SH+P6+2016+Mark+Antony+and+Octavian

Rickie Worden
 * Audience:**

Change was afoot in the time of Caesar. Wars were occurring as a struggle of power occurred. It is stated, “ Caesar's will had named him chief heir and adopted him as his son, making his name now Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. His claim was not well received by Antony, but after many machinations on both sides they eventually reconciled, at least on the surface ” (McManus). With Caesar’s assassination, chaos ensued. This was due to the power struggle that occurred between Octavian and Mark Antony. This helps to build the scene of chaos and instability which was seen in this time period. Both of these two ended up in a power struggle despite a previous agreement that Octavian would rule the west and Mark Antony would rule the east. It is implied, “ Over the next few years, tensions waxed and waned between Octavian and Antony ” (Hickman). As it has been seen, a very major domino effect has occurred. Various people are able to see the chaos which came from one single event. By having knowledge on the domino effect, the audience is able to better understand the events in Caesar’s time.

Hickman, Kennedy. //Roman Civil Wars: Battle of Actium,// About Education, 18 May 2015. Web. 6 Jan. 2016

McManus, Barbara F. "Antony, Octavian, Cleopatra." // Vroma //. N.p., Aug. 2009. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.

by Autumn Lardinais
 * History: **

Mark Antony and Octavian Caesar had many disagreements throughout Roman history; the two of them influenced history with their rivalries and brief allegiance. Their relationship to Caesar is where their main rivalry emerged. When Caesar was assassinated, “Antony was next in line to Caesar but was challenged by Octavian, Caesar's nephew and adopted son, who claimed he was heir to Caesar's rule” (Biography.com). While they both wanted to rule, they decided to avenge Caesar's death. Together, they and some others formed the Second Triumvirate, and “their first order of business seems to have been the systematic killing of any political rivals and supporters of Caesar’s assassins...but then turned their attention to Caesar’s assassins” (Mark). They succeeded in their objective, but Anthony had different intentions to Octavian afterwards. He left to Egypt, divorced his wife and gave Roman land to his children with new wife Cleopatra; “these actions were very unpopular in Rome, and the Senate, ‘of its own accord,’ swore an extraordinary oath of loyalty to Octavian...the Senate outlawed Antony and declared war on Cleopatra” (McManus). The two began to conflict again. However, Antony was on the losing side. “Antony had superior numbers but fell time and again to the brilliant naval attacks of Octavian’s general Agrippa...Octavian entered Alexandria, both Antony and Cleopatra resolved to commit suicide” (History.com). In the end, both men had been figures noted by Roman life through their battles and conflicts with each other, along with their brief allegiance.

Mark, Joshua J. "Augustus." // Ancient History Encyclopedia // //.// N.p., 22 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.

"Mark Antony Biography." // Bio.com // //.// A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.

McManus, Barbara F. "Antony, Octavian, Cleopatra." // Vroma //. N.p., Aug. 2009. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.

"Mark Antony." // History.com //. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.


 * Cultural: **

by: Benjamin crabtree

Mark Antony and Octavian both can be related to the play Macbeth. Octavian and Mark Anthony are shown easily in the book by their actions in witch lead to the death of Macbeth. “Anthony proved himself a great commander but his appetite for luxury, drink and sexual excesses alienated him from Caesar” (Mark). “rallied around Octavian against their powerful rival Mark Antony. But after Octavian’s troops defeated Antony’s army in northern Italy” (History.com Staff). Antony is able to be compared to Macbeth in away they seem identical. Macbeth went power hungry and let that take him over. Antony also went power hungry and that distracted him from what he should have been focused on. So the way Macbeth aloud his power hungriness to take him over in the same way Antony let it do the same thing to him. Antony’s downfall was with Octavian rallied up troops attacked and defeated Antony’s army. Which resulted in Antony killing himself with his own sword. like Macbeth who was defeated by an army Antony was attacked and defeated. The only difference is that instead of being killed by someone else like in Macbeth's case. Antony had taken his own life.

Mark, Joshua J. "Augustus." // Ancient History Encyclopedia // //.// N.p., 22 Aug. 2010. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.

"Mark Antony." // History.com //. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 06 Jan. 2016.