It's Choice Not Chance
Essay Question:
Critical response: 1000wds
How successful have the texts you have studied been in presenting ideas about choice? In your response refer to Antony and Cleopatra and two related texts of your own choosing.
You may use one related text that was studied in class if you wish.
Choice is defined as an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. Chance is defined as a possibility of something happening. To be able to choose something is a much broader concept in life then leaving something down to chance, having choices is something everyone takes for granted yet everyone seems to be constantly over analysing the possibilities of chance. A universal paradox states “you are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice”. These ideas are clearly explored in Shakespeare’s 1600 play Antony and Cleopatra, Gil Junger’s 1999 movie 10 things I hate about you and Tony Lintermans poem “The Escape from Youth” as their protagonists make irrational decisions and struggle to deal with the consequences of their choices.
Choices made by a character can be strongly consequential when their choice may hurt or affect other individuals. This theory is clearly explored in Antony and Cleopatra when Antony is completely controlled by his desire to be with Cleopatra and is blinded by his love for her, that he forgets about his Roman duties. This is shown in Act 1, Scene 1, line 34 when Antony says to Cleopatra “Let Rome in Tiber melt”, this hyperbole reinforces the idea of Antony is choosing lustful Egypt over the noble Rome. He uses another hyperbole along with an appropriate metaphor to perfectly capture how Cleopatra has him under her spell when it comes to decision making. Antony says “I must from this enchanting queen break off. Ten thousands harms, more than the ills I know, my idleness doth hatch” this emphasis how utterly controlled and manipulated he is by the love he feels for Cleopatra and how
Critical response: 1000wds
How successful have the texts you have studied been in presenting ideas about choice? In your response refer to Antony and Cleopatra and two related texts of your own choosing.
You may use one related text that was studied in class if you wish.
Choice is defined as an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. Chance is defined as a possibility of something happening. To be able to choose something is a much broader concept in life then leaving something down to chance, having choices is something everyone takes for granted yet everyone seems to be constantly over analysing the possibilities of chance. A universal paradox states “you are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequences of your choice”. These ideas are clearly explored in Shakespeare’s 1600 play Antony and Cleopatra, Gil Junger’s 1999 movie 10 things I hate about you and Tony Lintermans poem “The Escape from Youth” as their protagonists make irrational decisions and struggle to deal with the consequences of their choices.
Choices made by a character can be strongly consequential when their choice may hurt or affect other individuals. This theory is clearly explored in Antony and Cleopatra when Antony is completely controlled by his desire to be with Cleopatra and is blinded by his love for her, that he forgets about his Roman duties. This is shown in Act 1, Scene 1, line 34 when Antony says to Cleopatra “Let Rome in Tiber melt”, this hyperbole reinforces the idea of Antony is choosing lustful Egypt over the noble Rome. He uses another hyperbole along with an appropriate metaphor to perfectly capture how Cleopatra has him under her spell when it comes to decision making. Antony says “I must from this enchanting queen break off. Ten thousands harms, more than the ills I know, my idleness doth hatch” this emphasis how utterly controlled and manipulated he is by the love he feels for Cleopatra and how