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757 reviews for:
Antony And Cleopatra: An Extraordinary Tale of fiction Drama By William Shakespeare (Annotated)
William Shakespeare
3.56 AVERAGE
757 reviews for:
Antony And Cleopatra: An Extraordinary Tale of fiction Drama By William Shakespeare (Annotated)
William Shakespeare
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent prose, but slightly less subtly handled tragedy than I'm used to from Shakespeare.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Shakespeare defiantly took liberties with the historic source material considering that the real-life Cleopatra and Antony had their personalities completely inversed for this play. But God forbid a 16th century play depicted an idiot emotional man with a capable intelligent woman in contrast.
But ignoring how inaccurate the play is, I'll judge it on the content. It's okay-ish. To me it's not one of Shakespeare's best and probably the weakest of his histories and tragedies. Julius Ceaser (The sort of prequel) was by far superior to this play. While the dialogue is beautiful (because it's Shakespeare come on), it gets kind of repetitive with its ideas and themes, I felt this could have been a shorter play, but perhaps Shakespeare wanted it to be his next epic or something.
Antony seems more annoyed with Cleopatra than anything, it makes you wonder what he sees in her, he's constantly complaining about her (and every woman in general) and I don't feel a romance between them at all. Cleopatra just feels like she's desperate for love, and it feels more pathetic for her to obsess over a man that clearly disrespects her. Like mentioned before, it's the opposite in the actual history.
I can't feel a tragedy for them because to me their relationship just comes off as toxic which makes it hard for me to feel bad that they can't be together.
All in all, just not a favorite, as both a reader and history nerd.
But ignoring how inaccurate the play is, I'll judge it on the content. It's okay-ish. To me it's not one of Shakespeare's best and probably the weakest of his histories and tragedies. Julius Ceaser (The sort of prequel) was by far superior to this play. While the dialogue is beautiful (because it's Shakespeare come on), it gets kind of repetitive with its ideas and themes, I felt this could have been a shorter play, but perhaps Shakespeare wanted it to be his next epic or something.
Antony seems more annoyed with Cleopatra than anything, it makes you wonder what he sees in her, he's constantly complaining about her (and every woman in general) and I don't feel a romance between them at all. Cleopatra just feels like she's desperate for love, and it feels more pathetic for her to obsess over a man that clearly disrespects her. Like mentioned before, it's the opposite in the actual history.
I can't feel a tragedy for them because to me their relationship just comes off as toxic which makes it hard for me to feel bad that they can't be together.
All in all, just not a favorite, as both a reader and history nerd.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“I will piece her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East, say though, shall call her mistress.”
Shakespeare will you ever not cook???? Antony and Cleopatra is a mix of his tragic comedies. The story is ultimately of tragedy but there is so much humor throughout. These characters are some of the messiest, manipulative, gaslighting people ever but what do we expect from the Roman Empire! Next time someone asks how often do you think of the Roman Empire test their wills against my boy Shakespeare.
Antony’s love for Cleopatra had no bounds as he told her. It kept him from important Roman business, clouded his judgement so often (I mean imagine leaving your boys in battle to run after your girl?!?!, and was ultimately a huge part in his demise. His love was so destructive to himself perhaps because his love was mostly a matter of lust and reckless passion. Not once in the play can you really grasp if Antony and Cleopatra truly held true love for one another. Because this tragedy plays a lot with loyally and betrayal not just between our main protagonists but within every character. Antony deserts his first wife Fulvia for Cleopatra & then marries Octavia (Caesars sister whom he adores) even knowing he will always go to Cleopatra. He leaves his men in battle and during the battles with Pompey he left many duties to Octavius. He betrays and is disloyal often all the while consistently fearing Cleopatra is betraying him romantically and politically. But as I said many of the characters face these dilemmas of loyalty to their self interests/honor against each other. Cleopatra often seems to be scheming and manipulating Antony (one instance she’s catching fish and claims it as catching and toying with Antony). Octavius turns against Antony soon after their victory against Pompey. Enobarbus struggles with him loyalty to Antony due to him acting reckless and not being of right mind with Cleopatra. Shakespeare did not make any character wholly innocent of betrayal. In a politically heavy landscape such as this it’s not surprising. Their loyalties ebb and flow as they all attempt to strategize and manipulate their way to power and safety. It’s a story as old as time. And I think Valentine from Two Gentlemen of Verona was true when he said “Love is your master, for he masters you. And he that is so yoked by a fool, methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.”
Shakespeare will you ever not cook???? Antony and Cleopatra is a mix of his tragic comedies. The story is ultimately of tragedy but there is so much humor throughout. These characters are some of the messiest, manipulative, gaslighting people ever but what do we expect from the Roman Empire! Next time someone asks how often do you think of the Roman Empire test their wills against my boy Shakespeare.
Antony’s love for Cleopatra had no bounds as he told her. It kept him from important Roman business, clouded his judgement so often (I mean imagine leaving your boys in battle to run after your girl?!?!, and was ultimately a huge part in his demise. His love was so destructive to himself perhaps because his love was mostly a matter of lust and reckless passion. Not once in the play can you really grasp if Antony and Cleopatra truly held true love for one another. Because this tragedy plays a lot with loyally and betrayal not just between our main protagonists but within every character. Antony deserts his first wife Fulvia for Cleopatra & then marries Octavia (Caesars sister whom he adores) even knowing he will always go to Cleopatra. He leaves his men in battle and during the battles with Pompey he left many duties to Octavius. He betrays and is disloyal often all the while consistently fearing Cleopatra is betraying him romantically and politically. But as I said many of the characters face these dilemmas of loyalty to their self interests/honor against each other. Cleopatra often seems to be scheming and manipulating Antony (one instance she’s catching fish and claims it as catching and toying with Antony). Octavius turns against Antony soon after their victory against Pompey. Enobarbus struggles with him loyalty to Antony due to him acting reckless and not being of right mind with Cleopatra. Shakespeare did not make any character wholly innocent of betrayal. In a politically heavy landscape such as this it’s not surprising. Their loyalties ebb and flow as they all attempt to strategize and manipulate their way to power and safety. It’s a story as old as time. And I think Valentine from Two Gentlemen of Verona was true when he said “Love is your master, for he masters you. And he that is so yoked by a fool, methinks, should not be chronicled for wise.”