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Reviews
Antonio e Cleopatra by Cynthia Marshall, Paul Werstine, Barbara A. Mowat, William Shakespeare
jessicathedestroyer's review against another edition
3.0
Like most Shakespeare this is amazing. But it isn't my favorite play. Still worth the read.
bythunder's review against another edition
4.0
Cleopatra I’m free on Thursday to hang out so hang out with me on Thursday when I am free
gameoftomes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Doesn’t come across with the great Shakespearean wit when merely read (3/5 stars) but is electric and riveting when seen with a good cast (5/5 stars).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, and War
chris_dech'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.
quincunxes's review against another edition
5.0
Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear,
lady?
If from the field I shall return once more
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood ;
I and my sword will earn our chronicle :
There's hope in't yet.
III.II.172
To me always the greatest love story. Because I love him and her both so much.
lady?
If from the field I shall return once more
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood ;
I and my sword will earn our chronicle :
There's hope in't yet.
III.II.172
To me always the greatest love story. Because I love him and her both so much.
readlikeanerd's review against another edition
4.0
I'm very tempted to give this three stars, and I think overall I'd say three and a half, but I think that the more I study it (I'm looking at it in college) the more I'll be willing to stick to four.
I really enjoyed reading it, but there were a lot of seemingly unnecessary characters which made it slightly confusing for me, and the focus on war seemed to be too much in parts that it distracted from the main plot of Anthony and Cleopatra. However, reading it makes me really want to watch a performance of it, because I think that would make it easier for me to follow and enjoy.
The characters were easy to both like and hate at times. I actually really liked Cleopatra; and her deceiving ways, though daft at times, made the plot more interesting. Antony was quite annoying in some of his reactions and decisions, despite all the characters praising him for being so wonderful, and most of the time appeared to bring his own downfall. The interaction between these two characters held my intrigue and encouraged me to read through Caesar's sections, which didn't interest me as much. I couldn't help but compare it to Hamlet though, which I adored, and my expectations may have also slightly hindered my initial view, but despite my reservations, I have to love the language of Shakespeare.
I really enjoyed reading it, but there were a lot of seemingly unnecessary characters which made it slightly confusing for me, and the focus on war seemed to be too much in parts that it distracted from the main plot of Anthony and Cleopatra. However, reading it makes me really want to watch a performance of it, because I think that would make it easier for me to follow and enjoy.
The characters were easy to both like and hate at times. I actually really liked Cleopatra; and her deceiving ways, though daft at times, made the plot more interesting. Antony was quite annoying in some of his reactions and decisions, despite all the characters praising him for being so wonderful, and most of the time appeared to bring his own downfall. The interaction between these two characters held my intrigue and encouraged me to read through Caesar's sections, which didn't interest me as much. I couldn't help but compare it to Hamlet though, which I adored, and my expectations may have also slightly hindered my initial view, but despite my reservations, I have to love the language of Shakespeare.
anastasiadreaming's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A melodramatic tragedy exploring fate, honour, manipulation, and power.
manonpalmer's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
martine3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hailskp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The ending picked up for me. It’s a treat to read Shakespeare before seeing it live. Cleopatra is definitely the best character as she deals with Shakespearean time fuckboy Antony!