tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post2703231245172050999..comments2024-03-14T16:46:14.455-05:00Comments on Becky's Book Reviews: Antony and CleopatraBeckyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00793618692608823102noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-4707145390561013212009-08-25T08:15:31.053-05:002009-08-25T08:15:31.053-05:00I haven't read this play in ages, but I rememb...I haven't read this play in ages, but I remember thinking that the public/political life often interfered with the personal lives of these characters.<br /><br />But more tragic than the circumstances of the outside world is there love, itself. The mistrust inherent in it and how they act toward one another and away from one another. disappointing to say the least.<br /><br />This is not one of my favorites.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-74113432774338804012009-08-22T08:27:36.665-05:002009-08-22T08:27:36.665-05:00I've always wanted to read this. I love Shakes...I've always wanted to read this. I love Shakespeare's tragedies much more than his comedies.Cerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02819784931932219371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33553028.post-7041524656878372382009-08-20T21:24:16.133-05:002009-08-20T21:24:16.133-05:00I love this play! However, I love Shakespeare and...I love this play! However, I love Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and the tragedies are my favorites. I really appreciate Cleopatra's character because so many of Shakespeare's females are weak (and the ones that aren't end up dead or "tamed"). It also helps that I enjoy keeping plays in their historical context. This work, like The Taming of the Shrew, is probably more difficult to digest in a modern setting, where our values have changed so much. In the midst of my Shakespeare courses, I don't think twice about Antony's quick agreement to marry Octavia. Homosocial bonding was quite common in the Renaissance. I am also interested in the masculinity of Cleopatra, made even more intriguing considering she was played by a male when it first came out. Also, her jealous relationship with Antony is likely connected to the truth as well as gossip about Elizabeth I's relationship with Robert Dudley. Finally, I agree with you about their public and private spheres; they cannot reconcile them because rarely are women in the public sphere at the time. Good review!! I really enjoyed reading it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com