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chrisdech's review against another edition
4.0
In the introduction to this edition, it is noted that Antony and Cleopatra has some distinctly comedic elements to it while still being a tragedy. That is not something I can disagree with, for I did find myself openly laughing early in the play. Shakespeare, as always, still manages to balance tension and pacing with beautiful strokes.
When it comes to Shakespeare's Roman plays, I find it a little difficult to fight my biases towards Roman history. At the same time, however, knowing the history helps, I feel, to add to the dramatics within the story. In a way, it adds to the stakes. For example, in Julius Caesar, the events of that play directly lead to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. So too does this play balance that transitional era, but on a different level. In the former, Brutus fights a conflict between his trust and faith in Caesar with his duty and patriotism for the Republic. In the latter, Antony must choose between his love for Cleopatra or his duty to the Republic and the Triumvirate. And, given the compression of dates and events, I think that makes it all the more dramatic.
I find the characters of Antony and Cleopatra charming: their doomed romance and codependency is beautiful even though the reader/viewer knows they will both die. And one is certainly shown how much they love and depend on one another to a fault, which makes it all the sadder that their story could not have gone any other way.
Perhaps my one gripe with this play is the parts regarding Sextus Pompeius, but that was crucial to showing the crumbling of the Second Triumvirate, so I'll give that a pass. And, besides that, most of the characters besides the title lovers, Enobarbus, Augustus, and Dolabella are really sort of boring in a way that other side characters in other plays are not.
8/10, skill issue, Antony had it coming.
When it comes to Shakespeare's Roman plays, I find it a little difficult to fight my biases towards Roman history. At the same time, however, knowing the history helps, I feel, to add to the dramatics within the story. In a way, it adds to the stakes. For example, in Julius Caesar, the events of that play directly lead to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. So too does this play balance that transitional era, but on a different level. In the former, Brutus fights a conflict between his trust and faith in Caesar with his duty and patriotism for the Republic. In the latter, Antony must choose between his love for Cleopatra or his duty to the Republic and the Triumvirate. And, given the compression of dates and events, I think that makes it all the more dramatic.
I find the characters of Antony and Cleopatra charming: their doomed romance and codependency is beautiful even though the reader/viewer knows they will both die. And one is certainly shown how much they love and depend on one another to a fault, which makes it all the sadder that their story could not have gone any other way.
Perhaps my one gripe with this play is the parts regarding Sextus Pompeius, but that was crucial to showing the crumbling of the Second Triumvirate, so I'll give that a pass. And, besides that, most of the characters besides the title lovers, Enobarbus, Augustus, and Dolabella are really sort of boring in a way that other side characters in other plays are not.
8/10, skill issue, Antony had it coming.
sugarpop's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jasmine444's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lattelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This play, while engaging and informative, does take some effort to read. I'm always a fan of Shakespeare, and reading his Roman plays for a class has been very fun. Cleopatra, while a strong and manipulative character, has just as many problems as Antony does. There is an interesting dichotomy between "the West" and "the East," considering it was written before colonialism. There are many other fun parallels and dichotomies that I enjoy learning about and analyzing.
jameskeates's review against another edition
3.0
WATCH THE PLAY!
Despite Julius Caesar being one of my favourite plays, I don't seem to get this almost sequel. Perhaps the serious Brutus is more relatable to me than the debauched Antony! Another factor might be that I spread the reading over a few nights, so perhaps worth a re-read at some point.
Despite Julius Caesar being one of my favourite plays, I don't seem to get this almost sequel. Perhaps the serious Brutus is more relatable to me than the debauched Antony! Another factor might be that I spread the reading over a few nights, so perhaps worth a re-read at some point.
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/antony-and-cleopatra/
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/antony-and-cleopatra/
aidaninasia's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, I preferred Julius Caesar, though still found this entertaining. Definitely one for The Romantics out there.
I think much like in The Merchant of Venice, where Portia is the most intelligent, strong and overall the real main character; so is Cleopatra. Though unlike TMoV, sadly Cleopatra does not get much stage time as Portia.
I think much like in The Merchant of Venice, where Portia is the most intelligent, strong and overall the real main character; so is Cleopatra. Though unlike TMoV, sadly Cleopatra does not get much stage time as Portia.
raiimundo97's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
marysasala's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t enjoy this as much as Julius Caesar. Again, I didn’t realize how much of the mystique of these stories comes from Shakespeare
joannaautumn's review against another edition
2.0
Pre-review rant #1: I am still trying to wrap my head around this play. What was the point of this play, any point I had tried to find seemed meek at best and I sense no Oxford / Cambridge introduction will be able to change my mind.
You know what? The day had come when I did not like a Shakespeare play. There is a first time for everything in life and this is one of those moments. Review to come.
You know what? The day had come when I did not like a Shakespeare play. There is a first time for everything in life and this is one of those moments. Review to come.