• Classical
• Rome
• Antony
• Cleopatra
• Virility
• Humors
• Honour
• Shakespeare
• Hero
• Octavian
• Masochism
• Arts and Humanities
• Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory
• Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• Religion
• Social and Behavioral Sciences

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/97

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1106