By exploring the presentation of Octavius in Antony and Cleopatra, evaluate the view that ‘Octavius makes political success seem very unattractive’ Despite a high degree of success achieved by the character of Octavius Caesar, we see to a large extent the political success and emergence of Caesar as the sole ruler of Rome appears mostly unattractive in the eyes of a Victorian audience. This unattractiveness is achieved through the pragmatic ruthlessness of Caesars character along with his lack of compassion and his ability to mistreat those very close to him. The most notable of these character traits in portraying political success as unattractive is Caesars mistreatment of other characters. This trait is significant in Caesars relationship with his sister Octavia. Essentially we see the use of Octavia by Caesar as a political tool from which Caesar is able to create a ‘win win’ situation for himself.
However, even once Richard realises he can do nothing to prevent his defeat, he asserts that he would rather fulfil his hellish role with pride than retreat in cowardice. Richard is able to influence and control those around him as a result of each individual’s desire for power. Yorkist society, as it is portrayed by Shakespeare, is one that emphasises structure, hierarchy and the importance of power, and this leads to a nobility full of self-absorbed, parochial beings. Richard believes he has been “cheated… by dissembling nature” and that the only compensation for his deformity can come through control over others – to him it seems like his right in place of the ability to “caper nimbly in a lady’s chamber”. Buckingham, Richard’s accomplice and “other self”, is also interested in furthering his political standing, and he decides that siding with Richard will be the most effective
To what extent was the reign of Tiberius successful? An evaluation of Tiberius’ success or otherwise is difficult. Ancient sources are quick to point to his failings, right from his accession to the ‘princeps’, which Suetonius claims only came about by default, “for want of any better choice”. Tacitus may not be as theatrical in his treatise on Tiberius, but he too was often critical of the emperor, highlighting how Tiberius was cruel and arrogant, and how Tiberius’ murder of his potential rival, Agrippa Postumus, was callous. Such subjectivity clouds much of the ancient appraisals of Tiberius.
Despite the increased responsibility and independence the senate became more subservient to him, “Though at first the senate showed real independence, it soon realised the risk of encroaching too far” (Scullard). This was due to the fact of the growing treason trials and Sejanus’ influence, senators afraid of their safety began to win favour by sycophancy. Whilst through his reserved temperament and ambiguous instructions led confusion to the senate steering towards deterioration, Tacitus notes he remarked them “men fit to be slaves”. This declining power of the senate under Tiberius became more obvious when he administered the empire from Capri failing to create the diarchic balance, Scullard writes “Tiberius had tried and failed and his failure was made irremediable by his retirement to Capri” illustrating the impact on Princeps becoming more dominating issuing imperial
ISBN 9780691142623. $39.50. Reviewed by Timothy Howe, Saint Olaf College (howe@stolaf.edu) In The last pharaohs, J. G. Manning attempts to bring Ptolemaic Egypt, and the economic policies of the Ptolemaic state, out of isolation from other fields of ancient Mediterranean history. Often seen as "a place apart," especially by classicists focused on Greece and Rome, Ptolemaic Egypt has entered historical conversations tangentially, as a stage for wider Roman policy, for instance, or as a counterpoint to classical, polis civilization. Here, Manning is reacting against the scholarly tendency to assess
Joseph Jordan Nero Debate Paper Roman History The reign of Nero has been generally accepted to be a period of insanity and darkness in the Roman empire, however there is also new light being shed on this period of Roman history. It is true that Nero was a determined and violent man who was willing to smash any obstacle in his path in order to secure his throne, but did this necessarily make him any worse than his predecessors? If anything, atleast for a period, Nero was one of the more humane Roman leaders. Politics, whether it is in ancient Rome or even in the modern day, is a dirty game that demands certain reprehensible actions in extraordinary situations. The company one keeps plays a huge role in a leader’s actions as well, when
‘why do you dress me in borrowed robes?’ this quote shows that Macbeth is superstitious as it tells the audience that he has believed the prophecies they have told him. However the word ‘why’ shows that he is doubtful of himself and them as he is questioning the prophecies, this could show that although he is ambitious and his aspiration is to become king, he is unsure of himself and even from the start is unconfident on
Macbeth: Gender Role of Manhood Shakespeare's Macbeth, is a story of not only how the absence of emotions deteriorates one’s manhood, but specifically, how the reliance on gender roles negatively impacts humanity. The stoic behaviors which are attached to the image of masculinity is not exactly as beneficial as it is dignified by many. Masculinity as a vital source of manhood also entitles mankind to deny humanistic values that were intended to lead in the first place. In Macbeth, the gender role of masculinity leads to unrewarding obsession with power throughout the play. True masculinity is a conceptual fallacy.
If we start looking toward romantic and transcendentalist ideas maybe that will change though I highly doubt it. The theme of story number two is stupid, but what can you do? The author of Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment obviously thought being young was a drag. In my belief he was just an ornery, old man jealous of the spunky young people. Well, he’s dead now.
Instead, they played what “didn’t exist in the world around them” (113). As their values changed, they began to “reject the role of the entertainer, and held themselves above tastes of the public” (112). According to Leland, nonconformism can take two forms: the relinquishing of privileges and the reclamation of privileges. The relinquishing of privileges is when one waives the privileges in order to shed the responsibilities for its actions. A great example of this is the famous quote by Emerson, “Who so be a man must be a nonconformist…” because “to be great is to be misunderstood” (115).