Snake Symbolism in Cleopatras Suicide Scene :: Egypt History Essays

Snake Symbolism in Cleopatras self-destruction SceneAbstractAn asp bite creates a particularly awkward, excruciating death. The asp malevolency causes blood poisoning and an intense burn at the site of the wound. This burning is quickly forgotten, however, as the bite dupe fades into a state of giddiness accompanied by nausea and extreme thirst. Blood clots form as the skin becomes speckled with majestic spots, and there is usually a considerable amount of swelling. The victim then goes into convulsions, vomiting, urinating, and defecating uncontrollably (Hughes-Hallet 106). This is not a death suitable for a Queen, let wholly Queen Cleopatra. Nonetheless, writers throughout history submit designated the asp to be Cleopatras suicide weapon. Her death is described as either an ecstatic orgasm or a serene slip into eternal slumber. Analyzing her death with an eye for accuracy, we kindle see that it is highly unlikely that Cleopatra would have chosen to kill herself with an asp. Asp is an imprecise term, which referred to numerous various African vipers, all of which would have left her frame looking less than beautiful. The death that Cleopatra is described to have experienced resembles the death caused by a cobra sting, not an asp bite. A cobra would have had to be at least four feet long to excrete enough venom to kill Cleopatra and her two maids (Hughes-Hallet 107). Since writers have taken liberties with their descriptions of Cleopatras death scene, representing the asp in various ways, we should ask, What does the glide symbolize in Cleopatras suicide, and how does this representation affect the overall portrayal of the Queen and her suicide? The serpent has acted as a diverse symbol throughout history, representing immortality, evil, femininity, and masculinity. In the book Dream Animals, Marilyn Nissenson and Susan Jonas further reveal the awe that the snake has inspired throughout the centuries, They snakes were believed to halfway between li fe and death, earth and sky, this world and the next (19). The snake slithers through our subconscious, evoking vary associations. Cleopatra identified with the snake during her life, and it becomes even more highly symbolic in her death. By examining three movies (DeMilles Cleopatra, Mankiewiczs Cleopatra and the ABC version of Cleopatra) and two dramas (Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra and bloody shame Sidneys Tragedy of Antonie) different symbolic representations of the snake emerge along with contrasting depictions of the Queen of the Nile. These varying representations of the asp and slightly contrary portrayals of Cleopatra prove to us that we deal very little about the enigmatic ancient Queen.Snake Symbolism in Cleopatras Suicide Scene Egypt History EssaysSnake Symbolism in Cleopatras Suicide SceneAbstractAn asp bite creates a particularly awkward, excruciating death. The asp venom causes blood poisoning and an intense burn at the site of the wound. This burning is quic kly forgotten, however, as the bite victim fades into a state of giddiness accompanied by nausea and extreme thirst. Blood clots form as the skin becomes speckled with purple spots, and there is usually a considerable amount of swelling. The victim then goes into convulsions, vomiting, urinating, and defecating uncontrollably (Hughes-Hallet 106). This is not a death suitable for a Queen, let alone Queen Cleopatra. Nonetheless, writers throughout history have designated the asp to be Cleopatras suicide weapon. Her death is described as either an ecstatic orgasm or a serene slip into eternal slumber. Analyzing her death with an eye for accuracy, we can see that it is highly unlikely that Cleopatra would have chosen to kill herself with an asp. Asp is an imprecise term, which referred to many various African vipers, all of which would have left her corpse looking less than beautiful. The death that Cleopatra is described to have experienced resembles the death caused by a cobra sting, not an asp bite. A cobra would have had to be at least four feet long to excrete enough venom to kill Cleopatra and her two maids (Hughes-Hallet 107). Since writers have taken liberties with their descriptions of Cleopatras death scene, representing the asp in various ways, we should ask, What does the snake symbolize in Cleopatras suicide, and how does this representation affect the overall portrayal of the Queen and her suicide? The snake has acted as a diverse symbol throughout history, representing immortality, evil, femininity, and masculinity. In the book Dream Animals, Marilyn Nissenson and Susan Jonas further reveal the awe that the snake has inspired throughout the centuries, They snakes were believed to mediate between life and death, earth and sky, this world and the next (19). The snake slithers through our subconscious, evoking varying associations. Cleopatra identified with the snake during her life, and it becomes even more highly symbolic in her death. By examining t hree movies (DeMilles Cleopatra, Mankiewiczs Cleopatra and the ABC version of Cleopatra) and two dramas (Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra and Mary Sidneys Tragedy of Antonie) different symbolic representations of the snake emerge along with contrasting depictions of the Queen of the Nile. These varying representations of the asp and slightly contrary portrayals of Cleopatra prove to us that we know very little about the enigmatic ancient Queen.