Context - Antony and Cleopatra

Context - Antony and Cleopatra

1. Jacobean audience would not like Cleopatra - she defies social expectations

   • Shakespeare makes her a 'typical woman' when she leaves the battle to please the audience
   • Cleopatra would be seen as the 'other woman'/ Femme Fetale

2. Enobarbus recognises Cleopatra as the puppeteer

   • He spells it out for the audience - honest character
   • Gives the audience a reality check
   • More human - betrays Antony but redeems himself

3. Cleopatra links to Elizabeth I

   • Elizabeth named James I as her heir
   • Rules country well - strength and power
   • Egypt is strong and has no issues but is seen as flawed/too free
   • Elizabeth I did not marry as men had more power
     • Manipulated men, as did Cleopatra
     • Cleopatra married Caesar and had a son
       • Doesn't care about power, just wants to be in Egypt and be free/happy

4. Jacobean - warning to James I

   • Find a balance between Rome and Egypt/political and fun
     • Cleopatra
       • Roman/honourable legacy
       • Egyptian lifestyle
   • First time England and Scotland were ruled by one person
     • Caesar

5. Suicide - honourable for Romans

   • Antony got someone else to kill him but his servant instead committed suicide
     • Servant is more honourable
     • Antony tried to kill himself and it still didn't work
       • No honour/not entirely respected
   • Cleopatra used an asp
     • Tactical and raises questions
       • Suicide vs accident vs murder
     • Still talked about in death
   • Caesar told Cleopatra not to commit suicide
     • He would have to honour her death not his reign
     • Cleopatra decided her own fate and is honoured for it