Cleopatra fight against Prejudice of male characters in the Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

ABSTRACT

Prejudice is a rigid and unfair generalization and assessment which is done by certain people toward the other people without knowing clearly about them. Therefore, there are some people who cannot treat another people fairly, because prejudice has installed in their mind. Prejudice is an attitude that can cause many impacts in social life that disturb harmonic of social life.

In this study, the researcher analyzes Shakespeare’s play entitled the Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra by focusing on Cleopatra. The researcher presents Cleopatra’s condition that forced Cleopatra fight against male characters. In the play The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra as the subject of the study. The problems of this study are: What are the prejudices of male characters to Cleopatra in the Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra? How does Cleopatra fight against prejudice of Male characters in the Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra?.

This research using feminist literary criticism, it is one way to find women’s problem in some aspects. It can be used for analyzing historical data and nonliterary works which emphasize on women case. Feminist approach in literary study known as feminist literary criticism is one of literature which has feminism view and justice in women existence, as writer and even though in many literatures.

This study found some prejudices of male characters to Cleopatra those are Lustful Gipsy, Egyptian Dish; Wrangling Queen, A whore, noble ruin of magic and salt Cleopatra, but Cleopatra as queen of Egypt does not agree with prejudice from male characters. Cleopatra just wants to save her sovereign to not disturb, destroy and obey to Rome then Cleopatra fight against prejudice of male characters by declare war with Octavious Caesar and Refusing mark Antony’s Instruction.