ipl-logo

How Does Cassis Dio Characterize Cleopatra

472 Words2 Pages

In the first part of my essay I am going to discuss how Cassis Dio characterises Cleopatra in the given passage. Throughout the extract there is an ongoing positive characterisation of Cleopatra, what strikes me most is the portrayal of her physical image. We are first introduced to the concept of Cleopatra being a ‘surpassing beauty’ (Cassius dio, page 20) in the opening sentence, it is then a reoccurring theme throughout the text. An interesting point made about her beauty is in the sentence, ‘and she reposed in her beauty all her claims to the throne.’ Not only does this continue the -portrayal- of beauty but this also shows a characterisation of arrogance; this stemming from Cleopatra believing her beauty is the key to power rather than usual qualities you would foresee from a leader. The last main portyal in this passage is the image of Cleopatra being a manipulator, once gaining permission to meet Caesar she ‘adorned and beautified herself,’ in hope to exploit him in helping her win back the throne.
Moving on to another extract by Cassis Dio in the speech Octavian presented to his army, Cleopatra’s portrayal isn’t as positive although once again the theme of her being manipulative is reoccurring. This is illustrated in the quote ‘he is bewitched by that accursed woman.’ (reference here) The word bewitched indicates Antony is negatively …show more content…

Nevertheless, he mentions that although Cleopatra’s attraction isn’t in her looks it is undoubtedly in her charm. This is demonstrated in the quote that she has a ‘peculiar force of character’ and everyone who is associated with the queen of Egypt falls under her characteristic

Show More
Related

  • How Does Julius Caesar Have A Republican Government

    775 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antony is cunning and pragmatic. His speech expresses these traits and ends with an unnerving confirmation: “Mischief, thou art afoot/Take thou what course thou wilt” (Julius Caesar, 3.2.252-253). He successfully manipulates the audience to enact revenge and launches his subtle campaign towards achieving

    Read More

  • Cassius Use Of Pathos In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

    131 Words  | 1 Pages

    Pathos, is persuasion using emotion and a lot of people use pathos to persuade someone into doing something they want. When Cassius tries to persuade Brutus into thinking that he is just as good as Caesar, he announces that he is going to forge signatures from several citizens, in his soliloquy. Soliloquies reveal inner thoughts and feelings out loud, when no one else is able to hear. Doing this will let Brutus to see that he, himself, is just as good as Caesar and any other Roman. Having that would build the confidence in Brutus, allowing him to stand up to Caesar and plan the attack on him much more easily.

    Read More

  • Michael Grant's Hellenistic Heritance Of Cleopatra

    541 Words  | 3 Pages

    This book didn’t just cover the lifespan of Cleopatra itself but also quite resourcefully shows the historical aspects of events that happened before and after Cleopatra’s lifetime. With Cleopatra being such central and well-known figure, not just back in her time but even now, she had a very strong impact on history herself and through her relationships with Caesar and Mark Anthony. Michael Grant went back as early as 323 BC to the death of Alexander the Great to explain the rise of the Ptolemaic Era through Ptolemy I and to show the proof of Cleopatra’s Hellenistic heritance. In detail he showed the hardships Caesar had to face while staying in Egypt with the Egyptian Queen but he also explained the happenings that lead to Caesar arriving

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Mark Antony's Speech

    207 Words  | 1 Pages

    Mark Antony is trying to win over the people of Rome by his very effective use of rhetoric. In his speech, his overall point is to persuade the Roman citizens that Brutus’s claim of Caesar being ambitious is not true. Antony’s use of rhetorical devices such as a rhetorical question give the people a good message. When he is telling them that Caesar brought many captives to Rome, he asks, “Did this in Caesar seem ambitious” (3.2.18). Antony’s rhetorical question was very effective since he is making the people question Brutus’s claim.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Cleopatra

    751 Words  | 4 Pages

    Determination, strong alliances, and keeping her family's dynasty alive were all the key components Cleopatra needed to restore Egypt. According to Grochowski “Cleopatra used any means necessary to complete her goals and protect the country she loved, known as Egypt” (Grochowski 1). Cleopatra acquired a bad reputation because of her background but she did many things to make Egypt her top priority. Although she was not fit to be the ruler of Egypt, Cleopatra did restore Egypt to former glory because of her determination, strong alliances, and hunger to keep her family’s dynasty alive. Cleopatra also known as “Cleopatra VII Philopator” completed a large amount of task, during her reign, but the one that stood out the most was her powerful scheming.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Cleopatra And Joan Of Arc And Cleopatra

    1939 Words  | 8 Pages

    Cleopatra and Joan of Arc are two of the most powerful and influential women to ever have lived. Although each one led for their own purposes, and in their own style, the consequences of their actions still have ripples in today’s world. Whether it be because of Cleopatra’s beauty or ruthlessness, or Joan of Arc’s faith and purity both women are considered iconic figures in the global community. Throughout time both Joan of Arc and Cleopatra have been documented as extremely influential characters in history. Cleopatra and Joan of Arc were iconic in different ways, for different reasons but it is undeniable that without them, the world wouldn’t be as it is today.

    Read More

  • Authority In Titus Andronicus By William Shakespeare

    830 Words  | 4 Pages

    His love for her trumps expectations from a soldier and a leader like Antony. Like Antony, Cleopatra overlooks her duties to her people and decides out of

    Read More

  • Antony's Persuasion In Julius Caesar

    772 Words  | 4 Pages

    Antony 's Persuasion In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the people of Rome have opinions that are very easily swayed. However, there is one man who does this best in comparison to the rest. This man is Marc Antony. He sways the crowd in favor of his ideas through his use of the will, his speaking techniques of ethos and logos, and by speaking directly to the hearts of the people of Rome. One way Antony sways the emotions of the crowd is through his use in the will to his favor.

    Read More

  • The Negative Influence Of Cleopatra On Ancient Rome

    850 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the fortune had it that Rome’s imperial regime was born from her defeat, Cleopatra played the role, as a unique as it was involuntary, of link between the Hellenistic and the Roman world. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony permanently have impacted on Ancient Rome and Egypt. Her being with Caesar and Anthony led to deaths, Cleopatra had been part of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony deaths. He began to make unwise decisions. Cleopatra was thus heir to a line of determined women who were often the object of sincere devotion on the part of the Egyptian people of inept or discredited.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    833 Words  | 4 Pages

    By refusing to read the will several times and admitting that what it contains will cause the people to have such a great love for Caesar that knowing he is now dead will be unbearable, Antony ignites curiosity in the people and furthermore, a subconscious feeling of respect and graciousness toward Caesar. Basically, Antony uses Caesar’s will to convince the people that Caesar was a selfless, kind-hearted man and those who killed him should be ashamed and punished for killing an innocent man. Through Antony’s use of paralipsis, he is able to plant a seed of admiration for Caesar and one of hate for the conspirators in the hearts of the plebeians. In his speech to the citizens, Antony also asks many rhetorical questions to cause his audience to pause and reflect on how they really feel, or how Antony wants them to feel, about certain people and events that have recently become important. In one instance.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Appeal In Julius Caesar

    1082 Words  | 5 Pages

    When making an argument to sway someone, one must first recognize when speaking that it is not so much what one says so much as how they say it. This can be seen in none other than Shakespeare’s renowned Tragedy of Julius Caesar when Calpurnia attempts to tell Caesar to stay home while Decius Brutus attempts the opposite. In Act II, scene ii, both make their arguments to convince Caesar to attend, or not attend, the senate meeting on the Ides of March in which the conspirators plan to assassinate the leader. While Calpurnia approaches Caesar using an emotional appeal, Decius decides to use a more logical appeal to persuade the general to fall into his trap. Ultimately Decius proves to be more successful in his attempt than Calpurnia, due to

    Read More

  • How Did Cleopatra Influence The Roman Empire

    2385 Words  | 10 Pages

    Cleopatra’s Influence on the Roman Empire Cleopatra VII has become one of the most well-known ruler and Egyptian in era of the Roman Empire because of her suppose beauty, cunning personality and her influence on the Roman Republic which turned into an Empire shortly after her death. While she is not Roman citizen herself, her relations with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony are what brought her influence of power into Roman society and expanded her own in Egypt. Just like any ruler in history she sought power which was not something easily done as a woman in that time, however primary sources such as Josephus and Cassius Dio often do not refer to her as a great ruler, but as a seductress

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar Leader Analysis

    1556 Words  | 7 Pages

    "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" Act II, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet. For centuries William Shakespeare has been influencing society. We perform his plays, quote his writings, analyze his sonnets.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Brutus And Antony Speech

    824 Words  | 4 Pages

    Towards the middle to the end you can finally tell he is being sarcastic, also supported by the other points he is making about Brutus. The other point Antony making is he is also trying to convince the citizens to rebel against the government.

    Read More

  • Cleopatra Movie Analysis

    1158 Words  | 5 Pages

    As the name Cleopatra is widely known among us, how many of us truly knows the tale of her life besides the queen title and her great beauty? Joseph L. Mankiewics’s feast “Cleopatra” in 1963 may give you some ideas about the glamorous yet tragic life of the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. The film has succeeded in demonstrating many historical aspects, especially the mighty ambitious Cleopatra, yet still has some inaccuracies which all will now be discussed. The film accurately portrayed most of the historical details, from the triumph to the tragedy of Cleopatra.

    Read More

More about How Does Cassis Dio Characterize Cleopatra

Open Document