Antony and Cleopatra

Scholars have suggested that Cleopatra is one of William Shakespeare’s most complex and powerful female characters, while others see her as a sexualized object. Analyze Cleopatra’s role in the narrative. Is she depicted as a powerful leader, a manipulative seductress, or a mixture of both? Use evidence from the text to explain your argument.

Egypt and Rome are set up as opposite societies in the play. How is each one depicted, and what is the significance of each? Does Shakespeare seem to portray one society as better or worthier of victory, or is there ambiguity in the portrayal of both?

When Antony and Cleopatra was originally performed, all roles would have been played by male actors, with the character of Cleopatra being portrayed by a younger boy. How might that context change your view of the treatment of gender transgression throughout the play? How does the play explore notions of masculinity and femininity more generally?