The of rome and egypt in the play antony and cleopatra
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Shakespeare seems more interested in the Egyptianizing of Rome than in the Romanizing of Egypt. Rome has conquered Egypt militarily, but Egypt seems to be conquering Rome culturally. In postcolonial studies today, this process is often labeled “The Empire Strikes Back,” as conquered people pursue subtle strategies of raising doubts about and even subverting the way of life of their ostensible masters. In Antony and Cleopatra the Romans are inordinately fascinated by the exotic world of Egypt. They want to hear about its strange customs and listen avidly to tales, no matter how fantastic or improbable, of its pyramids and crocodiles (2.7). Above all, they are entranced by stories of the fabulous Cleopatra, Antony’s “Egyptian dish” (2.6.126). Cleopatra symbolizes the many ways that a captive can captivate her conquerors. Repeatedly defeated in battle by Roman armies, she uses her wiles to enchant one Roman ruler after another— from Julius Caesar to Mark Antony to (she hopes) Octavius Caesar. Exploiting her sexual allure, Cleopatra seeks to turn the tables on her masters and bring them under her spell. If she no longer can rule directly as queen of Egypt, she hopes to rule indirectly by mastering her masters. Rumors of her erotic conquests arouse the Romans’ senses, and she threatens to overturn their hierarchy of values.