Résumé
Résumé de Antoine et Cléopâtre
À qui s’adresse-t-il ?
For readers who love stories where love and politics pull against each other, and anyone drawn to Shakespeare's Roman world, rival rulers and the clash between private feeling and public power.
De quoi parle ce livre ?
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, written around 1606 and first printed in the First Folio of 1623. It draws on the life of Plutarch's Mark Antony, as told in Sir Thomas North's English version of Plutarch. The play follows the last years of a Roman general and the Queen of Egypt, whose love collides with the demands of empire.
If you pick it up, you get a play that moves fast. It jumps between Alexandria and Rome, between a court of feasting and a world of armies, and it never settles into one mood. Love, politics, comedy and grief sit side by side. In the next part, we meet Antony in Egypt, and hear what Rome thinks of him.
Dans ce résumé
- 1Rome Watches Antony Lose HimselfFree
- 2Egypt and Rome Pull in Opposite Ways
- 3A Marriage Is Made to Keep the Peace
- 4Pompey, Politics and a Fragile Peace
- 5Antony Returns to Cleopatra and Pays for It
- 6Loyalty Breaks and Honour Is Tested
- 7What the Play Says About Love and Power
- 8How Shakespeare Tells It: Speed, Poetry and Contrasts
Point clé 1 sur 8
Rome Watches Antony Lose Himself
The play opens in Alexandria, where Philo, a Roman soldier, complains about his general. Mark Antony, once a great commander, now seems to be a servant to the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra. Philo says Antony has turned from a warrior into a lover who has no mind for his duties.
Antony and Cleopatra then enter, and the scene proves Philo half right. They tease each other and speak in huge terms about love. Antony refuses at first to hear messengers from Rome, as if the empire were a minor matter.
But the news is serious. Antony's wife Fulvia and his brother have raised a revolt against Octavius Caesar, and Pompey, a rival, is gaining strength at sea. Antony understands that he cannot stay.
From its first scene, the play sets two worlds against each other. Egypt is warm, playful and sensual. Rome is cold, ordered and watchful. Every choice Antony makes will be weighed between them.
That’s 1 of 8 key points.
The rest of the summary, written and spoken, and the whole book: free to start.
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Who’s who
- Mark Antony
- A Roman general and fellow ruler with Caesar and Lepidus, he is torn between Roman duty and love for Cleopatra.
- Cleopatra
- The proud and changeable Queen of Egypt, she loves Antony while guarding her royal authority.
- Octavius Caesar
- Antony's fellow ruler and political rival, he is Octavia's brother and distrusts Antony's attachment to Egypt.
- Enobarbus
- Antony's blunt, witty officer and friend, he observes his commander's love for Cleopatra with clear eyes.
- Octavia
- Caesar's sister, she marries Antony as part of an effort to maintain peace between the rival rulers.
- Charmian
- Cleopatra's loyal attendant and companion, she shares the queen's intimate conversations, jokes, and anxieties.
- Lepidus
- The least powerful of Rome's three rulers, he tries to preserve cooperation between Antony and Caesar.
About this edition
Every format is free to start, and print and large print are at cost.
- LengthAbout 27,000 words
- Reading timeAbout 1 h 50 min
- Listening time3 h 5 min
- FormatseBook, large-print eBook, audiobook, 15-minute summary
- LanguagesEnglish and 14 other languages
Questions about Antoine et Cléopâtre
What is Antony and Cleopatra about?
It is about the love between the Roman general Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, and how it clashes with Roman politics and the rivalry between Antony and Octavius Caesar.
Is Antony and Cleopatra a true story?
It is based on real history. Shakespeare took the story from Plutarch's life of Antony, in Thomas North's English version, and shaped it into drama. He changed and compressed events for the stage.
When was Antony and Cleopatra written?
Scholars usually date it to around 1606 or 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623, after Shakespeare's death.
Is Antony and Cleopatra hard to read?
The play moves fast, with short scenes and a clear story of love and rivalry. Its rich language is a pleasure to hear read aloud.
Who is Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra?
Enobarbus is Antony's trusted officer and friend. He comments on events with dry humour, describes Cleopatra in famous speeches, and acts as the play's clear-sighted observer.