Shakespeare represents Cleopatra as a complex character with many contradictions. She is manipulative yet insecure, regal yet human. She takes on different roles consciously, such as the seductress to manipulate men like Antony, and the damsel in distress to gain sympathy. Shakespeare uses language that contrasts, such as "royal wench", to portray her infinite variety and the many sides to her character and strategies to maintain power.

1. CLEOPATRA’S “INFINITE VARIETY”
How Shakespeare represents the character „Cleopatra‟ in the
his play “Antony and Cleopatra”

2. First Impressions of Cleopatra in Act I Scene I
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CLEOPATRA

3. Manipulative/dominant over Antony:
 “The triple pillar of the world transform’d/ Into a strumpet’s fool” – Antony
seems to be under Cleopatra‟s „spell‟
Underlying insecurities:
 Cleopatra needs to be reassured that it is her that Antony loves and no
other
 “If it be love indeed, tell me how much”
 “Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her?”
Sexual allure:
 “reneges all temper” –Antony seems lovesick
 “gipsy’s lust”

4. Shakespeare uses a range of contradictions to describe Cleopatra to
represent her „infinite variety‟
SHAKESPEARE’S USE OF LANGUAGE

5. “royal wench”
She has
status
Contrasts her
title as the word
„wench‟ implies
of someone of
lower-status
Implies that she has
a human side
Power
Noble birth

6. CLEOPATRA’S REGAL SIDE
 Her previous lovers were of noble status: Julius Caesar, Gnaeus
Pompey
 The barge scene (Act II scene II) describes an extravagant entrance and
enforces her dominance “burnish’d throne” “purple the sails” “the oars
were silver”
 Associated with the Goddess Venus; this emphasises her power and
status “O’erpicturing Venus”
 Respected, and has natural authority “empress” “O eastern star”
 Has resources: messengers, “sixty sails”, she convinces Donabella to
help her
 She dies as a queen, in her monument, surrounded by riches “Bring our
crown and all” – “our” referring to herself in the third person

7. CLEOPATRA’S HUMAN SIDE
 Insecure: she needs reassurance from Antony and her servants “If it be
love indeed, tell me how much” (Act I Scene I)
 Jealous “Report the features of Octavia” (Act II Scene V)
 Violent streak which is not regal or lady-like. Example: when she beats,
and tries to kill, the messenger in Act II scene V
 Lusty: Cleopatra has had previous lovers, and the Romans disapprove
of her sexual appetite “gipsy's lust” “strumpet” “My salad days”
 Joins Antony‟s side at the Battle of Actium: the battle field was no place
for a woman, she also turns her ships around in battle most probably out
of fear (another human emotion)

8. Cleopatra takes on many different roles in the play, some consciously
feminine in order to achieve her desired objectives
REPRESENTATION

9. CONSCIOUSLY FEMININE ROLES
 The Seductress/Siren: she uses her feminine charms to manipulate men around
her such as Antony, Thidius and Donabella
 The Damsel in Distress: Act V scene II
 The Tease: Thidias
 The Actress: Act I scene III
 Weak, Subordinate: Act V Caesar
 The Queen of Egypt: She refers to her status in times when she wants to put
emphasis on her power
 The „mother‟: in Act V she tries to secure the kingdom for her children

10. THE SEDUCTRESS
 Act II Scene II: The Barge Scene
 “She did lie/ In her pavilon, cloth-of-gold of tissue, O‟erpicturing that
Venus” (lines 207-209) –Enobarbus paints a very sensual, Goddess-like
image
 Act III Scene XIII: Thidias

11. THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
Act V Scene II
 Cleopatra is very solemn towards Donabella and makes him feel sorry
for her
 “I dreamt there was an emperor Antony/ O, such another sleep” (lines
75-76)
 “He’ll lead me, then, in triumph” (line 208)

12. THE TEASE
Act I Scene I
 Cleopatra taunts Antony about his wife, Fulvia, who is in Rome. This
shows her manipulative side as well as her insecurities as she wants to
be lavished in affection and his absolute attention
 “Nay, hear them, Antony./ Fulvia perchance is angry” (lines 20-21)
 “Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her?” (line 42)
 Cleopatra gets what she wants as Antony ignores the messengers and
spends the night with Cleopatra; and Antony declares his love: “Her is
my space” (line 35)

13. THE ACTRESS
 Act I Scene III: Antony decides to go back to Rome, and Cleopatra
pretends to be sick in attempts to keep Antony in Egypt with her
 Act IV: Cleopatra pretends to be dead and sends a messenger to
Antony

14. WEAK
Act I Scene III
 Cleopatra pretends to be sick in order to keep Antony in Egypt
 “If you find him sad,/ Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report/ That I am
sudden sick”

15. THE QUEEN
Act V Scene II
 Cleopatra demands for her robes and crown to wear before she dies
 “Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have / Immortal longings in me”
(lines 279-280)

16. THE SUPPORTIVE WIFE
Act IV Scene IV
 It is the morning of the battle, and Cleopatra is assisting Antony by
putting on his armour
 There is a slight reservation of hope from Cleopatra at the end of the
scene as she says “Then Antony-but now-. Well on.” (line 38)
 Does she doubt his chances at war, or his abilities?