“Human condition is the characteristics, key events, and situations which compose the essentials

of human existence, such as birth, growth, emotionality, aspiration, conflict, and mortality.”

All great works of drama aim to entertain through the manipulation of the plot, setting and

characters. Simultaneous to this it also enhances the appreciation of human condition through

depth exploration of conflicts, emotions, births and deaths. Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and

Cleopatra’ and Dennis Scott’s ‘An Echo in the Bone’ are prime examples of dramatic pieces that

achieve entertainment while engaging the audience through the appeal of human condition.

Shakespeare’s ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ chronicles the adventures of star- crossed lovers, Mark

Antony and Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. This play displays themes of business of state and love

with protagonist, Mark Antony struggling to maintain both. Representing business of state is

Rome and triumvir, Caesar and contrasting is the representation of love, Egypt and Cleopatra.

Both entities present as a conflict for Antony, due to his longing for both. The main instance of

human condition that drives the entire play is the instinctive nature of selfishness as well as the

inevitably and release of death.

Caesar, the representation of business of state and Rome is a prime example of human

selfishness. He is driven by attaining power and thereby he sacrifices everything for this. He

manipulates everyone in his path and uses them to share the responsibilities of attaining the

power but then betrays them to deem himself sole controller. This can be seen in his

manipulation of Octavia and Cleopatra. In addition, the audience is also able to notice his

insatiable greed in his betrayal of Lepidus, Pompey and Antony.

Despite being portrayed as a power hungry, selfish man throughout the play, when Antony’s

passing is announced, overlooking his jaded relationship with Antony, he refers to him as a

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 ‘brother’ and ‘friend’. This shows the complexity of Caesar’s character, perpetuating the idea of

the dimension of human condition, showing that no individual is without emotion and only

controlled by their longing for power.

Main characters, Antony and Cleopatra also display the inevitable trait of selfishness. Cleopatra

manipulates Antony, disregarding his own emotion and duty to his country and people, all to

satisfy her need for his companionship and love. Antony’s selfishness was the stem for most of

the conflict within the play. His longing for both love from Cleopatra and power over Rome left

Cleopatra constantly feeling neglected and betrayed, causing her to lash out. Furthermore, his

power was threatened by Caesar and Pompey. His selfishness for both entities led to him losing

his country due to his defeat by Caesar and the thought that he had lost Cleopatra which led to

him taking his own life.

Mortality is another factor prominent in this play. Firstly, Lepidus’ death by the hands of Caesar,

to take his power. Then there was the death of Enobarbus which stemmed from his loyalty to

Antony causing his betrayal to consume him with guilt which led to his death. And most

prominently the death of Antony and Cleopatra. Antony’s defeat by the hand of Caesar and his

assumption that Cleopatra was dead led him to be consumed by the loss of his pride and the loss

of his love, causing him to see death as his only option. This way he can die a hero and be with

Cleopatra for eternity. Cleopatra also died to make Antony her eternal husband and escape

capture by Caesar.

Leading to the death of the parties was the presence of conflict which was caused by the

relationship between Antony and Cleopatra. Antony’s infatuation with Cleopatra leaving him

inclined to neglect Rome and his duties led to his conflict with Caesar. Antony’s division of

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 attention between Rome and Cleopatra gave Caesar the opportunity to attain all the power,

embarking on the battle against Antony.

In addition, there was also conflict within the relationship. Cleopatra’s longing for Antony left

her compelled to manipulate him so maintain their relationship and deter an obstacles standing in

their way. Antony’s frustration stemming from the pressure created from his duties and his

relationship led to him often reliving his frustration on Cleopatra. As can be seen by him calling

her a ‘whore’.

Conclusively, it can be seen that Shakespeare effectively manipulates his use of human condition

through the employment of conflict, death and human selfishness all contributing to the essence

of human nature. Similarly, in ‘An Echo in the Bone’ the playwright employs various form of

human condition to enhance an appreciation as well as attain entertainment.

Dennis Scott’s ‘An Echo in the Bone’ is centered around the murder of Mas Charles, the estate

owner, and the disappearance of “Crew,” a villager who is suspected to be the murder. After

being gone for nine days, his wife, Racheal, host a "Nine Nights Ceremony" to allow his spirit to

move on into the afterlife. During this event there are flashbacks taking the audience four years

prior to the murder and during the slave trade, exploring what happened to Crew and to all the

African ancestors through spirit possession. An Echo in the Bone not only examines the crime of

Crew killing the white plantation owner but rather the crime of slavery against enslaved Africans

that led to Crew killing Mas’ Charles in defense of his people.

Triggering the events of this play, is the death of the estate owner, thereby it can be assumed that

death is a reoccurring human condition of this play. It can be observed that death reveals truth,

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 therefore allowing us an understanding as to why death of the ancestors are to be embraced in

this play as to fully comprehend ones’ sense of being.

By acknowledging the experiences of the Africans on the Atlantic slave trade and on the

plantations, taking into consideration the discrimination and abuse they faced, explanations for

current human condition can be formed. Specific to ‘An Echo in the Bone’, after slavery Crew

and his family still found themselves at a disadvantage because they were still belonging to a

discriminated race as well as the means of production and resources were still owned by the

Europeans. This left them still working for the estate owners for the bare minimum, continuing

to live in poverty and suffrage. Exploitation of enslaved Africans created mindsets whereby they

should work hard for a master establishing that as the norms of the society. This ideology was

inherited by their descendants which explains the alienation of Crew and others working on the

plantation prior to slavery. Therefore, explaining the murder of the plantation owner, as it

symbolized a revolt and stance against the cruelty they endured. Many in the audience can relate

as to truly understand ones’ self they must first explore their past, as events of the past are

essential to the composition of human existence.

In addition to the manipulation the use of past events to justify human existence, another form of

human condition can be seen in the contrast between brothers, Jacko and Sonson. Jacko is

portrayed as being reasonable and logical, making decisions based on extensive thought and

acknowledgment of the outcomes unlike his brother Sonson who acts based on emotion. This can

be seen as the justification as to why Bridget choses Jacko over his brother, because he would be

able to provide for her. This duo represents basic human nature, presenting the dilemma of

reasoning, understanding and logic versus a spontaneous nature and emotion.

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 Conclusively it can be seen that both playwrights manipulate the use of characterization, events,

death and other forms of human nature and human condition to enhance the play and work

simultaneous to the plot so to achieve entertainment for the audience.

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