Read e-book online Antony and Cleopatra (Folger Shakespeare Library) PDF

Antony and Cleopatra dramatizes an incredible occasion in international historical past: the founding of the Roman Empire. the longer term first emperor, Octavius Caesar (later known as Augustus Caesar), cold-bloodedly manipulates different characters and routines iron keep watch over over himself.

At first, he stocks strength with Mark Antony, Rome’s preeminent army chief, and the weaker Lepidus. Caesar wishes Antony to fend off different Roman strongmen like Pompey; he even deals his sister Octavia to him as a bride, regardless of Antony’s recognition as a libertine and his earlier contention with Caesar. as soon as Caesar defeats Pompey, despite the fact that, he wishes no allies. He brings fees opposed to Lepidus, denies Antony his spoils from Pompey’s defeat, and seizes towns within the japanese Roman colonies that Antony rules.

The play’s emphasis, despite the fact that, is on these whom Caesar defeats: Antony and his prosperous Egyptian best friend, Queen Cleopatra. The play doesn't sugarcoat Antony and Cleopatra’s recognized love affair, together with her calculated makes an attempt to seduce Antony from his tasks and his rage while he thinks she has betrayed him to Caesar. still, the fanatics locate such sensual and emotional pride that Caesar’s global conquest turns out smaller than what they locate in every one other.

The authoritative variation of Antony and Cleopatra from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the relied on and regularly occurring Shakespeare sequence for college students and normal readers, includes:

-The precise textual content of the broadcast publication for simple cross-reference
-Hundreds of hypertext hyperlinks for immediate navigation
-Freshly edited textual content according to the simplest early revealed model of the play
-Full explanatory notes comfortably put on pages dealing with the textual content of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the play’s well-known traces and phrases
-An creation to analyzing Shakespeare’s language
-An essay via a number one Shakespeare pupil delivering a latest standpoint at the play
-Fresh photos from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s substantial holdings of infrequent books
-An annotated consultant to additional reading

Essay through Cynthia Marshall

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is domestic to the world’s greatest selection of Shakespeare’s revealed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare students from worldwide. as well as exhibitions open to the general public all year long, the Folger bargains an entire calendar of performances and courses. for additional information, stopover at Folger.edu.