Satire Of Cleopatra's Suicide

More than two thousand years after her death, Cleopatra VII Philopator continues to be a divisive figure. While certain events in her life are acknowledged as facts, there is still much we do not know for certain. Her actions can therefore be interpreted differently depending on the reader. Regarding Cleopatra’s death, Andrew Meadows, for instance, suggests that “Octavian hinted to her that suicide would be the simplest exit for all concerned” (30). Here, Cleopatra meekly bows to the wishes of her enemy. Christopher Pelling, however, says that Octavian is “delighted” at the prospect of being able to “parade her in his triumph at Rome” (299). Cleopatra’s suicide is therefore an act of defiance. She has lost the war, but Octavian will not win

In response to rumours of a liaison between Cleopatra and Herod, Andrew Meadows merely suggests that “Herod is perhaps not the most trustworthy of sources” (28), while Christopher Pelling firmly characterizes this scene as “fiction” (300). How can we know what truly occurred? On one hand, it does seem probable that this account has been invented to discredit Cleopatra. We are presumably meant to disapprove of Cleopatra’s wanton behaviour, especially as it is directed towards a defeated enemy, and to think less of her because of this. On the other hand, perhaps Cleopatra did make advances towards Herod, acting out of a desire to humiliate her enemy, knowing that he would be appalled by this, rather than out of lust for him. If true, I find it difficult to condemn Cleopatra for this. A truly noble leader would resist embarrassing an already beaten rival, of course, but few people are truly noble, and there are multiple accounts across cultures and throughout history of men revelling in the defeat of their enemies. Perhaps Cleopatra was emulating a male tactic but with a female spin. At the end of the day, the most she did was make Herod uncomfortable – she did not rape him or force him to marry her. Many defeated women have not been so