Powerplay-Antony and Cleopatra and the Brothers Bloom
Powerplay-Antony and Cleopatra and The Brothers Bloom
Both Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and Rian Johnson’s ‘The Brothers Bloom’ represent similarities on how power is obtained and how powerplays are created. Power, as shown in both texts, is always shifting from one party to another. But how the power is used can be for various reasons. For example in the ‘Bloom Brothers’, the brothers Stephen and Bloom’s lust for money controls them and when competition arises, powerplays are created. Whereas in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, power is used to maintain the people and the royal hierarchy. Although the two texts are similar in that they both explore various representations of powerplay, they both have different contexts and different textual forms but also the medium of production. Antony is head over heels for Egypt. The entertainment, the food and the treatment he receives from the people are some examples of what keeps him prisoner of Egypt. However what captivates him most is the beauty and charm of Cleopatra. When Enorbarbus and Antony first saw her, Enorbarbus describes her as though a goddess of beauty had appeared. How the winds themselves felt lovesick; how the smell of Cleopatra hypnotised Antony. Antony had become besotted instantaneously upon seeing her. The relationship between Antony and Cleopatra represents sexual power. Although they both share mutual feelings towards one another, Antony is the inferior of the couple. He is aware of his loss of power, depicted through the symbolic quote said by Antony, “(Cleopatra) has robbed me of my sword” and thus representing his loss of masculinity. She is dangerous to Antony because she distracts him from his duties and also weakens his resolve. The fact that Cleopatra has completely ensnared Antony has given her the authority to many of his territories and lands. Cleopatra, however, is dangerous in Caesar’s eyes because he cannot understand her and she cannot be defeated by him. Despite the
Both Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and Rian Johnson’s ‘The Brothers Bloom’ represent similarities on how power is obtained and how powerplays are created. Power, as shown in both texts, is always shifting from one party to another. But how the power is used can be for various reasons. For example in the ‘Bloom Brothers’, the brothers Stephen and Bloom’s lust for money controls them and when competition arises, powerplays are created. Whereas in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’, power is used to maintain the people and the royal hierarchy. Although the two texts are similar in that they both explore various representations of powerplay, they both have different contexts and different textual forms but also the medium of production. Antony is head over heels for Egypt. The entertainment, the food and the treatment he receives from the people are some examples of what keeps him prisoner of Egypt. However what captivates him most is the beauty and charm of Cleopatra. When Enorbarbus and Antony first saw her, Enorbarbus describes her as though a goddess of beauty had appeared. How the winds themselves felt lovesick; how the smell of Cleopatra hypnotised Antony. Antony had become besotted instantaneously upon seeing her. The relationship between Antony and Cleopatra represents sexual power. Although they both share mutual feelings towards one another, Antony is the inferior of the couple. He is aware of his loss of power, depicted through the symbolic quote said by Antony, “(Cleopatra) has robbed me of my sword” and thus representing his loss of masculinity. She is dangerous to Antony because she distracts him from his duties and also weakens his resolve. The fact that Cleopatra has completely ensnared Antony has given her the authority to many of his territories and lands. Cleopatra, however, is dangerous in Caesar’s eyes because he cannot understand her and she cannot be defeated by him. Despite the