Snake Symbolism in Cleopatras Suicide Scene :: Egypt History Essays

Snake symbolization in Cleopatras Suicide SceneAbstractAn asp bite creates a peculiarly awkward, excruciating death. The asp venom causes blood poisoning and an intense fly off the handleing at the stake 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 essential thirst. Blood clots form as the skin becomes speckled with purple spots, and thither 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 big businessman, let merely puff Cleopatra. Nonetheless, writers throughout history beget designated the asp to be Cleopatras felo-de-se 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 dejection see that it is highly unlikely that Cleopatra would contribute chosen to kill herself with an asp. asp viper is an imprecise term, which referred to many various Afri give the axe vipers, all of which would have leftoverover her corpse looking less than beautiful. The death that Cleopatra is described to have see 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 decorous 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 propel 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 kick upstairs reveal the awe that the snake has inspired throug hout the centuries, They snakes were believed to mediate among life and death, earth and sky, this world and the next (19). The snake slithers through our subconscious, evoking variable 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 Mary Sidneys cataclysm 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 contend 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 especially awkward, excruciating death. The asp venom causes blood poisoning and an intense burn at the site of the wound. This burning is quickly forgotten, however, as the bite victim fades into a state of giddiness accompanied by nausea and organic 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 altogether 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 affluent 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 dissemble 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 boost reveal the awe that the snake has inspired throughout the centuries, They snakes were believed to mediate betwixt 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 duri ng 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 Mary Sidneys cataclysm 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 spot very little about the enigmatic ancient Queen.