The God Abandons Antony

"The God Abandons Antony" (Greek: Ἀπολείπειν ὁ θεὸς Ἀντώνιον) can also be translated as "The God Forsakes Antony" is a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy, published in 1911.

Story

"The God Abandons Antony" refers to Plutarch's story of how Antony was besieged in Alexandria by Octavian. On the eve of Octavian's attack, suddenly in the middle of the night there were sounds of instruments and voices of a procession making its way through the city, stopped only at the gates of the city.[1] This noise came as a sign that Anthony's patron and protector: the god Dionysus (Bacchus), was deserting him.[2][3] The poem's title itself is a verbatim quotation from Plutarch's text.[2]

Excerpt
Original Greek Transliteration English Translation
Ένα όνειρο, πως απατήθηκε η ακοή σου, μάταιες ελπίδες τέτοιες μην καταδεχθείς. Σαν έτοιμος από καιρό, σα θαρραλέος, σαν που ταιριάζει σε που αξιώθηκες μια τέτοια πόλι, πλησίασε σταθερά προς το παράθυρο, κι άκουσε με συγκίνησιν, αλλ´όχι με των δειλών τα παρακάλια και παράπονα, ως τελευταία απόλαυση τους ήχους, τα εξαίσια όργανα του μυστικού θιάσου, κι αποχαιρέτα την, την Αλεξάνδρεια που χάνεις. Éna óneiro, pos apatíthike I akoí sou, mátaies eplídes tétoies min katadechtheís. San étoimos apó kairó, sa tharraléos, san pou tairiázei se pou axióthikes pros to paráthyro, ki ákouse me synkínisin, all’óchi me ton deilón ta parakália Kai parápona, so teleftaía apólafsi tous íchous, ta exaísia órgana tou mystikoú thiásou, ki apochairéta tin, tin Alexándreia pou cháneis. It was a dream, your ears deceived you: don't degrade yourself with empty hopes like these. As one long prepared, and full of courage, as is right for you who were given this kind of city, go firmly to the window and listen with deep emotion, but not with the whining, the pleas of a coward: listen - your final pleasure - to the voices, to the exquisite music of that strange procession, to say goodbye to her, to the Alexandria you are losing.

Techniques

"The God Abandons Anthony" falls under the umbrella of philosophical poems in Cavafy's anthology. Cavafy takes the historical elements of ancient history and blends it with his touch of poetry to usually teach or warn the readers.[1]

The poem is divided into two parts: the first introduces the theme of defeat and the inevitable end that humans face; the second part of this poem develops on the idea of acceptance, without fear or pleading for one's life.[1]

Philosophical & Didactic Character
  • Uses second person singular - makes it more intimate with the reader
  • The poet creates an atmosphere of where he warns his readers of what to do and what not to do in life[4][5]
  • Cavafy addresses how the hero has to maintain his dignity with courage until the end even though he's losing everything[4][5]

Symbols

Anthony: He is the protagonist or more commonly associated with being the tragic hero in this poem. He is the symbol of a successful as well as ambitious person who lived a very distinguishied and enviable life. However, this life that the protagonist lives suddenly falls on the brink of destruction and death.[4][5]

Alexandria: This city is used in several of Cavafy's poem because it not only was his home but also a symbol of desire and success. In this poem, it can be characterised as the affluent and wealthy life, with its spiritual as well as material pleasures.[1][4]

Dionysus (Bacchus): The god of wine and pleasure, symbolises the fortune that suddenly disappears from Anthony (protagonist) which leads to his inevitable downfall.[4]

Exquisite sounds: The triumphant noises heard throughout the city are a sign of the beautiful moments, the successes of life that are commemorated at the end of someone's life. The tragic hero recalls the last victories of his life that he will be losing forever.[4][5]

Midnight: The poem is set during the dead of night which is seen as peculiar for the ending of one's life as they are completely unprepared to accept or face their fate.[4]

The invisible troupe: This is the symbol of an ominous message, the bad omen of the unavoidable end. It connects the poem with the story handed down to us by Plutarch. The troupe or ensemble symbolises the loss of happiness and excitement as it marks the end of the hero's life.[4]

Quotes

This poem is a constant reminder of warnings and exhortations in one's life and downfall. This is what Cavafy wants to convey to his readers.

Deciphering Quotes
  • "Do not mourn in vain" - The poet informs his readers to accept their fate with stoicism and have self-control, to not weep before the end.[4][5]
  • "Farewell to her, the Alexandria that you're leaving" - There has to be acceptance of the reality at hand. One has to consider the evil done and show perseverance as well as endurance.[5]
  • "Don't laugh, don't say it was a dream... don't accept such vain hopes" - Don't feed into falsehoods, one has to accept the harsh reality of life.[4][5]
  • "Not with the pleadings and complaints of cowards" - You have to face your reality with courage, without stooping low and adopting behaviour which humiliates and exposes you.[5]
  • "He approached steadily to the window and listened withe emotion, as a last pleasure" - Accept the end and reminisce about the good times. The legacy and successes are being left behind by the one whose life is ending.[5]

Adaptations

Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson freely adapted this poem for their song "Alexandra Leaving" (Ten New Songs, 2001).[6] Whereas Cavafy's theme was based around the city of Alexandria, Cohen's version builds around a woman named Alexandra.

References
  1. "Κωνσταντίνος Καβάφης 🌿 Απολείπειν ο θεός Αντώνιον 🌿". ΟΜΟΡΦΙΑ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΑΙΣΘΗΣΙΑ (in Greek). 2015-10-18. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  2. Plutarch (1920). "Antony 75.3–4". Plutarch's Lives. Vol. 9. Translated by Perrin, Bernadotte. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
  3. "Antony 75.3–4". Plutarch's Lives (in Greek) – via Perseus Project.
  4. "Απολείπειν ο Θεός Αντώνιον, Κ. Καβάφης (Ανάλυση)". Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  5. Λογοτεχνία, Από την/ον Stratilio στο Ν Ε (2011-05-19). "Κ.Π. Καβάφης, "Απολείπειν ο Θεός Αντώνιον" : Ανάλυση". Stratilio's Cloud (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  6. "The god abandons Antony". Leonard Cohen: The Leonard Cohen Files.
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