They can let students think a histrionic Cleopatra will be abjectly heartbroken if Antony leaves, as our Modern English leads many of us to understand. (1.2.119-131)Īt this point, if we venture into the schoolroom, teachers of Shakespeare have an important choice to make for their pupils. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying. I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. Cleopatra catching but the least noise of this dies instantly. It were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing. Under a compelling occasion let women die. We see how mortal an unkindness is to them if they suffer our departure.ĮNOBARBUS. Enter his friend and follower, Enobarbus, who doesn’t yet know of Fulvia’s death – only of Cleopatra’s, in an Elizabethan manner of speaking.ĮNOBARBUS. (I do not recommend you invite Shakespeare to your grandmother’s funeral.)Īntony grieves the news (briefly) and determines to “from this enchanting queen break off” (1.2.117) by returning to Rome. Ever irreverent, Shakespeare takes immediate advantage of this sad occasion for some very naughty wordplay. One of the triumvirs of a tumescent empire, shall we say, Antony has been luxuriating in Alexandria with Cleopatra, much to the neglect of his responsibilities and Romanness – not to mention his wife, Fulvia, who he learns has suddenly died. Further developing this theme, the play also rewards audiences with some of its strong language – here, centered on taboo topics of sex and genitalia. ![]() ![]() The play, no doubt, continues to reward viewers and readers with its complicated and sexualized construction of power and politics in the “infinite variety” (2.2.241) of its leading lady, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. I read the play for the first time a few weeks back as part of my ongoing effort, as you may now be well familiar, to take on Shakespeare’s corpus this year 400 years after his death – and boy, is this some hot stuff. No, simply go to your bookshelf, theater, laptop, or wherever you consume masterpieces of English drama and check out one of Shakespeare’s most tragic – and erotic – love stories, Antony and Cleopatra. You want to hear a dirty joke? You don’t have to go to a schoolyard, locker room, comedy club, or even a Republican presidential debate.
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