http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-VWNul82w0&list=PL2C18E2DEA60C00D0
Here's what Janet Suzman, who played Cleopatra, said about what interested her most about the role:
“That Cleopatra is given a head on her. The sex bomb aspect was developed by Octavius Caesar as spin to downgrade her into a trollop. But she was highly educated and spoke eight or nine languages. When I played her, I tried to give the impression that she was more politically aware. I believe this is the greatest female part Shakespeare wrote.”
Cleopatra comes across as a very clever yet bitter and slightly jealous person. She enjoys mocking Antony, and this is seen at early stages of the play, i.e.:
ReplyDelete"Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? I'll seem the fool I am not." She is aware of the weakness in Antony and personally, I think she enjoys taking advanatage of this. However as the play progresses, Ants and Cleo seem to change bodies as Ants comes into power again, and Cleo states: "Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra." Due to Antony becoming the courageous hero again, the actors have suddenly become their original characters again but Antony is the one who is in control over his reputation.
Good point Francesca: unlike Romeo and Juliet, for instance, there seems to be a lot of power games between these two. I agree that Antony regains his power as the play progresses, ironically having a moment of triumph when he kills himself "A Roman by a Roman valiantly vanquished.'
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