Overview

Antony and Cleopatra, one of William Shakespeare’s last tragedies, was mostly likely written and first performed in 1606. The most geographically sweeping of Shakespeare’s plays, its setting is the entire Roman Empire, and its backdrop is the well-documented history of Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavius Caesar. The action of the story begins roughly two years after the events of Julius Caesar, Shakespeare’s earlier play about the Roman Empire, and it contains some of the same characters—including an older and changed Mark Antony.

Read the full play summary, an in-depth character analysis of Mark Antony, and explanations of important quotes from Antony and Cleopatra.

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