‘It Is Not the Choice Itself but the Impact of That Choice Which Is the Greatest Challenge’

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* ‘It is not the choice itself but the impact of that choice which is the greatest challenge’ Discuss this statement with close reference to your core text, one text studied in class and one related text of your own choosing. * * It is true that the impact of a choice is the greatest challenge and this challenge can carry with it either anguishes or enlightenment depending on the choice made. Cautious sensible choices will ensure steady, positive impact therefore the challenge will cause enlightenment however if a choice is irresponsible or irrational the impact will be negative and consequently cause anguish. Shakespeare’s Elizabethan tragedy Antony and Cleopatra explores the importance of taking careful consideration when making a choice in order to ensure the impact is beneficial for all parties involved. The underlying theme of love and betrayal connects the readers understanding of love in Gallagher’s feature article 2 of us John and Bec (2012) and betrayal in Sam Mendes’s 1999 film American Beauty. These texts all reveal that the choices we make impact our lives and the lives of others therefore they present challenge, however, the severity of that challenge is determined by our decision making process. Shakespeare’s Elizabethan tragedy Antony and Cleopatra conveys that when making a choice we must be reasonable and consider the other people involved or else the impact will pose an unfavorable challenge. In Act 1 Scene 1 the metaphor “The triple pillar of the world transform’d into a strumpet’s fool” reveals to the audience that Antony, the once great leader is losing strength and power because he is involved with Cleopatra, who has a reputation of being promiscuous and manipulative. This theory is supported in the dialogue that follows when Cleopatra asks Antony the direct question “If it be love indeed, tell me how much” this conveys her
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