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All for Love or, the World Well Lost, is a heroic drama by John Dryden wing, in 1677. Today, it is Dryden's best-known and most performed play. lis a tape, written in blank verse and is an attempt on Dryden's part to reinvigorate (4,, $4144) serious drama. It is an acknowledged imitation of Shakespeare's Antony a, _ Cleopatra, and focuses on the last hours of the lives of its hero and heroine., Combining the unitics of classical theatre and the style of Shakespearean, Dryden creates ‘an elaborately (a4xi'4) formal production in which fash, Philosophies of the time could be discussed and debated in a public at, Dryden used the theatre as a forum for testing problematic philosophical, moral ag}, , political questions. The results of these investigations were to form the basis a, later works., , All for Love is a tragedy first acted and printed in 1677. Dryden deals in hy, play with the same subject as that of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, Whig, however, the elder poet “diffused (dba) the action of his play over Italy, Greece,, and Egypt,” Dryden laid every scene in the city of Alexandria. Moreover, he "come, himself with the concluding scene of Antony's history, instead of introducing ih, incidents of the war with Pompey, the negotiation with Lepidus, death of his fas, , | wife, and other circumstances which, in Shakespeare, only tend to distract our attention, from the main interest of the drama" (Sir Walter Scott), Dryden, says Saintsbury,, Tomils whatever in the original story is Shocking ‘and repulsive (2111425) from the, fomantic point of view... The best pieces of All for Love cannot, of course, challenge, comparison with*the best picces of Shakespeare ... but the best passages of this play,, and, what is more, its general style, equals, with certain time-allowance, the bet |, things of Beaumont and Fletcher, and therefore the best things of almost any Englist, tragedian save (faqw4) Shakespeare.”, , GENERAL SUMMARY, , : Vanquished and fallen Antony is tired of his life. He has no hope to get bat !, the laurels, which he has lost. He exists, but docs not live. Even he does not soc te, face of his beloved misterss-Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. Ventidius his gener #, , _ last makes him once again hopeful. He can becoine the commander of their amij:, , On one condition-that he will have to leave Cleopatra. This is a formidable rut, , for him. How can he leave his Cleopatra, whom he loves so much that he can sact, , ais life, kingdom and everything clse. But sense of honour at last overwhelms:, , ‘he becomes ready to leave Cleopaira., , st eum) om, ie eee a ae

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M.A. English Paper-402 : Sem-1 fe ae, "Cleopatra cannot bear her lord's separation, She knows that once he goes to the, paitle, he will be lost to her. She sends her last request to Antony beggins him to, tt her last time and accept farewell from her. At first Antony, being pressed by, fentidius, refuses to go to her ; Yet, however they mect.The scene is touching and, of romantic pathos. 5 :, » Octavia, the wife of Antony, who’ has been living separate from him with her, *¥ two children, is brought on the stage. She has come to have reconciliation with him,, ’ thereby planning to bring about truce betwen her husband (Antony) and her brother, By Octavius Casear-who is displeased with Antony for driving his sister (Octavia) out of, his house. Antony docs not want to have truce with Octavius through his wife, But, } Octavia says that she is not concerned with his having fight with her brother. What, 4} she wants is that he should take her back as his wife and also the chidiren, who, =} have been starving of their father's love. Heraring her pitiful appeal Antony is changed, Y and he accepts his wife and children,, . The news reaches Cleopatra as a smashing shock. Her-heart-is totally broken., ™} She is completely lost. Yet she expects him to come to her. Antony sends farewell, to her through Dolabella with the message, Depart-to be spoken to her softly. But, it Dolabella gives the message to Cleopatra entirely in a different manner so as to, {create hatred in her against Antony. He tells her that in an extremely angry and, hateful mood Antony has sent to her his last message : Let her be gone, the blot of, my renown, And bane of All my hopes ! But still Cleopatra's love for Antony does, = not chb down., 5 ___ Ventidius then informs Antony that when Dolabella gave her his message she, took it without any concern as if she had to relation with him., , Not only this ; he fabricates yet another story about Cleopatra's faithlessness,, m@ He tells him that she has fallen in love with young Dolabella, , Alexas,the Eunuch of Cleopatra has also becn enlisted in the conspiracy to create, if} hatred in the heart of Antony against Cleopatra. He (or she) comes to Antony and, B} confirms the story of Cleopatra's love with Dolabella. Cleopatra makes her last attempt, & to prove that she has not loved Dolabella, and tries her best to convince Antony, about her purity and faithfulness. She says that Ventidius and Dolabella are her and, his enemies, therefore, they have invented the false charge on her., 7 But Antony would not hear any word from her, She must go away from his, sight. Cleopatra is banished, Seropion,the arch-priest of Isis gives the shocking news, to Cleopatra that the Egyptian fleet has made peace with Octavius Caesar, He did, not march to Pharas with the famous Egyptian Naval flect;but at the eleventh hour, the fleet declared that there should be no war between Egypt and Rome. Friendship, between the two armies has been established. The news is fatally shocking to Cleopatra., Now she will have no hope of getting Antony back. .

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{at Cleopatra has committed suicide as she could not beat to be accused by, « - plunged her dagger into her breast and before dying, uttered thse words ;, , , , eunuch (ais das), dismisses Scrapion’s claims and is more concemed with, , , , , , , ed Gesen pap nok ane He/she inf, , my lord my last farewell, And ask him if he yet suspect my faith, * Goi,, , Hearing this fabricated story of Cleopatra's pathetic death Antony js, that she was falsely accused of being faithless to him,, , Octavia cannot bear that even now Antony should brood over Cleopatra's, when she has been proved to be an abandoned false prostitute. Antony jn a, disgust, asks her to go away from him, Octavia obeys his order, but says tha, going for ever, never to come back to him again. Antony is sick of life. He bas toy ‘i, no charm for his life. He wants death to free himself from the bondage of his niseay, life which is now unbearable to him. His mistress, his queen, for whom he has be, living, is now dead., , Octavius Caesar, with his huge army is marching on. Either Antony, fight and dic as a typical Roman or else he will be made a prisoner-a disgrace fq, a Roman commander. Same is the case with Ventidius. Antony asks Ventidius by, him and save him from the disgrace of being imprisoned by the enemy ; Roay, , Honour. But Ventidius, too, wants to dic before being caught and made Captive by, Octavius., , Ventidius agrecs to the proposal. He asks Antony to shut his eyes because, (Ventidius) cannot tolerate that he should kill his master beore his eyes. As, , shuts his eyes, Ventidius strikes himself with his sword and kills himself., , Antony falls on his own sword and receives a fatal wound. Then rises upon is, knees. Then he again falls down. Cleopatra with her two maids, Charmion and Int, comes shouting. She runs to him. Antony is astonished to see her. She tells him di, Alexas gave him the false news about her committing suicide. She says that she bit, come to die with him to prove her innocence and purity. Antony dies, while Cleopaa, sits beside his dead body., , The priest comes and informs that Octavius: Caesar has already arrived of, gate and soon he would be entering the palace, Cleopatra gets her arm stung byt, , snake. She also lies dead beside Antony-her lover. No lovers lived so great, Of, so well., , , , , , , ACTWISE SYNOPSIS, Act One :, , * Serapion describes foreboding omens (2\4ys-t) (of storms, whirlwinds, 4, flooding of the Nile) of Egypt's impending (clus 244) doom. Alexas,, , with Antony. He sees that Cleopatra dotes (Axi 424) on

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ish Paper-402 : Sem-t : i, s that Antony will not continue seeing Cleopatra Serapions hosts (4%¥t+, aiead) a festival 10 celebrate Antony's honor. ee ae ee, _ Ventidius, a Roman general, comes to aide Antony in Alexandria. Ventidius, with Antony's relationship with Cleopatra and offers to give Antony troops ~, if he leaves her. Although Antony is insulted by Ventidius’s opinions regarding Cleopatra, i} (and refuses to hear anything negative about her), he agrees., % Act Two : ‘, , | .. Cleopatra mourns about her situation without Antony. Charmion,” Cleopatra's, ) jady-in-waiting = (aL exe), attempts to set up a mecting between Cleopatra and, , Antony, but she is deemed unsuccessful, Cleopatra thus sends Alexas to try to win, S back Antony using gifts (jewels including a bracelet), Alexas suggests that Cleopatra, , should tic the bracelet onto Antony's wrist. In the subsequent meeting between Cleopatra, and Antony, Ventidius appears and tries to proclaim how Cleopatra is not Antony's, § rightful partner and would betray him for her own safety. However, Cleopatra wins, , this argument by demonstrating a letter showing that she refused Egypt and Syria, | from Octavius, Antony is overjoyed by Cleopatra's decision and procigims' his love, for her., , Act Three :, , Amony is returning from battle and is overwhelmed (214244) with love for, j Cleopatra. Ventidius comes to speak with Antony, who attempts to flee unsuccessfully., Antony dass not want to go back to war but doesn't know how to stop it. He believes, his friend Dolabella can help him and Ventidius brings Dolabella out. Dolabella,, appears after Antony's success in battle. Dolabella was banished for his love for, Cleopatra, but he returns to a warm welcome from Antony. Dolabella offers a gift, that will bring peace between Antony and Caesar. The gift is Octavia, Antony's. true, wife and Caesar's sister, and Antony's two daughters. Octavia tells Antony the war, will stop when he returns to his rightful place, by her side, Antony and Octavia, feunite, and Alexas's attempts to meddle (ea sd) for the sake of Cleopatra are, dismissed. Cleopatra appears informed of her defeat. Alexas tclls her to avoid Octavia, but Cleopatra chooses to face her as a rival. Cleopatra and Octavia have an argument,, it seems clear that Octavia is whom Antony rightfully belongs to, even if it is not, she whom he loves most., , Act Four :, , Antony has been convinced by Octavia that his rightful place is by her side, in, Rome, with his children. Antony plans to leave but does not have the strength to tell, Cleopatra himself. Antony asks Dolabella to tell Cleopatra he is leaving so that he, will not be persuaded to stay. Ventidius overhears (aiowf 4 8) that Dolabella will, be going to Cleopatra to bid her farewell, He also sces her divising (4i%q) a plan, With Alexas to inspire jealousy in Antony by‘way of Dolabella. Ventidius and Octavia

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make a, romantically, both of them fall apart from the guilt of their betrayal (sai), ya", 1 s Antony that Cleopatra and Dollabella have begome lovers and Octavia alyy 8}, , , , , , , Rf, , witness. Ventidius then asks Alexas to testify to the same story, which Alcxas beng, to be, Antony is infuriated (2%) by this information, but is still looking fop, loophole (w2seidl) that would confirm Cleopatra's innocence. Antony's y, Cleopatra's innocence hurts Octavia and she leaves permanently. When Dolabell xy, Cleopatra try to explain themselves Antony refuses to believe them,, , Act Five :, , Antony takes Cleopatra's naval flect (-is1-sisal) and sails to Caesar where hei, grected like an old friend, They then sail back to Alexandria. When Cleopatra heary, this Alexas tells her to flee and that he will attempt to make amends (muta 524) wig, Caesar. Cleopatra tells him this would make him a traitor and that he cannot 80 ty, Caesar. Cleopatra flees and Alexas is left behind Antony and Ventidius meet Up an, Prepare to fight. Alexas, comes and informs Antony that Cleopatra is dead, Anton, tells Ventidus to end his life, but Ventidius refuses and kills himself. With Ventidisy, dead, Antony then trieds and fails to commit suicide Cleopatra then comes in and seey, , the dying Antony. She then kills herself. Scrapion delivers their culogy (>giu+),, ——<$<—______, , GENERAL QUESTIONS, 1. Discuss the Themes, , Ans. Honor :, , In “All for Love,” honor is a Concept associated chiefly with Rome. Antony's, , military and political strength are inextricably (au4iugi) ticd to his strong loyalties, ) to the Roman empire., , Personal and political : |, , Every character in this play is influenced by both personal and political motivation |, from the powerful Marc Antony to the rest of the cast. Personal and political motives, affect the central themes of love and honor, Marc Antony has an internal conflict it, choosing between his f., , amily, Octavia and his two daughters, and his mistress, Cleopatra.He, shirks (vd 8) his Political duty for the sake of his love relationship, with Cleopatra. His peers deem his actions to be irresponsible and believe will &, , end, Antony dies, Cleopatra too dies, and Octavivs, wins the war, Antony and Cleopatra, who cared more about personal matters, di,, while Octavius, who cared more about Political power, becomes Caesar, (24, Gaaldern de a det aor xq A d- a B Y werd al MA vase B), Death: |, , ‘The deaths taking place within this plot is “all for love.” They show “love" f, 1e'S country and/or loved ones. Antony kills himself after falling under the: