Imagining Cleopatra

Más información sobre el libro

Shakespeare's portrayal of Cleopatra is well-known, yet he was not the only 16th-century writer captivated by the enigmatic queen of Egypt. Early modern interpretations of Cleopatra present a complex array of models reflecting the period's views on race, female sovereignty, and classical antiquity. This interdisciplinary study explores Cleopatra's images during this time, examining how her narrative was utilized—from historical lessons to symbols of female heroism. It incorporates early historiographical works, political and philosophical treatises, dramatic productions, and insights from gender, race, and performance studies, alongside material culture evidence, to reveal contemporary knowledge and perceptions of Cleopatra. This work offers a fresh literary and cultural history of one of the most politically charged female figures. It combines close readings of literary and dramatic texts with their historical and political contexts, focusing on three key early modern 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 analyzing these diverse historical and fictional identities, Yasmin Arshad presents a groundbreaking study of Cleopatra's 'infinite variety.'