Synopses & Reviews
In this extraordinary play, one of Shakespeare's finest tragedies, a once-great general finds himself torn between his duty to the Roman Empire and his passionate attachment to Cleopatra, the alluring "Queen of the Nile." In depicting the collision of two contrasting cultures—Antony's world of political conniving and the hedonistic pleasures of Cleopatra's court—the playwright portrays a timeless paradox of human nature, the quest for seemingly irreconcilable goals.
The action of the play ranges from Alexandria and Rome to Syria and Athens, from the rugged quarters of military camps to the luxurious atmosphere of the Egyptian court. In the latter milieu Antony lingers, shamed by his overwhelming passion for Cleopatra yet irresistibly drawn toward love as a source of vitality and renewal. After ignoring increasingly urgent demands by his co-ruler, Octavius Caesar, for his return to Rome, Antony reluctantly obeys at last, marrying Octavius's sister and forming a fragile political alliance. This bond shatters when he returns to Cleopatra's side. Octavius declares war on the lovers, forcing them into a battle for world domination with dramatic and lasting consequences.
Dover (2014) republication of a standard edition.
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Synopsis
The legendary romance between an irresistible siren and great general comes to dramatic life in one of Shakespeare's most powerful tragedies. Fascinating characterizations of a pair of historys most charismatic lovers, fast-paced action in scenes throughout the far-flung Roman Empire, and peerless poetry make this immortal drama a must for students of the theater and literature.
Synopsis
Legendary lovers come to life in Shakespeare's gripping tragedy about the conflict of love and duty.
Synopsis
Legendary lovers come to dramatic life in Shakespeare's gripping tragedy about the conflict of love and duty. Brilliant characterizations, fast-paced action in exotic locales, and matchless poetry combine for a timeless tale.
About the Author
"He was not of an age, but for all time," declared Ben Jonson of his contemporary William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Jonson's praise is especially prescient, since at the turn of the 17th century Shakespeare was but one of many popular London playwrights and none of his dramas were printed in his lifetime. The reason so many of his works survive is because two of his actor friends, with the assistance of Jonson, assembled and published the First Folio edition of 1623.