Antony & Cleopatra

Life's events often cause an individual to re-evaluate what his or her priorities are. In Antony and Cleopatra, Antony is constantly examining his priorities through experiences as he changes or affirms what is truly important in his life. Antony is forced to decide between the Roman lifestyle which he found great success with as a political leader and the frivolous Egyptian lifestyle of the East. After his experiences in battle, Antony makes an initial priority …

…is between them. Finally, he confirms his value for love over duty by making the ultimate sacrifice to unite their souls in the after life. By killing himself, Antony dies an honorable death by Roman standards, but also honors his love for the Eastern world in his cause. Thus, through his experiences and assessments of values, Antony found the greatest value in his life was love, yet he still remained honorable to his Roman traditions.