Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, and the Nature of Fame

206 Pages·2018·1.32 MB·English

by  Robert Alexander Logan

Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra,
and the Nature of Fame
RESEARCH IN MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN CULTURE
Medieval Institute Publications is a program of
Th e Medieval Institute, College of Arts and Sciences
WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra,
and the Nature of Fame
by
Robert A. Logan
Research in Medieval and Early Modern Culture
MEDIEVAL INSTITUTE PUBLICATIONS
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo
Copyright © 2017 by the Board of Trustees of Western Michigan University
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Logan, Robert A., 1935- author.
Title: Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, and the nature of fame / Robert A.
Logan.
Description: Kalamazoo : Medieval Institute Publications, [2018] | Series:
Research in Medieval and Early Modern culture | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifi ers: LCCN 2017046070 | ISBN 9781580443197 (hardback : alk. paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Antony and Cleopatra. |
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616--Characters. | Fame in literature.
Classifi cation: LCC PR2802 .L64 2018 | DDC 822.3/3--dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017046070
ISBN: 9781580443197
eISBN: 9781580443203
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part
of this book may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or trans-
mitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise) without the written permission of both the copyright owner and the author of
the book.
Every eff ort has been made to obtain permission to use all copyrighted illustrations
reproduced in this book. Nonetheless, whosoever believes to have rights to this material is
advised to contact the publisher.
To John J. Wright for his immeasurable “bounty”

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
1 Introduction: Viewing Shakespeare’s Kinetic 1
Characterizations
2 Antony and Cleopatra in Seventeenth-Century 17
Contexts
3 “Immortal Longings”: Shakespeare’s Perspective 31
on Fame
4 Standards of Measure in Antony and Cleopatra 53
5 “Th e Varying Shore”: Changing Perceptions, 93
Sustaining Illustriousness
6 “A Pair So Famous”: Achieving Permanent Renown 125
7 Shakespeare’s Imperishable Fame 155
Bibliography and Further Reading 181
Index 189

Acknowledgments
IMPOSSIBLE AS IT IS to acknowledge the many infl uences of schol-
arly publications, conference sessions, and classroom experiences on my
understanding of Antony and Cleopatra, three people who have contrib-
uted either directly or indirectly or both to the following book must be
mentioned. To Sara Munson Deats, I owe a career-long debt of gratitude,
but am specifi cally grateful to her for commenting on a draft version of the
manuscript with such care, rigor, and astute suggestions. To Erika Gaff ney,
a senior editor who has guided me wisely in more than one publication, I
am most grateful. Her candor, detailed suggestions, and high standards are
exemplary and inspiring; as editors go, she stands out as an exceptionally
superior role model. Finally, to my husband and champion, John Wright,
I am thankful beyond my ability to express the depth of my gratitude. His
unfailing desire to free up my time and give encouragement have displayed
a magnanimity that even Antony could not match. I am truly honored to
have had these three people in my life over the years but especially during
the current project.