Timeline – Shakespeare’s Plays # Shakespeare’a influencers: Plutarch Niccolò Bernardo Machiavelli (1469–1527), author of: The Prince, the Discourses on Livy, and The Art of War. Queen Elizabeth I (1533) ascended to the throne in 1558 – 1603. Elizabethan Era - AKA - The Golden Age of Literature. Elizabeth supported the theatre. Shakespeare was baptised 26^(th) April, 1564 and buried on the 25^(th) April, 1616, fifty two year later. John Donne - 1572 - 1631 Difficult to discover their inter-connection.

Coriolanus # Chronologically, this is a 450 year prequel to Julius Caesar becoming part of a trilogy of Roman plays; the sequel - Antony and Cleopatra. Julius Caesar was written in the late 1590’s with the former and latter, Jacobean Plays written sometime in 1607/08 – they could not be more different in language textural concerns or sentiment. By the time of the Renaissance, Rome was considered the epitome of what a civilisation could achieve through empire building, controlling the entire Mediterranean surrounds, and if you consider Constantinople, lasting just short of two thousand years.

Antony and Cleopatra # Cleopatra is one of the strongest female characters Shakespeare portrays. Why did he wait until Queen Elizabeth I had died? In many ways they were similar. Like Cleopatra, Elizabeth was strong, used her sexual instincts for politics, has a sharp temper and can be witty. In the ruthless, ever-expanding empire of Rome, Shakespeare creates an astonishing portrait of a love too great for the world. ’ It is difficult to pigeon hole this play.

Officially, known as Cleopatra VII, a name adopted from the beloved Cleopatra I, a young Syrian woman who married Egypt’s Ptolemy V, and who was one of thirty-three ancient women known to have held this Macedonian name. While they attempted to keep the blood lines pure through incest, there was no family loyalty – only bloody rivalry for power. Egypt’s failing fortunes were already in serious decline while Cleopatra was educated in preparation to inherit its perilous throne at 16 years of age.

Characters in Antony and Cleopatra # Germaine Greer maintains Shakespeare still has a lot to teach because he never offers easy answers. “What actually happens in a Shakespeare play is you’re prevented from arriving at easy certainties. Everything you think you understand is challenged. So you have to recast your ideas. “This is what makes the plays work – because everything keeps shifting.” Most of the characters display fluctuating fortunes as the flounder between vacillating decision making.

Powerplays in Antony and Cleopatra # When the play begins, Octavius, Lepidus and Antony share the tripartite world in more or less equal parts. By the end of Act III, Octavius has managed to clamber on top by treachery against Lepidus and Antony has kissed away kingdoms under the sway of Cleopatra. Antony and Caesar # From Julius Caesar Antony tells a servant that: Caesar did write for him (Octavius) to come to Rome.