ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

!
Actor packet
!

Black Feminism....2
The Mammy and The Jezebel..3
Cleopatra..4
The Romans..5
Timeline.6
Maps..7
Glossary.8
Shakespeare Guide..11
A note from the dramaturg:

!
!

This packet has some tools that will be useful in your journey through the script. We
also have a website:

!
!

CleopatraCMU.weebly.com

This is where youll nd all the specic character information, links to the original
material used in this script, as well as an online version of this packet. I know theres
layers and layers and layers of information surrounding this script and it can be
overwhelming. Some kinds of questions you might ask me include:

What language did they talk to each other in?

Where in the Mediterranean are we?
Why is my character doing this?
What even is patriarchy?

Throughout the rehearsal process you can text me or email me anytime and we can
chat about the script. Weve been working on this piece for a long time and I am so
excited to bring it to life with you!

Vanessa Frank
vcf@andrew.cmu.edu

Black feminism

!
!
!

Black women are hyper-sexualized in the media, even more so than white women, because
of the historical connotations of the black female body.

This historical background of the treatment of the black female body has led to the mammy
and jezebel stereotypes.
Contemporary American black women have two
choices when it comes to expressing their sexuality: they
can accept the dominant values that delight in placing
black female bodies on display, or they can turn in the
opposite direction and submit to the requirements of
respectability that conceal sexual abuse and silence
sexual desire. There is the role model of Jezebel, and
that of Mammy. This dual straitjacket dates back to the
sexual violation of enslaved women and girls that began
early in our history as a nation, and the slaveholding
mythology that legitimized such violation.

- Dorothy Roberts, The Paradox of Silence and Display:

Sexual Violation of Enslaved Women and
Contemporary Contradictions in Black Female Sexuality

This production recognizes a need to create new,

liberating representations of black women. Some
artists, like Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna have
been creating an image of black women in control of
their sexuality. But some argue that they are just being exploited and reinforcing jezebel
stereotypes in the eyes of the media and the male gaze, while also potentially setting a bad
example for younger black women who may try to live up to these representations.

There is very important dierence between having your sexuality exploited for the appeasement of
a third party (who is proting o that exploitation), and engaging with your sexuality on your own
terms. For black women, (whose bodies have historically been the scene of violent sexual abuse in the
face of a denial of their very humanity) to reclaim their sexuality on their own terms is a revolutionary
act.

-Cate Young, Sexualization, Exploitation, And Black Female Celebrities: On The Subtle Womanism
of Rihanna and Nicki Minaj

the Mammy

black in color as well as race and fat with

enormous breasts that are full enough to
nourish all the children in the world; her
head is perpetually covered with her
trademark kerchief to hide the kinky hair that
marks her as ugly. Tied to her physical
characteristics are her personality traits. She
is strong, for she certainly has enough girth,
but this strength is used in the service to her
white master and as a way of keeping her
male counterparts in check. She is kind and
loyal, for she is a mother; she is sexless

- Barbara Christian, Black Women Novelists: the

Development of a Tradition

!
!
!

The Jezebel
In 1619, the first ship loaded with enslaved Africans arrived
in Jamestown, Virginia. Upon arrival, bondwomen were
placed on the auction block, stripped naked, and examined
to determine their reproductive capacity. Once sold, they
were coerced, bribed, induced, seduced, ordered, and, of
course, violently forced to have sexual relations with
slaveholders, their sons, male relatives, and overseers. Sexual
terrorism did not end with slavery. During nighttime raids,
vigilante groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, whipped African
Americans, destroyed their property, and savagely raped
Black women. The Jezebel stereotype, which branded Black
women as sexually promiscuous and immoral, was used to
rationalize these sexual atrocities. This image gave the
impression that Black women could not be rape victims
because they always desired sex.
- Carolyn M. West, Mammy, Jezebel, Sapphire, and Their
Homegirls: Developing an Oppositional Gaze Toward the
Images of Black Women

Cleopatra

Cleopatra has been reinvented countless times by her admirers and adversaries. She has
been reinterpreted with the generations since her death.

She was born to the Ptolemy family, a Greek dynasty that took control of Egypt after it was
conquered by Alexander the Great three hundred years before Cleopatra was born.

!
!

She came into power at 18 years old, and was married to her 10 year
old brother. She was promptly run out of Egypt by court ocials
who were fed up with her spontaneous decision making. Cleopatra
amassed an army in Syria, started a civil war, and reclaimed the
throne within three years.

!
!

She was the rst ruler in the family to learn to speak Egyptian
and practice Egyptian religious rites.

We cannot be sure if she was physically beautiful, but we have

accounts that say she was smart, charismatic, and an incredible
negotiator. She used her charm on the rulers of the Roman
empire, both Julius Caesar, then Mark Antony.

She famously came to meet Mark Antony to discuss nancial

matters. She arrived on an opulent boat dressed as Aphrodite,
the Goddess of Love, surrounded by men dressed as Cupid.

These exchanges benetted Egypt immensely, acquiring land, resources, and money from
her lovers, while also giving back the riches of Egypt to help fund the Roman wars.

It was a pleasure merely to hear the sound of her

voice, with which, like an instrument of many
strings, she could pass from one language to
another; so that there were few of the barbarian
nations that she answered by an interpreter.

-account from ancient historian Plutarch

!
!
4

The romans

The Triumvirate

Rome was run by a three politicians who share ultimate rule, called a triumvirate. This
format was started in an unocial capacity by Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus
Crassus in 60 B.C. Eventually, both Pompey and Crassus died. The reign of these men came
to a complete end after the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.

Julius Caesar died as the sole dictator, and left his position to his grandnephew Octavius
Caesar. He formed the Second Triumvirate with Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus,
this time as an ocial ruling group that could not be turned into a dictatorship as it had with
Caesar. Their reign ended after Marc Antonys defeat in the Battle of Actium, which we
witness in the play.

!!
Marc Antony

Marc Antony, or Mark Antony, or Marcus Antonius, was born to an elite

Roman family and used his privilege to become a politician and war
general. Though he professed himself to be a great war hero, he was
known for his excessive drinking, gambling, and debauchery. He was a
supporter of Julius Caesar and fought with him against Pompey the
Great in the Roman Civil War. After Caesars assassination, (which
Antony did not conspire in) Antony shared the reign of Rome with
Octavius Caesar and Lepidus.

!!

Octavius Caesar

Octavius Caesar is the great-nephew of Julius Caesar, who started

the First Triumvirate. After Julius Caesars assassination, he claimed
that he had the right to Roman rule as his great-uncles predecessor.
After his victory against Antony, he became the first emperor of the
Roman Empire, and laid the foundation for 200
years of peace in Rome.

Lepidus

!
!
!!

Marcus Lepidus was also an ally of Julius Caesar and an experienced

military commander. He was a smaller player in the drama between
the triumvirates. After the battle of Actium, Lepidus was arrested and
executed for conspiring to assassinate Octavius after his return from
Egypt.

!
!

Enobarbus

Or Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, was Marc Antonys most

distinguished supporter. He was originally involved in the plot to
assassinate Julius Caesar, and he initially fought against Marc Antony
in the Civil War. They reconciled after the war and Enobarbus took the
highest positions under Mark Antony. He was Antonys biggest
supporter until he defected to Octavian after the battle at Actium.

!
!

Sextus Pompey

The son of Pompey the Great, who was a fierce opponent of Julius Caesar
and started the Roman Civil War. Pompey the Great was killed during the
war. After Caesars assassination, Sextus Pompey came to terms with Mark
Antony and was given naval control of Rome, but was promptly outlawed
two years later. He rebelled by blockading trade on the coast and invading
Sicily, renewing the Civil War. The pressure he created on the Triumvirate
forced them to attempt band together to keep control of the empire.

TIMELINE of events

!
49-45 B.C. Roman Civil War
!
44 B.C. - Assassination of Julius Caesar, establishment of the Second Triumvirate
!
41 B.C. - Antony and Cleopatra meet at Tarsus.
!
40 B.C. - Antony and Octavia are married.
!
39 B.C. - Treaty of Misenum is signed between Sextus Pompey and the Second
Triumvirate to end Pompeys naval blockade. (p. 33)

!
September 31 B.C. - Battle of Actium begins.
!
Winter 30 B.C. - Antonys allies begin to switch sides. Octavius attacks Egypt.
!
August 12, 30 B.C.- Cleopatra commits suicide.
!
!

Battle of Actium maps

(P.49) Cleopatras eets cross the Aegean Sea

with the intent to attack in Italy. Caesars navy
sets sail before Cleopatra and Antony arrive
and they meet to ght in Greece.

(P.50) The Roman forces surround Antonys

ships.Battle ensues between Agrippas ships
and Antonys forces on the frontlines.

(P. 51- 52) As Antony ghts, a path clears

through the water. Cleopatra ees through the
open passage back to Egypt while Antony
ghts Agrippa. Antony realizes his
reinforcements have retreated, and he follows
her back, forfeiting the rst battle.

Glossary

!
!

Nereides (nee-REE-des) - p.5, In Greek mythology fty nymphs, or goddesses of the sea, who




helped sailors in distress in the Aegean Sea.

!
!

Venus (vee-nus) - p.5, Roman goddess of love, sex, beauty, and fertility, identied with the
Greek god aphrodite.

!
Cupid (kew-pid) - p.5, Roman god of love, identied with the Greek god Eros.
!
!
Mars- p.7,Roman god of war, identied with the Greek god Ares.
!
!
Tiber (tie-bur) - p.9, river that runs through most of Italy
and Rome.

!
!

Mandragora (man-dra-gore-uh) - p.16, a drink made from

the mandrake plant; has narcotic and hallucinogenic
eects.

!
!

Demi-Atlas (dem-ee-at-luss) - p.16, Atlas, in Greek

mythology, is the titan who holds up the sky. Demi-atlas
means to say that he is the supporter of half the world

!
!
!

Nilus (ny-lus) - p.34, Greek god of the Nile river.

!
!
Wassails (wah-suls) p.15, drinking parties.
!
!

Isis (eye-sus) - p.18 Egyptian goddess who used protective magic to help people in need. She
had a strong connection to the Egyptian kingship. Cleopatra often thought of herself as Isis
and would dress up as the goddess.

!
Surfeiter (sur-e-tur) - p.20, debaucher, libertine.
!
!

Telamon (tell-a-mon) -p.62, King of Aegina. Also father of Ajax and uncle of Achilles,
according to legend.

!
!

Ajax (A-jacks) -p.63, Known in several mythologies as a

great Greek hero who fought in the Trojan War, and a
major player in Homers Iliad.

!
!

Neptune (nep-toon) - p.63, Roman god of freshwater

and the sea, identied with the Greek god Poseidon.

!
!

Dido and Aenas (die-doh and uh-NEE-us) - p.63, the rst

queen of Carthage, killed herself on a pyre when her
lover Aeneas left her at the command of the Gods.

Breakdown of Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra

In these pages, I have summarized the essence of each scene in Shakespeares original play.
The lines that are bolded are the ones we have kept in our version of the script. This
material should provide a clearer picture of what storylines have been omitted from our
script.

The script was trimmed with the intention to focus on Cleopatras story. We wanted to
showcase her romance with Antony, her theatrical personality, her abundant wealth, her
charisma, and her skill as a leader. Her conict stems from the political happenings of Rome,
so the schemes and sentiments of Caesar, Lepidus, and Pompey have been kept as well.

Other moments, such as the party on Pompeys boat, were kept because they were
hospitable to supplementary material that supported our productions themes of black
feminism and appropriation of African American culture.

Its also important to remember that when Shakespeare was writing the play, his audience
probably knew way more about the drama surrounding ancient Roman politics. A lot of his
subplots are nuanced by political knowledge that we dont have or need, so they were cut.

!
!

Act I- 1: Antony and Cleopatra are in love.

A messenger brings news from Rome.
Antony doesnt want to hear it.
Cleopatra says he should hear the news and return to Rome.
Antony refuses and wants to stay with Cleopatra.

I-2:Cleopatras attendants see a soothsayer.

A messenger tells Antony that Fulvia and Antonys brother
made an army against Caesar but lost the battle.
Another messenger tells him that Fulvia got sick and died.
Antony is worried now about having neglected Rome and
decides to go home in anticipation of the battle against
Pompey.

I-3:Cleopatra is being dramatic about Antony and Fulvia.

Antony tells Cleopatra that Fulvia is dead.
Antony tells Cleopatra that he is going to Rome but will be
faithful to her.

I-4
Caesar is complaining to Lepidus about Antony being in
Egypt
Lepidus defends Antony, saying that his laziness is
genetic.

10

A messenger tells them that Pompey is gaining strength from

people who used to support Caesar. They decide to build an
army against him.

I-5:Cleopatra misses Antony.

Alexas gives her a pearl that Antony sent to her.
She asks for 20 messengers to send for him every day.

Act II- 1:Pompey is feeling confident about fighting

because he has a good army and Antony is distracted in
Egypt.
Varrius tells them Antony has returned to Rome.
He is aware of the fact that Caesar and Antony are not
getting along, but still thinks they could be a threat.

II-2:Caesar is pissed about the uprising from Fulvia and

Antonys brother that happened before the play started.
He asks Antony why he neglected Rome and didnt give them
military support.
Antony defends himself.
Maecenas reminds them that they need to work together
against Pompey.
Agrippa says Antony should marry Octavia so theyll be
forced to be aliies.

II-3:Antony promises Octavia that he will be faithful to

her.
He sees a soothsayer who tells him that Caesar will be
better off than Antony in the end and advises him to keep
his distance.
Antony tells Ventidius to make a war against Parthia.

II-4:Lepidus orders Maecenas and Agrippa to gather their

soldiers and meet at Mount Misenum, where they will
confront Pompeys army.

II-5:Cleopatra is talking with her squad about Antony.

A messenger enters and Cleopatra is jumping to conclusions
about Antony being dead.
The messenger tells her that he is married to Octavia.

II-6: Pompey tells Caesar, Lepidus, and Antony that he is

fighting to avenge his father, whose defeat by Julius
Caesar led him into Egypt, where he was killed.
Antony thinks they will win even though Pompey is stronger
at sea.

11

Triumvirs offer Pompey Sicily and Sardinia if he gets rid

of pirates and send wheat to Rome.
Pompey was going to accept until Antony didnt acknowledge
how nice Pompeys mom was to him during the Civil War
(before the play started).
They apologize for the oversight and Pompey accepts the
offer.
They shake hands and he invites them to his ship to party.
Enobarbus and Menas chat about everything outside.
II-7:Everyone gets drunk on the boat and talks about
crocodiles.
Menas tells Pompey he was going to kill the Triumvirs while
they were drunk on the boat.
Pompey gets mad. He tells Menas he shouldnt have told him
about it and just done it.
Everyone continues to rage.

Act III- 1:Ventidius defeats the Parthians and kills

Herods son. A soldier encourages Ventidius to keep
fighting in Parthia but he doesnt want to because Antony
he wouldnt be able to advance in Antonys forces.
III-2: Agrippa and Enobarbus talk about the action.
Caesar stays in Rome, Antony and Octavia go to Athens.
III-3:Antonys messenger tells Cleopatra that she is way
better than Octavia.

III-4:Antony is mad because Caesar is talking badly about

Antony and waging war on Pompey.
Octavia says she feels torn between the two.
He sends her to Rome to fix things with Caesar for him.

III-5:Eros and Enobarbus talk about Pomey being murdered.

Lepidus helped Caesar win but doesnt allow him to share in
the celebration.
Caesar accuses Lepidus of plotting against him and puts him
in prison.
Antonys army is ready to go to Italy for Caesar.
III- 6: Caesar is still mad about Antony because hes gone
to Egypt again.
Antony gave a lot of land to Cleopatra.

12

Caesar got a lot of land from Parthia and will share it

with Antony if he shares Armenia and the other land hes
conquered.
Caesar thinks Antony should treat Octavia better.
He tells her that Antony is in Egypt and is creating an
alliance against Rome.
III- 7: Cleopatra is going to battle alongside Antony.
Antony wants to fight on sea, even though he would be
stronger than Caesar on land.
Antony maintains faith in Cleopatras fleet.

III-8:Caesar tells his army not to attack until the battle

on the water ends.

III- 9:Antony tells Enobarbus to put their squadrons on the

hillside so they can see the battle.

!
!

III- 10:Enobarbus describes the battle

Antony was winning and then Cleopatra fled the action and
Antony followed her.
Some of Antonys soldiers go to Caesars side.
III- 11:Antony is ashamed of his performance.
Cleopatra tries to comfort him and asks his forgiveness.
He feels bad for her.
III- 12: Antonys tells his ambassador to ask Caesar if he
can live in Egypt, Cleopatra demands that Egypt continue to
go to her heirs.
Caesar dismisses these requests, but will give Cleopatra a
fair hearing if she kicks Antony out of Egypt or kill him.
He sends Thidias to convince her.
III- 13: Enobarbus tells Cleopatra not to blame herself for
Antonys loss.
Antony decides to challenge Caesar to a one-on-one fight.
Enobarbus thinks about a course of action. If he stays on
Antonys side he can attack Caesar if Caesar kills Antony.
Thidias tells Cleopatra that Caesar will be fair if she
gets rid of Antony.
She says she was just with Antony out of fear and will do
what Caesar wants.
Antony walks in and has Thidias whipped and yells at
Cleopatra for her betrayal.

13

She says she would never betray him.

Antonys fleet is reassembled and he is ready to attack
Caesar again.
Enobarbus abandons Antony.
Act IV- 1:Caesar is getting hype to crush Antony

!
IV-2:Caesar wont fight Antony one-on-one
!
IV- 3:Soldiers hear the music of Hercules.
!
IV-4:Antony and Cleopatra say goodbye.
The soldiers are outside ready to fight.

IV-5: Antony wishes he fought Caesar on land.

Enobarbus went to Caesars side.
Antony has a soldier take Enobarbuss treasure that he left
back to him.
IV- 6: Caesar puts all of the men who used to be on
Antonys side in the frontlines.
Alexas went to Judea (Isreal) to get Herod (the king) to
support Caesar Caesar hanged Alexas for this?
The soldier brings the treasure for Enobarbus.
Enobarbus feels like an asshole and leaves to go kill
himself.

IV- 7: Agrippa freaks out because Antonys forces are

bigger/stronger than he thought.
His troops retreat.
IV-8: Antony is celebrating victory and vows to destroy
Caesar the next day.
IV-9: Enobarbus kills himself.

IV- 10: Antony realizes theyre going to be attacked by sea

again.
IV- 11: Caesar is going to attack them by sea.

IV- 12: Cleopatra had the fleet surrender to Caesar. He

tells the troops to leave the battleground.
Cleopatra enters and Antony reams her.

!
!

14

IV-13: Cleopatra comes back to her squad and asks them to

help her. (fake her death)
Charmian tells her to go to her tomb and pretend to be dead
to get Antonys attention.

IV- 14: Antony is getting ready to kill Cleopatra.

Maridian enters (Alexas) and tells him that she already
killed herself.
He changes his mind and Antony decides to die with her.
He asks Eros to kill him.
Eros says yes but then kills himself instead.
Antony follows his example and Antony falls on his sword,
but it doesnt kill him.
Diomedes (Charmian) enters and tells him that Cleopatra is
alright.

IV- 15: Cleopatra doesnt want to leave her tomb because

shes going to be a prisoner of war.
Antony goes to see her one last time and then dies.
Cleopatra faints and swears to kill herself.
Act V- 1: Caesar sends a messenger to Antony.
Decretas enters and gives Caesar his allegiance, giving him
the news that Antony is dead.

V-2: Proculeus asks Cleopatras terms for giving herself up

to Caesar.
Cleopatra tells him she wants her son to have Egypt
Proculeus says Caesar might be nice.
She tries to stab herself before he gets there, but
Proculeus has the soldiers stop her.
She talks about her dreams of Antony.
Caesar comes and says he will be fair if she doesnt kill
herself.
She gives him right to all of her fortunes, Seleucus says
she is lying. Caesar doesnt want it anyway.
Dolabella confirms that Caesar is going to take Cleopatra
and her family to Rome as war trophies.
Cleopatra decides to kill herself.
A farmer enters with a poisonous snake.
He tries to convince her not to touch the snake until
Cleopatra kicks him out.
Iras, Cleopatra, and Charmian let the snake bite them.
The soldiers enter and freak out because theyre all dead.
Caesar comes and understands why she killed herself.

15