Context - Antony and Cleopatra

Jacobean audience would not like Cleopatra - she defies social expectations
1. Shakespeare makes her a 'typical woman' when she leaves the battle to please the audience
2. Cleopatra would be seen as the 'other woman'/ Femme Fetale
Enobarbus recognises Cleopatra as the puppeteer
1. He spells it out for the audience - honest character
2. Gives the audience a reality check
3. More human - betrays Antony but redeems himself
Cleopatra links to Elizabeth I
1. Elizabeth named James I as her heir
2. Rules country well - strength and power
3. Egypt is strong and has no issues but is seen as flawed/too free
4. Elizabeth I did not marry as men had more power
  1. Manipulated men, as did Cleopatra
  2. Cleopatra married Caesar and had a son
    1. Doesn't care about power, just wants to be in Egypt and be free/happy
Jacobean - warning to James I
1. Find a balance between Rome and Egypt/political and fun
  1. Cleopatra
    1. Roman/honourable legacy
    2. Egyptian lifestyle
2. First time England and Scotland were ruled by one person
  1. Caesar
Suicide - honourable for Romans
1. Antony got someone else to kill him but his servant instead committed suicide
  1. Servant is more honourable
  2. Antony tried to kill himself and it still didn't work
    1. No honour/not entirely respected
2. Cleopatra used an asp
  1. Tactical and raises questions
    1. Suicide vs accident vs murder
  2. Still talked about in death
3. Caesar told Cleopatra not to commit suicide
  1. He would have to honour her death not his reign
  2. Cleopatra decided her own fate and is honoured for it

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Context - Antony and Cleopatra

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	Created by Ameira Yanni over 8 years ago