By William

Antony and
Cleopatra
Shakespeare
 • Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most famous
historical tragedy written by William Shakespeare.
• The play, divided in five acts, is the second of
Shakespeare’s trilogy of Roman plays, the first is
Julius Caesar and the third is named Coriolanus.
• It was first performed, by the King’s Men, at
the Globe Theatre in around 1607. Its first
Introduction appearance in print was in the Folio of 1623.
• The plot is based on Thomas North's 1579 English
translation of Plutarch’s lives , in ancient greek, and
follows the relationship
between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time
of the Sicilian revolt to the Cleopatra’s suicide.
 • The tragedy is set during the period from the
Sicilian revolt (44-36 BC) to the end of the battle of
Actium (31 BC), wich marks the official end of the
The setting Roman Republic and the annexation of Egypt to the
new empire.
• The background of the play alternates between the
two capitals of Rome and Alexandria of Egypt.
 • Mark Antony, he is one of the triumvirs of Rome. The
same as the Mark Antony of Julius Caesar, he is much
older in this play. Antony is the ideal version of the
Roman hero because he defeated Caesar’s traitors. He
is often sad thinking about how far he has strayed
from who he was.

• Cleopatra, she is the Queen of Egypt. Notoriously one

The key of the most difficult characters to play in all of
Shakespeare, she is erotic, charismatic, theatrical, and
characters generally unclassifiable.

• Octavius Caesar, also known in history as Augustus, is

one of the triumvirs (three leaders) of Rome. He is
both the enemy and not: tought he becomes Antony’s
enemy his frustration are justyfied because he’s trying
to keep the empire in order.
 • Act I: after the death of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire is ruled by three men:
Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus. Mark Antony commands the
eastern Mediterranean and lives in Egypt. He has also become infatuated with
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. After the death of his wife, Fulvia, and the rebellion
of Pompey against his fellow ruler Octavius, Antony is forced to leave for Rome.
He travels with his friend Enobarbus.
• Act II: in Rome, Antony and Octavius Caesar argue over the former's escapades
in Egypt. They decide that their friendship must be cemented by a political
marriage between Antony and Octavia, Octavious's sister. Enobarbus refuses to
believe that Antony will desert Cleopatra and tells his Roman friends about the
Egyptian court. The rulers, make peace with the rebellious Pompey, who
entertains them on his ship. During the party, Pompey refuses to allow his men

The plot to murder the triumvirate (Lepidus).

• Act III: Cleopatra receives the news of Antony's marriage, but after some
hesitations about Antony’s love she relises that Octavia can’t compromise their
relashionship. When Antony and Octavia reach Athens, they learn that Caesar
has revoked his peace treaty and attacked Pompey. He also betrayed the
triumvirate agreement by imprisoning Lepidus. Antony sends Octavia back to
Rome to try to renew peace. Antony himself goes on to Egypt to raise an army
with Cleopatra. Caesar, disgusted by Antony's abandonment of Octavia,
declares war on Antony and Cleopatra. Despite Enobarbus's advice, Antony
decides to fight at sea at Actium. In the battle, Cleopatra's ships flee from the
Roman fleet, and Antony is defeated.
• Act IV: Humiliated by his love for Cleopatra, Antony chooses to fight
Caesar on land. His army begins to lose faith in their leader after many
portents of Antony's supposedly inevitable defeat. Enobarbus deserts
Antony and defects to Caesar's army, leaving Antony saddened, not angry.
Enobarbus is overcome with guilt for his betrayal of Antony and commits
suicide. At the battle, Cleopatra's men flee, abandoning Antony. Fearing
Antony's anger, Cleopatra takes refuge in her monument. When Antony
fears that Cleopatra has betrayed him to Caesar, she sends false word
that she is dead, hoping to win over his affections once more. Antony is
devastated by the news and resolves to die himself. He falls onto his
sword and is mortally wounded. At this point, Cleopatra's messenger
goes to inform him that the queen is still alive and finds him dying alone.
Antony is then taken up into the monument by Cleopatra and her waiting
women, and he dies in Cleopatra's arms.
• Act V: Cleopatra cannot accept the thought of being a prisoner of the
Romans. When Caesar believes that she is now his prisoner, she has a
countryman bring her poisonous snakes . Her waiting women dress her in
state robes before she lays an asp on her breast and dies, along with her
women. Caesar, upon discovering the bodies, orders that Antony and
Cleopatra be buried together. Now unhindered in his quest for Egypt,
Caesar returns to Rome and becomes Emperor.
 • The two lovers, reason vs emotion
• Loyalty and Betrayal, accompained by Honor
• The strategic-military aspect

Themes and • The unpopular gender’s roles

• East vs West
Analysis • The comparisons between the Elizabethan’s Age
and the ending of the Roman Republic
• The clouds