Antony & Cleopatra

‘Antony & Cleopatra’ Story tells of the scandalaous affair between the roman general antony & the Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Their blind passion which leads to their ultimate downfall & deaths. The plot encom[asses the strong themes of ambition, poer, love, friendship, deception & disaster.

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As the play begins, it is 41 B.C. and Mark Antony, one of three rulers of the Roman Empire, is having an affair with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt. He is uneasy because he has been hearing rumors lately that he is losing face in Rome for being the Queen of Egypt's pet. So, when a message arrives informing him that his wife, Fulvia, is dead and that Pompey is raising a rebel army, he resolves to return to Rome and be a soldier once more.

In Rome there is chaos. Wars are being waged left and right, and as soon as Antony resolves one issue, another pops up. Realizing that an alliance is necessary to defeat Pompey, Antony and Caesar agree that Antony will marry Caesar's sister, Octavia. The alliance is a successful one and Pompey is defeated. On behalf of himself, Caesar, and the third ruler of the Roman Empire, Lepidus, Antony negotiates a truce with the rebels.

Meanwhile in Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage to Octavia and flies into a jealous rage. But, when a messenger delivers word that Octavia is a plain and timid woman, Cleopatra feels confident that she will win Antony back.

Back in Rome, Antony and Octavia are setting off on their honeymoon to the city of Athens, Greece. But, as soon as they are gone, Caesar betrays Antony. He breaks the truce with Pompey, wages war against him, and, using Lepidus' army, defeats him once again. Then Caesar betrays Lepidus as well, and accuses him of treason, imprisons him, and takes all that he owns, including his land.

Antony hears of Caesar's treachery, and decides to go to war against him. But, Octavia pleads with Antony to maintain a peaceful relationship with her brother, and Antony decides to send her to Rome on a peace mission. Once she is gone, however, Antony returns to Egypt and Cleopatra.

In Egypt, Antony raises a large army to fight Caesar, and Caesar, angered by Antony's treatment of his sister, commands his army and navy to Egypt. Ignoring all advice to the contrary, Antony elects to fight him at sea, allowing Cleopatra to command a ship. But, in the heat of battle, Cleopatra's ship flees and Antony follows her, leaving his fleet to be defeated.

Antony condemns Cleopatra for leading him into abandoning his fleet, but just as quickly forgives her. He sends a request to Caesar that he be allowed to live in Egypt. Cleopatra sends a request, as well; that her kingdom be passed down to her rightful heirs. Caesar dismisses Antony's request, but promises Cleopatra a fair hearing if she will betray her lover. Antony curses her for her alleged treachery, only to forgive her moments later. It is at this moment that Enobarbus, Antony's once loyal servant and friend, decides that Antony has finally lost his mind altogether and deserts him to join Caesar. Soon, however, he dies, undone by his shame and the weight of his disloyalty.

Another day brings another battle, and once again Antony meets Caesar at sea. As before, the Egyptian fleet abandons the fight and leaves Antony to suffer defeat. Convinced that his lover has betrayed him, Antony vows to kill Cleopatra. In order to protect herself, Cleopatra hides in her monument and sends word to him that she has committed suicide.

Antony, racked with grief, commands one of his attendants to kill him. But, the attendant kills himself instead, so that Antony must fall upon his own sword. Then, mortally wounded, he is carried by his remaining attendants to Cleopatra's monument, where he dies in her arms.

As the play ends, Cleopatra, thinking of joining Antony while also of defeating Caesar by robbing him of conquering her, kills herself with the help of poisonous snakes smuggled to her in a basket of figs. She dies with her pride intact, and when Caesar finds the lovers, he orders that they be buried side by side, letting them be forever together in death, as they could not in life

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The Book named ''
Antony & Cleopatra
Playwright: William Shakespeare
Lyricist: William Shakespeare
Genres: Tragedy
Characters: Cleopatra, Gaius Octavian, Mark Antony, more
Setting: Alexandria, Miseno

Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was probably performed first circa 1607 at the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre by the King's Men. Its first known appearance in print was in the First Folio of 1623.