Analysis of "All for Love" by John Dryden
"All for Love" by John Dryden is considered a masterpiece and an imitation of Shakespeare's work. Dryden acknowledges Shakespeare's superiority as a dramatist but adds his own perspective in this heroic play, focusing on Antony and Cleopatra. The drama demonstrates structural quality with coherence and unity but lacks emotional depth, typical of Restoration Drama during the 1660-1700 era. Dryden's transformation into a dramatist during the Restoration period marked a significant shift in his literary career.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
All for Love by John Dryden Dr. Jaba kusum Singh Associate Professor Department of English A.N.D.N.N.M.Mahavidyalaya,Kanpur
Introduction This drama is Dryden s Masterpiece It is imitation of Shakespeare It is a heroic play Drama cannot be just a replica of past thus both Shakespeare and Dryden have made necessary changes
Shakespeare and Dryden Dryden Acknowledges Shakespeare s superiority as a dramatist He retells the story from a new point of view He maintains dramatic unities with greater precision All for love has only 10 charcters ; Antony and Cleopatra 34 The scene never shifts from Alexandria Antony of this play is not a superman but a family man Cleopatra too is not that fascinating paramour.
Structural Quality There is a subtler, surer dramatic progression in this drama It has coherence, a direction to an end, a unity. Dryden s poetry has been highly praised by the critics. The tragic effect is perfect. But the drama lacks spiritual quality. In this drama although craftmanship reaches the highest level but the emotions expressed do not touch the heart of the spectators.
Restoration Drama(1660-1700) Commonwealth ordinance in 1642 closed all theatres in England Charles II in 1660 reopened them with his restoration to throne The viewers were the courtiers and their entourage. No communication with common men/women Two forms of drama became popular- i) comedy of manners ii) heroic tragedy.
Restoration Dramatist George Etherege William Wycherley William Congreve- The Way of The World John Dryden
Dryden : The Dramatist Born in Northamptonshire on August 9,1631 Eldest son of Rev.Erasmus Dryden and Mary Pickering He made his debut in poetry by an elegy written in the memory of his school fellow, Lord Hastings. In 1664 he married Elizabeth Howard, daughter of Earl of Berkshire The restoration of Charles ii brought a sudden change not only in his political leanings but also in his literary career. The reopening of theatre transformed Dryden into a dramatist He wrote 20 plays.
Important works by Dryden Annus Mirabilis in 1666, a long poem on the great fire and the naval fight with Holland. Essay on Dramatic Poesy , a defence of rhyme in Drama. This is an perfect example of Dryden s penetrating analysis and delightful style. Dramatist, poet and literary critic, he is the foremost man of letters of the England of the last quarter of the 17thcentury He gave English poetry the qualities it lacked- ease,flexibility and lucidity.
More About John Dryden He is an unequalled satirist As a literary critic he is forceful, lucid and perceptive He is an inaugurator of an age of prose and reason. His treatment of subject was strikingly new . He was a great versatile writer. Alexander Pope and Joseph Addison the two literary geniuses of English literature followed his footsteps.
The Theme of the Drama Antony ,the protagonist of the play is distressed because of his defeat in the battle of Actium He seems to be doomed He has lost all hope of retrieving his lost glory and honour. He has no desire left to meet his beloved Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. He shuts himself in the lonely Temple of Isis and laments his loss.
Ventidius and his Proposal The general ,Ventidius, meets Antony He promises Antony to help him retain back his lost glory He offers the services of his 12 regiments (now in lower Syria) He asks him to leave Cleopatra
Antonys Dilemma It was not easy for Antony to leave Cleopatra She was the only solace of his life It was for her sake that he has sacrificed honour , glory, empire and everything covetable in life. Ventidius persuasion works for the time being Antony agrees for the sake of his lost honour and valorous dignity.
Cleopatra and her pleadings Cleopatra is shocked to know Antony s decision She sends Charmion and Alexas to convince Antony to pay her a visit before departing After many pleadings Antony agrees to meet
Antony meets Cleopatra Antony holds Cleopatra responsible for his doom He recalls the raising of war by Fulvia(his first wife) against Octavius in Rome followed by Fulvia s death. He also recalls the marriage with Octavia ,as a token of peace. Antony accuses Cleopatra of having been possessed previously by Julius Ceaser
Cleopatra Convinces Antony Cleopatra ,too ,presents before Antony the proof of her unfailing infidelity She informs Antony that she too had denied to accept the gift of Egypt and Syria by Otavius The reward was offered to her to leave Antony and support Octavius Antony is swept off and he surrenders to her Antony pledges to defeat Octavius Ceaser in an encounter
Dolabella and his unsuccessful efforts Dolabella, friend of Antony Antony feels Cleopatra may fall for this young roman Ventidius requests him to convince Antony to leave the Egyptian Queen He tries hard to make Antony aware of his loss His loss of legions, empire and above all honour His arguments seem to fall flat on Antony
Appearance of Octavia, wife of Antony Octavia, who was leaving separately with her two children meets Antony She asks for her recognition as his wife She also offers that her brother wants a truce She tries to convince her husband that the truce shall not effect their relationship He can leave her if he wants so This scene seems melodramatic when Octavia asks her two sons to clasp around their father s knee and not to loosen their hold even if he shakes them off
Antony is shaken for the time being In the next scene we find a heart broken Cleopatra Her undying love foe Antony hopes that he cannot abandon her Dollabella communicates the message of Antony s depature Antony asks Dollabela to couch it in sftest possible mood and language
Alexa tricks Alexa, the eunuch, the attendant of the Queen does villainy He asks Cleopatra to flirt with Dolabella Alexa argues that such a politic flirtation shall inflame Antony and revive his love for her But Cleopatra s behaviour impresses Dolbella so much so that he too plays a trick Instead of conveying the message of Antony s betrayal in a soft mood he said that Antony uttered his parting words in stern, angry mood
Cleopatra trapped by Alexa and Ventidius Cleopatra finds it unbearable and faints Dolabella aks for her forgiveness But Ventidius has other plans He conspires with Alexa Both convinces Antony that Cleopatra is flirting with Dolabella and is least bothered about him
Antony bans Dolabella Antony is convinced that Cleopatra is infidel He is also sure about Dolabella s disloyality Both Dolabella and Cleopatra tries to convince Antony Antony does not believe Antony broods over Cleopatra He feels pain and remorseful
Antony Abandons Octavia When Octavia reproaches her husband ,she is rebuked Antony asks her to leave with her children Octavia cannot bear that her husband should be so much concerned for an abandoned, faithless woman Octavia feels insulted She is a proud roman lady She decides to live a life of a widow with her children She declares that she shall never return back to Antony
Politics and Love The news of peace agreement between Egyptian fleet and Octavius Ceaser shocks Cleopatra Serapion, the arch-priest of Isis, bring this news to Cleopatra He warns her that her beloved Antony will take the news as a grave betrayal on the part of Cleopatra Alexa betrays again She conveys the false news of Cleopatra s suicide to Antony
Antony is shattered Antony ,now ,finds no meaning in life He feels like a weary traveller who has reached the journey s end He wants death to come and take him in her bosom Ventidius tries to exhort him to fight with Octavius who is at the gate of Alexandria He according to Ventidius must fight and embrace a heroic martyrdom Antony negates as he sees no reason for fighting
Self- Realisation The death of Cleopatra has changed everything for Antony It was she for whom he had sacrificed his honour, glory and empire He asks Ventidius to kill him and save him from the disgrace of being captive He asks Ventidius to go to Ceaser and settle with him Ventidius is shocked He decides to kill Antony and then to kill himself
Death and The End Ventidius asks Antony to shut his eyes But instead of killing Antony he kills himself Antony is berieved He too falls on his sword to kill himself He receives a fatal wound At this moment Cleopatra arrives with her two maids, Charmion and Iras
Anagnorisis and Denouement Cleopatra reveals that the Egyptian fleet has not only betrayed him but also her She also tells him about Alexa s treachery She says that she is here to follow him to the realm of death This is the only way to prove her innocence and constancy Antony dies seated on the throne with a laurel wreath Cleopatra decks herself with ensigns of pomp and glory and sits beside him
The Final Scene Cleopatra, now the queen and the bride, all at once Serapion announces the arrival of Octavius Cleopatra pays no attention She is eager to join the Elysium of lovers She embraces death by getting herself stung by the deadly aspic The lovers lie dead beside each other in royal statewitha smile flickering on their lips
No lovers lived and died so well Thank you
