Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra (1607) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Inspired by Thomas North’s translation of Plutarch’s Lives—a series of biographies on influential figures of the ancient world—Shakespeare wrote Antony and Cleopatra sometime between 1599 and 1601. Often considered a sequel of sorts to his earlier play Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra has served as source material for countless film and television adaptations. “Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.” For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. As the Roman Republic faces threats both foreign and domestic, Mark Antony—a triumvir alongside Lepidus and Octavius—abandons his duties to remain in Alexandria with his lover, Queen Cleopatra of Egypt. When the demands of state become impossible to ignore any longer, he returns to Rome. There, he is encouraged to marry Octavia, the sister of his fellow ruler. At the risk of rupturing their fragile relationship, he consents, enraging Cleopatra. As conflict with Octavius forces Antony out of the triumvirate, he returns to his lover to rule over Egypt. But Rome and revenge are never too far away. This edition of William Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

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