About the work
William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy around 1606, likely close in time to "King Lear" and "Macbeth". Publisher Edward Blount entered the play in the Stationers' Register in May 1608, though it was not printed until the First Folio of 1623. No performance during Shakespeare's lifetime is documented, but the King's Men are assumed to have staged it around 1607. Shakespeare's main source was Thomas North's English translation of Plutarch's life of Marcus Antonius.
Plot
After the death of his co-ruler Julius Caesar, Mark Antony shares power over Rome with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, but spends most of his time in Egypt at the side of Queen Cleopatra. Their love collides with Roman duty and politics when Antony enters a political marriage with Octavius's sister, leading to open conflict with Rome. After his fleet's defeat at Actium and Cleopatra's apparent death, Antony kills himself; Cleopatra follows him into death by choice rather than be paraded as a captive in Octavius's triumph.
Cultural significance
The play is regarded as one of Shakespeare's most linguistically rich tragedies and counted among his major tragedies of the mid-1600s. The title role of Cleopatra is one of the most complex female parts in his work and has since been played by many leading actresses.