Her only reasoning was not because of her late husband Mark Antony, as Cleopatra is not a simple but a complex human being. "Miserable Cleopatra, you are taken prisoner!" Upon which she turned quick, and, looking at Proculeius, drew out her dagger, which she had with her to stab herself. But Proculeius ran up quickly, and, seizing her with both his hands, "For shame," said he, "Cleopatra; you wrong yourself and Caesar much, who would rob him of so fair an occasion of showing his clemency, and would make the world believe the most gentle of commanders to be a faithless and implacable enemy." (Plutarch Life of Antony p.475)
Cleopatra By: Stacy Schiff, is a biography of the famous Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra, who single-handedly shaped and dramatically impacted both the Egyptian and Roman Empires of her time. However, Stacy Schiff’s book is not merely a biography that simply tells the life and achievements of Cleopatra, rather her thesis, or main point, in writing the book is to show the reader how little is factually known about Cleopatra. Furthermore, of what is known, the historical reports are very subjective, over exemplified, contradictory and thereby inaccurate. Additionally, according to Schiff, Cleopatra today is remembered for the wrong reasons, primarily her seduction of the two Roman Emperors of the time, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, which severely
Cleopatra is known to have had relations with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar. Both of these men were in power in the Roman Empire at some time. It is difficult to imagine why Cleopatra wanted a suitor from a far of place than where she was in Egypt (Anderson, Jaynie, 2012, p.45). Rome was considered a mighty Empire at that time; this led people to conclude that Cleopatra used her beauty to lure both Mark Antony and Julius Cesar to be with her and in turn empower her kingdom. This led to the modern notions that Cleopatra used her beauty and charms to get anything she wanted from anyone.
Since the fortune had it that Rome’s imperial regime was born from her defeat, Cleopatra played the role, as a unique as it was involuntary, of link between the Hellenistic and the Roman world. Her relationships with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony permanently have impacted on Ancient Rome and Egypt. Her being with Caesar and Anthony led to deaths, Cleopatra had been part of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony deaths. He began to make unwise decisions. Cleopatra was thus heir to a line of determined women who were often the object of sincere devotion on the part of the Egyptian people of inept or discredited.
To truly understand Cleopatra, we must first examine the book Cleopatra-Life of the Ancient Egyptian Queen.
Born in Egypt in 69 BC Cleopatra was born into a Macedonian family who of which were descendants of Ptolemy I. Having many siblings both younger and older than her, when her father Ptolemy XII passed, he left the ruling of the kingdom to both Cleopatra and her younger brother who she then married Ptolemy XIV. This marriage was not out of love, but out of her love for her country and her desire to rule it was the only option since in order to rule she was required to have a consort either a son or brother. Which contributes to one of her many titles “Philadelphus” which means lover of her brothers. It has been said that Cleopatra was beautiful, desirable and irresistible.
The last main portyal in this passage is the image of Cleopatra being a manipulator, once gaining permission to meet Caesar she ‘adorned and beautified herself,’ in hope to exploit him in helping her win back the throne. Moving on to another extract by Cassis Dio in the speech Octavian presented to his army, Cleopatra’s portrayal isn’t as positive although once again the theme of her being manipulative is reoccurring. This is illustrated in the quote ‘he is bewitched by that accursed woman.’ (reference here) The word bewitched indicates Antony is negatively
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.
Ultimately, this will serve as a reflection of how different times and cultures use the story of Cleopatra to manipulate the reputations of powerful women. Unfortunately, there is little certainty to Cleopatra’s tale;
e, and refuses to be paraded in the streets of Rome as she states: “The quick comedians extemporally will stage us, and present our Alexandrian revels: Antony shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I the posture of a whore” - Act V scene II. Her noble act highlights her everlasting need to lead a carnivalesque life as the thought of living in a world without excess is unbearable as she states: “Sir, I will eat no meat, I’ll not drink sir … I’ll not sleep either. This mortal house I’ll ruin” - Act V scene II. Also, the reality of being far from the arms her lover Antony proves to be intolerable to Cleopatra as she declares: “I have nothing of woman in me: now from head to foot I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon. No planet is of mine” - Act V scene II.
Disdainful of how she influenced two of their most powerful leaders, they also feared her, a woman, being in a high position of power which severely didn't abide by their beliefs of superiority. "All our current knowledge of Cleopatra comes from enemy sources. The Romans here scornful of her and wanted to portray her as this sexy little thing," El Daly, Egyptologist at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at University College London, says. Writings of her and Marc Antony's defeat had often put her in the position of blame, as they were from Roman writers. She was vilified by Augustan poets, made a beautiful, bewitching foreign queen.
Discuss Shakespeare 's Use of Imagery in Othello to Reveal Character A lack of empathy makes for a true villain. In Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello, the nature of Iago’s character is revealed through the use of animal, plant, and devil imagery. Iago is revealed to view others as less than him, manipulating them with a lack of conscience, and having a desire for the destruction of others.
As the name Cleopatra is widely known among us, how many of us truly knows the tale of her life besides the queen title and her great beauty? Joseph L. Mankiewics’s feast “Cleopatra” in 1963 may give you some ideas about the glamorous yet tragic life of the last ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. The film has succeeded in demonstrating many historical aspects, especially the mighty ambitious Cleopatra, yet still has some inaccuracies which all will now be discussed. The film accurately portrayed most of the historical details, from the triumph to the tragedy of Cleopatra.
When Cleopatra meets Octavius Caesar, she represents all the Egyptians and kneels in his presence. Caesar after regaining his power over Egypt and after proving the victory of the Roman masculinity over the Egyptian femininity shows his Roman virtues and his mercifulness by requesting from "Egypt" not to kneel: "Caesar. Arise, you shall not kneel: / I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt" (V. ii. 112 – 13), but Cleopatra knows the God's will and accepts her position as a servant by telling Octavius that: "Cleopatra. Sir, the gods / Will have it thus; my master and my lord / I must obey" (V. ii. 114 – 15). The dialogue between Octavius Caesar and Cleopatra shows the ideology of the imperial Shakespeare who represents Octavius as merciful and at the same time strict, so he treats Cleopatra
Shakespeare with ease, has condensed Plutarch's account of eleven years of Antony’s history into a swift moving plot, compacted with intense sensibility, showcasing the deep personalities of all the main characters, relating their love story in the most compelling poetic drama. Shakespeare also describes Antony’s kindness and how popular he was with and among his men, all while cutting out the suggestions of Cleopatra’s disloyalty. Shakespeare even creates actions by Octavius Caesar helping to increase our sympathy for the lovers. Strangely, during his desire for a high pace moving plot, he neglected to mention that Antony did indeed stay with his wife of 4 years Octavia before ever returning to Cleopatra. Also, from a Senator who is mentioned twice in Plutarch work, Shakespeare comes up with the character Enobarbus,who is a key figure in the play.
