pharsaliamphilippos's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexdibo's review against another edition
3.0
It had its highs and its lows. Am I a terrible person for being glad when Cleopatra died? She was a flip-flopper till the very end.
sdcunningham96's review against another edition
A sequel (kinda) to 'Julius Cesar' features the return of Antony!
Antony and Cleopatra are madly in love. Yay! But that means that Antony has been more relaxed with his duties more than normal (read: outright ignoring them) because he's just so starstruck!
But that means he ignores the fact than when in Rome, his third wife Fulvia rebelled against Octavius and died.
So Octavius calls Antony back to Rome from Alexandria to help him fight against Sextus Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, three notorious pirates from the Mediterranean. Favors because of war, basically. Cleopatra says “Don’t go!” but…he actually does. Wow.
In Rome turns out that Antony and Octavius don’t see eye to eye anymore. Seeing how this could lead to bad things, Octavius' general, Agrippa, suggests that Antony should marry Octavius's sister, Octavia, in order to cement the friendly bond between the two men.
Marriage=Less likely to kill you.
Antony accepts and agrees to marry Octavius’s sister.
Antony's lieutenant Enobarbus doesn’t think will end well (it won’t) and talks about how Cleopatra is perfect. Famous passage: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety: other women cloy / The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry / Where most she satisfies." (this is about Cleo).
A soothsayer warns Antony that he is sure to lose if he ever tries to fight Octavius.
In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage to Octavia and is mad. She’s only in an “even mood” when her courtiers assure her that Octavia is ugly: short, low-browed, round-faced and with bad hair.
Antony and the gang parley with Sextus Pompey. If Sextus Pompey helps them "rid the sea of pirates" and send them tributes, he’ll get Sicily and Sardinia (Which he already has). Sextus agrees.
At a drunken celebration on Sextus' galley, Octavius leaves early and sober. After Antony departs Rome for Athens, Octavius and Lepidus break their truce with Sextus and kills him the next day anyway. Antony is furious.
Antony returns home and him and Cleopatra s rulers of Egypt and the eastern third of the Roman Republic (which was Antony's share as one of the OG Team made up of him, Octavius, and this other guy called Lepidus). Antony is mad that Octavius didn’t give him his fair share of the lands and he imprisoned Ledidus so he could have all the land for himself.
Antony prepares to battle Octavius. Enobarbus urges Antony to fight on land, where he has the advantage, instead of by sea, where the navy of Octavius is lighter, more mobile and better manned. Antony refuses, since Octavius has dared him to fight at sea. (no flags there, huh, Antony?)
Cleopatra pledges her fleet to aid Antony.
During the Battle of Actium) off the western coast of Greece, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships, and Antony follows her, leaving Antony’s forces to ruin. Antony is mad at Cleo, but she just looks at him and he goes, "Give me a kiss; even this repays me."
Octavius sends a messenger to ask Cleopatra to give up Antony and come over to his side. She flirts with the messenger, when Antony walks in and angrily denounces her behavior. He sends the messenger to be whipped. Eventually, he forgives Cleopatra (he gives her so many chances, but that’s what you sign up for when your Cleo’s boy toy) and pledges to fight another battle for her, this time on land.
On the eve of the battle, Antony's soldiers hear strange portents, which they interpret as the god Hercules abounding his protection of Antony. Furthermore, Enobarbus, Antony's long-serving lieutenant, deserts him and goes over to Octavius' side.
Rather than confiscating Enobarbus' goods, which Enobarbus did not take with him when he ditched, Antony orders them to be sent to Enobarbus. Enobarbus is so overwhelmed by Antony's generosity, and so ashamed of his own disloyalty, that he dies from a broken heart.
Antony loses the battle. He denounces Cleopatra: "This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me." He resolves to kill her for the treachery. Cleopatra decides that the only way to win back Antony's love is to send him word that she killed herself, dying with his name on her lips. She locks herself in her monument, and awaits Antony's return.
Rather than rushing back in remorse to see the "dead" Cleopatra, Antony decides that his own life is no longer worth living. He begs one of his aides, Eros, to run him through with a sword, but Eros cannot bear to do it and kills himself. Antony admires Eros' courage and attempts to do the same, but only succeeds in wounding himself. In great pain, he learns that Cleopatra is indeed alive. He is hoisted up to her in her monument and dies in her arms.
Great plan, Cleo.
Octavius tries to persuade Cleo to surrender. She refuses since she can imagine nothing worse than being led in chains through the streets of Rome, proclaimed a villain for the ages. "…the quick comedians / Extemporally will stage us, and present / Our Alexandrian revels: Antony / Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see / Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness / I' th' posture of a whore."
Shakespeare’s doing that irony thing he likes so much again.
Cleopatra is betrayed and taken into custody by the Romans. She gives Octavius ‘all her money’ but her treasurer gives him the stuff she hid. Octavius reassures Cleo he’s not interested in her wealth, but Dolabella warns Cleo that he intends to march her through the streets as a prize.
Cleo kill herself.
Her serving maids Iras and Charmian also die (Iras from heartbreak, the second time that happens in this play, and Charmian from another asp.
Octavius discovers the dead bodies and is like “Well, I’m the first Roman Emperor. Best not start off on a bad foot!” and gives them both a public military funeral.
So Cleo’s scheming backfires, but she’s self-assured. Her decisions aren’t great, but she’s the one whose making them
Antony is an idiot. A charming one (see Julius Cesar), but an idiot.
Octavius is the Godfather of ancient Rome
Antony and Cleopatra are madly in love. Yay! But that means that Antony has been more relaxed with his duties more than normal (read: outright ignoring them) because he's just so starstruck!
But that means he ignores the fact than when in Rome, his third wife Fulvia rebelled against Octavius and died.
So Octavius calls Antony back to Rome from Alexandria to help him fight against Sextus Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, three notorious pirates from the Mediterranean. Favors because of war, basically. Cleopatra says “Don’t go!” but…he actually does. Wow.
In Rome turns out that Antony and Octavius don’t see eye to eye anymore. Seeing how this could lead to bad things, Octavius' general, Agrippa, suggests that Antony should marry Octavius's sister, Octavia, in order to cement the friendly bond between the two men.
Marriage=Less likely to kill you.
Antony accepts and agrees to marry Octavius’s sister.
Antony's lieutenant Enobarbus doesn’t think will end well (it won’t) and talks about how Cleopatra is perfect. Famous passage: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety: other women cloy / The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry / Where most she satisfies." (this is about Cleo).
A soothsayer warns Antony that he is sure to lose if he ever tries to fight Octavius.
In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage to Octavia and is mad. She’s only in an “even mood” when her courtiers assure her that Octavia is ugly: short, low-browed, round-faced and with bad hair.
Antony and the gang parley with Sextus Pompey. If Sextus Pompey helps them "rid the sea of pirates" and send them tributes, he’ll get Sicily and Sardinia (Which he already has). Sextus agrees.
At a drunken celebration on Sextus' galley, Octavius leaves early and sober. After Antony departs Rome for Athens, Octavius and Lepidus break their truce with Sextus and kills him the next day anyway. Antony is furious.
Antony returns home and him and Cleopatra s rulers of Egypt and the eastern third of the Roman Republic (which was Antony's share as one of the OG Team made up of him, Octavius, and this other guy called Lepidus). Antony is mad that Octavius didn’t give him his fair share of the lands and he imprisoned Ledidus so he could have all the land for himself.
Antony prepares to battle Octavius. Enobarbus urges Antony to fight on land, where he has the advantage, instead of by sea, where the navy of Octavius is lighter, more mobile and better manned. Antony refuses, since Octavius has dared him to fight at sea. (no flags there, huh, Antony?)
Cleopatra pledges her fleet to aid Antony.
During the Battle of Actium) off the western coast of Greece, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships, and Antony follows her, leaving Antony’s forces to ruin. Antony is mad at Cleo, but she just looks at him and he goes, "Give me a kiss; even this repays me."
Octavius sends a messenger to ask Cleopatra to give up Antony and come over to his side. She flirts with the messenger, when Antony walks in and angrily denounces her behavior. He sends the messenger to be whipped. Eventually, he forgives Cleopatra (he gives her so many chances, but that’s what you sign up for when your Cleo’s boy toy) and pledges to fight another battle for her, this time on land.
On the eve of the battle, Antony's soldiers hear strange portents, which they interpret as the god Hercules abounding his protection of Antony. Furthermore, Enobarbus, Antony's long-serving lieutenant, deserts him and goes over to Octavius' side.
Rather than confiscating Enobarbus' goods, which Enobarbus did not take with him when he ditched, Antony orders them to be sent to Enobarbus. Enobarbus is so overwhelmed by Antony's generosity, and so ashamed of his own disloyalty, that he dies from a broken heart.
Antony loses the battle. He denounces Cleopatra: "This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me." He resolves to kill her for the treachery. Cleopatra decides that the only way to win back Antony's love is to send him word that she killed herself, dying with his name on her lips. She locks herself in her monument, and awaits Antony's return.
Rather than rushing back in remorse to see the "dead" Cleopatra, Antony decides that his own life is no longer worth living. He begs one of his aides, Eros, to run him through with a sword, but Eros cannot bear to do it and kills himself. Antony admires Eros' courage and attempts to do the same, but only succeeds in wounding himself. In great pain, he learns that Cleopatra is indeed alive. He is hoisted up to her in her monument and dies in her arms.
Great plan, Cleo.
Octavius tries to persuade Cleo to surrender. She refuses since she can imagine nothing worse than being led in chains through the streets of Rome, proclaimed a villain for the ages. "…the quick comedians / Extemporally will stage us, and present / Our Alexandrian revels: Antony / Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see / Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness / I' th' posture of a whore."
Shakespeare’s doing that irony thing he likes so much again.
Cleopatra is betrayed and taken into custody by the Romans. She gives Octavius ‘all her money’ but her treasurer gives him the stuff she hid. Octavius reassures Cleo he’s not interested in her wealth, but Dolabella warns Cleo that he intends to march her through the streets as a prize.
Cleo kill herself.
Her serving maids Iras and Charmian also die (Iras from heartbreak, the second time that happens in this play, and Charmian from another asp.
Octavius discovers the dead bodies and is like “Well, I’m the first Roman Emperor. Best not start off on a bad foot!” and gives them both a public military funeral.
So Cleo’s scheming backfires, but she’s self-assured. Her decisions aren’t great, but she’s the one whose making them
Antony is an idiot. A charming one (see Julius Cesar), but an idiot.
Octavius is the Godfather of ancient Rome
benjfleck's review against another edition
3.0
Antony and Cleopatra: Or, Love Hath Broughteth Wareth
Could Antony and Cleopatra be a story of the first love triangle-ish?? This play is not funny. It's a drama. More of a historical, political play. It's pretty tragic and full of anger and war. But it brings in some great complex characters, particularly the enigma that is Cleopatra. Despite her interesting and complex character, the play is a bit of a slog to get through and seeing it on stage would definitely be more intriguing than reading it.
The ultimate star-cross'd lovers... was their "affair" really at the heart of the Roman discord and wars? Caesar, whaddya say?
Could Antony and Cleopatra be a story of the first love triangle-ish?? This play is not funny. It's a drama. More of a historical, political play. It's pretty tragic and full of anger and war. But it brings in some great complex characters, particularly the enigma that is Cleopatra. Despite her interesting and complex character, the play is a bit of a slog to get through and seeing it on stage would definitely be more intriguing than reading it.
The ultimate star-cross'd lovers... was their "affair" really at the heart of the Roman discord and wars? Caesar, whaddya say?
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
2.0
One of my goals recently was to read 5 Shakespeare plays that I had not read. Since my undergrad degree is in English Literature, I have read the major works and knew that I would not have the most interesting ones to choose from. Antony and Cleopatra reinforced that point. It is Shakespeare's 2nd longest play (after the vastly superior Hamlet) and could have done with some serious editing in the middle. In many ways, to quote Shakespeare, it is the story of two people "who loved not wisely but too well." I liked Cleopatra better than Antony -- she at least had one theme and stuck to it, instead of going back and forth between wanting to make war, wanting to make peace, and wanting to just make love to Cleo the way Antony did. So far, this is my least favorite of all of Shakespeare's plays, even ranking below Taming of the Shrew.
yasmoony_'s review against another edition
5.0
I struggled at the beginning; it was rather difficult to get into, but my god is it worth it. I am speechless… I have no words. Just… wow. This play was exhausting and emotionally draining and I am in awe. Bravo, Shakespeare. There are lines in this play that will perhaps stay with me forever.
melaniecoenraad's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really hated how a lot of the story revolved around Cleopatra’s decisions (such as fleeing the fight TWICE) yet her motives are never explained. Make it make sense