Antony and Cleopatra
Story Summary
The Roman Empire is ruled by a triumvirate, Lepidus, Octavius Caesar and Mark Antony, following Julius Caesar’s death. Infatuated by the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, Antony neglects his duties, but his wife’s death and the threat of war with Pompey forces him to return to Rome.
With peace restored, Antony marries Caesar’s sister, Octavia, to improve relations with him. When Caesar imprisons Lepidus and breaks the treaty with Pompey, Antony sends Octavia to her brother to secure peace. Caesar declares war; Antony returns to Egypt to fight with the aid of Cleopatra’s forces.
When Cleopatra’s ships flee Caesar’s navy during a sea battle, Antony follows her and suffers defeat. Humiliated, and incensed by a possible alliance between Cleopatra and Caesar, Antony leads the land army and is victorious.
After the Egyptian navy deserts again, Antony suspects betrayal, and Cleopatra pretends to be dead to escape Antony’s wrath, but distraught on hearing this devastating news; he kills himself. Overcome with grief, and to escape Caesar’s triumphant conquest of her, Cleopatra commits suicide.
Homeschool Hints
Shakespeare’s tragedies often feature a central character trying to overcome a flaw, without success, leading to their downfall and eventual suicide. ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ definitely has elements of this. It records the destructive love two influential people have for each other, and the consequences when this love cannot be controlled. Shakespeare shows them to be at the mercy of their emotions. It is an all too familiar story that we see enacted in politics, Hollywood and perhaps even our own neighbourhoods.
The production that you watch will influence how you see the characters. Cleopatra is both a political leader and an obsessive lover. Portraits of her vary from dangerous derangement to disciplined control. The director has a tremendous influence on character interpretation and development. Some Cleopatra’s I sympathised with; others I disliked. I recommend the ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ on Globe Player TV, where a clip from Act 2, Scene 5 shows Cleopatra ‘hooking’ a member of the audience, perfectly illustrating how the interaction between the audience and cast is crucial in Shakespeare’s theatre. There is a dynamic exchange taking place. Simply reading Shakespeare with your children may not be enough. The words need life-giving action breathed into them.
‘Antony and Cleopatra’ is another play to watch with older teens. It contains Shakespeare’s usual bawdy comments, and also the idea that suicide is a noble course of action considered preferable to enduring the consequences of unwise choices.
As a young teenager, I remember memorising the monologue describing Cleopatra whilst doing my Saturday morning chores. Full of metaphors and similes it is a language arts paradise. Here it is if you would like to try learning it for yourself:
The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water; the poop was beaten gold,
Purple the sails, and so perfumed, that
The winds were love-sick with them, the oars were silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beat to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggared all description; she did lie
In her pavilion,–cloth-of-gold of tissue,–
O’er-picturing that Venus where we see
The fancy outwork nature; on each side her
Stood pretty-dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With divers-coloured fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid did. (Enobarbus, Act 2 Scene 2)
Notable Quotes
Resources
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety.
(Enobarbus, Act 2 Scene 2)
My salad days,
When I was green in judgement, cold in blood.
(Cleopatra, Act 1 Scene 5)
In time we hate that which we often fear.
(Charmian, Act 1 Scene 3)
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
Bliss in our brows bent.(Cleopatra, Act 1 Scene 3)