Essay about A Comparison of Cleopatra and Heloise - 994 Words

Sex, manipulation, selfishness, obsession, and dramatic interactions are all present in Antony and Cleopatra and The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. The roles of women in society and conceptions of femininity in the eras of Cleopatra and Heloise were limited compared to todays standards. In Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra and The Letters of Abelard and Heloise, there are recurring images of women as well as conceptions that are unique to each text. In comparing and contrasting the parallel themes of the pieces, it is easy to see the overall themes of both works. Within the first page of Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra, the Romans narrow perspective of Cleopatra is presented to the audience. Throughout the book she†¦show more content†¦At times it seems like she loves him, an example of this being when she kills herself after she finds out he has also committed suicide (though it isnt her sole purpose). Other times it seems like she uses him for sex because that seems to be what their entire relationship is based on. Even other times he simply serves as her puppet such as in the Act II.v.19-23: That time -- O times! -- I laughed him out of patience; and that night I laughed him into patience; and the next morn Ere the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed; Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan Cleopatra is not obsessed with Antony but more captivated by the idea of who Antony was. Conversely, Heloise repeatedly claims that women are inferior to men and that a woman needs a mans guidance and protection. It is true that Abelard is her superior in philosophical knowledge and age but she is still a very intelligent young woman. Heloise plays on the fact that women are inferior to men in order to gain Abelards sympathy. Abelard does not completely agree with Heloises low standard of women. He claims that God hears womens prayers more readily than mens when he says: God is pleased by the abstinence and continence which women have dedicated to him, the more willing he