- 360 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Shakespeare's characterization of Cleopatra may dominate the collective consciousness, but he was only one of several 16th-century writers fascinated by the enigmatic queen of Egypt. Early modern conceptions of Cleopatra offer a rich, complex, and variable set of models for understanding the period's responses to race, female sovereignty, and classical antiquity. This interdisciplinary study investigates images of Cleopatra in the early modern period and examines how her story was mediated and used – from drawing lessons from history to being a symbol of female heroism. It draws on early historiographical works, political and philosophical treatises, coterie dramatic productions, and gender, race and performance studies, as well as evidence from material culture, to consider what was known and thought about Cleopatra in the period This book provides a new literary and cultural history of one of the world's most contested and politically-charged iconic female figures. It combines a close reading of literary and dramatic works with historical and political contexts, paying particular attention to the three major early modern Cleopatra plays: Mary Sidney's translation of Robert Garnier's Marc Antoine, Samuel Daniel's The Tragedie of Cleopatra, and Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. By examining these conflicting historical and fictional identities, Yasmin Arshad offers a diverse and ground-breaking study of Cleopatra's 'infinite variety'.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Halftitle Page
- Title Page
- Dedication Page
- ContentsÂ
- List of illustrations
- Acknowledgements
- Note on spelling and list of abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1. ‘Sight of that Face’: Passion and politics in Mary Sidney’s Antonius
- 2. ‘Twixt majestie confuz’d and miserie’: Samuel Daniel’s Tragedie of Cleopatra
- 3. ‘Will Yet this Womans Stubborne Heart be Woone?’: Lady Anne Clifford and Daniel’s Cleopatra
- 4. ‘Then thus we have beheld’: Staging Daniel’s Cleopatra
- 5. ‘She did make defect perfection’: The paradox and variety of Shakespeare’s Cleopatra
- Epilogue and conclusion: Cleopatra after Shakespeare
- Appendix: The Cleopatra statue and the poems at the Vatican
- Notes
- Select bibliography
- Index
- Imprint