EL150: Cleopatra's Sexual Advances and Suicide

Levin, "That I might hear thee call great Caesar 'ass unpolicied'"

In Richard Levin's academic article, he makes the claim that Cleopatra does not fully decide on suicide until after speaking with Caesar for the last time. He goes on to focus on the sexual metaphors Shakespeare uses with Cleopatra, and the tensions that arise between Cleo and Caesar (and not necessarily between Antony and Cleo.)

After reading this article, and perusing what had been written by some of my classmates, I have to say that I agree with the conclusions that Andrew drew. It really all comes down to Cleopatra's sexual advances and trickery with Caesar, and his intense focus on politics and business. While Cleo may make references to sex and orgasms, Caesar is more concerned about destroying her and taking over what remains of the civilized East. I was surprised to read Levin's claim about orgasm references in the play: "Orgasm as death is a familiar Elizabethan figure and an iterative image in the play." I had never heard that before... and I was a tad shocked to read it.

But that just adds to the overall theme of the play: the civilized Roman culture clashes with the exotic and sexual world of Egypt. It is a clash that had been happening for a number of years, through three different rulers (as history says.) First Pompey, then Julius Caesar, and finally Marc Antony were all seduced by Cleopatra (whom Antony calls "triple-turn'd whore"). Obviously, for as much foolin' around as those Romans did, they were helpless when it came to the lure of Cleopatra. That is... until Octavius Caesar, who wants nothing more than to rule the land.

Levin doesn't just come right out and make these conclusions... in fact he presents multiple conclusions and refutes many of his own claims. While at times this leaves the reader feeling like they haven't come away with anything final, it gives the reader a more rounded argument. It's easy for someone to write a paper with one point of view... being able to deconstruct the argument and look at it from multiple angles takes a little more thought.