www.seattleshakespeare.org/education 206-733-8228 ext. 212 or [email protected] All original material copyright © Seattle Shakespeare Company 2012 SEATTLE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY Dear Educators, Fact and fiction collide in Shakespeare’s dramatic telling of the story of Antony and Cleopatra, a historical romance that is larger than life, and had an impact on the Roman Empire that shaped much of the Mediterranean for years to come. Seattle Shakespeare Company’s fall production of this play is no less dramatic, and no less epic in scope. But of course, as educators we already know that any retelling of history is as much fact as we can manage, told as a story from a certain point of view, necessarily adding some element of the fictitious. But it is these stories we tell about history that capture our imagination — it is the headdresses of Cleopatra, the fantastically adorned tomb of King Tut, the glory of ancient Rome and the Empire that we sometimes compare America to, for better or for worse. Stories can teach us something about ourselves, even as much as they teach us about history. Stories about history can highlight the folly of hubris, the danger of ambition, or the horrors of war. They can show that people have always been motivated by many of the same feelings, even when the time and place feel foreign to us. This year, I invite you to indulge in the stories at Seattle Shakespeare Company. We’ll take you from Rome at the fall of the Republic in Antony and Cleopatra, to the turn of the 20th century Norway, where women are struggling for rights in A Doll’s House. We will tell you a story of unexpected love in the courts of France in this spring’s Love’s Labour’s Lost, and finally take you to find love in a trailer park in The Taming of the Shrew. We hope to share our stories with you. Best, Michelle Burce Education Director Sponsors: STUDY GUIDE CONTENTS Antony and Cleopatra Synopsis . 1 A summary of the plot. Character List . 2 A guide to the characters in Antony and Cleopatra. A Timeline of Two Empires . 2 A broad comparison of Egypt and Rome’s history leading up to the events of Antony and Cleopatra. Culture Clash . 3–4 An overview of the ways in which Roman moral and cultural values clashed with much of Egyptian culture. Cleopatra . 5 A biography of Cleopatra. Mark Antony . 6 A biography of Mark Antony. Octavius Caesar . 7 A biography of Octavius Caesar. Reflection and Discussion Questions . 7–8 Challenge students to review what they already know, and to reflect on the complicated plot and important themes of the play. Placing the Production . 9–10 Director John Langs shares his inspiration and ideas behind this production of Antony and Cleopatra. Post-Show Activity: Character Perspectives . 11 In this activity, students are asked to see how Shakespeare’s perspective on these historical characters stacks up against other historical views. One Man, Many Names . 11 Octavius, Octavian, Augustus — keep the names straight. Pre-Show Activity: Poster Design . 12In this activity, students imagine their own take on Shakespeare’s play, and design a poster and marketing language to match their highlighted themes. SYNOPSIS Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus are the three co-rulers of Antony addresses his followers, inspiring them for battle but Enobarbus Rome (known as triumvirs), but Antony has been neglecting his duties deserts Antony, leaving his personal treasure behind. When Antony in favor of spending time with Cleopatra — the Queen of Egypt. When sends the treasure after him, Enobarbus is so overcome by Antony’s he receives word that his wife has died and the rebel Pompey has generosity in the face of betrayal that he dies from shame. taken arms against the other triumvirs, Antony is motivated to return to Antony and Octavius again engage in battle, and Antony does well Rome. Cleopatra begs him to stay, but to no avail. until the fighting moves to sea. Once again Cleopatra’s ships break off from the battle, and the rest of the fleet surrenders. Antony curses Cleopatra and declares that he will kill her for her treachery. Hearing of this, Cleopatra decides the only way to win back Antony is to send word that she has killed herself, dying with his name on her lips. She locks herself in her monument to await Antony’s visit. However Antony, hearing that his love is dead, decides to end his life and begs his attendant Eros to run him through with a sword. Eros refuses and takes his own life instead. Antony falls on his own sword, but fails to die — gravely wounding himself. At that moment, Cleopatra’s attendant arrives to report that Cleopatra has not died at all and has never betrayed Antony. Antony is taken to her monument and dies in her arms. Upon hearing of Antony’s suicide, Octavius sends word to Cleopatra that he shall treat her kindly, and that if she lives her children shall grow up to inherit Egypt. Cleopatra refuses to be taken captive and paraded through Rome, so she resolves to kill herself. She orders her Marc Antony and Cleopatra, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1885) robe and crown be brought to her, allows herself to be bitten by poisonous asps, and dies. Once in Rome, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus agree that it is vital to Octavius is filled with mixed emotions when he hears of Cleopatra’s Rome’s stability that they maintain their alliance. In a show of good death. He is triumphant in becoming the sole leader of the Roman faith, Antony marries Octavius’ sister Octavia. News of the marriage Empire, but he is filled with grief at witnessing the fatal love of reaches Cleopatra in Egypt, and she punishes the messenger brutally. Antony and Cleopatra. He orders a royal funeral for them both. The triumvirs and Pompey meet and agree to a truce. Pompey is offered rule over Sicily and Sardinia in exchange for helping rid the sea of pirates and paying a tribute to Rome. The pact is followed by drunken revelry, during which Menas suggests to Pompey that he make himself ruler of Rome. Pompey refuses, deeming it dishonorable. Expecting peace, Antony and his new wife Octavia depart from Rome. Not long after, Antony receives word that Lepidus has been arrested for conspiracy, and Octavius has broken the truce with Pompey. Antony is furious, but Octavia offers to negotiate with her brother. Once she has left, Antony returns to Egypt where he crowns himself and Cleopatra rulers of Egypt and the eastern third of the Roman Empire, which is Antony’s right as one of the three triumvirs. Octavius uses the slight against his sister to challenge Antony to a battle. In Antony’s camp, his friend and attendant Enobarbus urges Antony to battle on land where Antony has the advantage. Having Cleopatra’s fleet pledged to him, Antony accepts Octavius’ challenge to battle at sea. The Death of Marc Anthony, by Pompeo Girolamo Batoni (1700s) In the middle of the battle, Cleopatra takes her fleet and flees. Antony follows her, leaving his own fleet to ruin. He rebukes Cleopatra for turning him into a coward but ultimately forgives her and renews his promises of love. Octavius sends a messenger to ask that Cleopatra leave Antony and come over to his side, but Antony has the messenger whipped. Antony pledges to fight another battle with Octavius, this time on land. 1 CHARACTER LIST A TIMELINE OF TWO EMPIRES The Triumvirs of Rome All dates are BCE, many early dates are approximate. MARK ANTONY EGYPT ROME OCTAVIUS CAESAR 3100 Upper and Lower Egypt are united. M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS 2560 Construction begins on Great Pyramid of Giza and Great Sphinx. CLEOPATRA: the Queen of Egypt 2181 Egypt fractures and regions develop SEXTUS POMPEY: the son of Pompey the Great, revolting distinct cultures. against Rome 1985 Egypt is unified. Large-scale irrigation projects OCTAVIA: Caesar’s sister expand farming land. EUPHRONIUS: an ambassador 1674 The northern capital is taken over by a Semitic LAMPRIUS: a soothsayer population from Canaan. Pharaohs rule from the A CLOWN south for nearly a century. 1069 After the collapse of the Bronze Age Egypt Followers of Antony divides in to Upper and Lower Kingdoms. Pharoahs relocate to the north and priest of DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Antony’s friend and aide Amun take political control of the south. VENTIDIUS: a general 753 King Romulus founds the city of Rome and appoints EROS: an attendant the communty’s first Senate. DECRETAS: a guard 669 Egypt undertakes a cultural revival. Across the Mediterranean new super powers celebrated PHILO: a soldier their Bronze Age heritage. CANIDIUS: a lieutenant-general 525 Persia occupies Egypt. The Greeks send military SILIUS: a soldier aide to expel the Persians from Egypt several times. SCARUS: a commander 509 The last Roman monarch is overthrown and the Republic established. Followers of Caesar 494 Secession of Plebs forces the extension of political MAECENAS representation to the larger population of Roman citizens. AGRIPPA: a general 493 Events of Coriolanus DOLABELLA 343 The last native Pharaoh of Egypt flees into Nubia when Persia invades. PROCULEIUS 332 Alexander the Great liberates THIDIAS: a servant Egypt. After his death, his half- GALLUS brother Ptolemy takes rule and establishes the Ptolemaic Dynasty. TAURUS: a lieutenant 273 Ptolemaic pharaoh’s send a diplomatic party to Followers of Cleopatra Rome. The young Republic is delighted to be recognized by such a prestigious new ally. CHARMIAN: a lady-in-waiting 217 Egypt sends relief supplies of grain to Rome IRAS: a lady-in-waiting during their war with Hannibal of Carthage.