Cleopatra Essay, Research Paper

Cleopatra, The Story of a Queen

Ludwig

Summary of Chapter V; Chanatos

As part of the team presentation, the members of my group and I each read a chapter of Cleopatra by Ludwig. We were each responsible for summarizing our respective sections, and we created a collaboration of all the summaries, which was presented before the class.

The section that will be further summarized is the final chapter of the book, the conclusion to Cleopatra s life. This final chapter depicts the final two years of Cleopatra s life and all the trials and tribulations that she endured. It deems her as a brave woman of her time with great instincts as she was about to face her final destiny.

Since Cleopatra hesitated to take sides in the civil war following her beloved Caesar s death, Mark Antony summoned her to meet with him to explain her conduct.

The Roman soon fell victim to her charms and returned with her to Egypt. After living with her for some time, Antony felt compelled to return to Rome, where he married Octavia, a sister of Octavian. In spite of being married to Octavia, when Antony went to the East in command of an expedition, he sent for Cleopatra. She joined him at the Antioch. After his defeat, she joined him in Syria with troops and supplies. Afterwards, followings a more successful campaign against the Parthians, he celebrated his triumph at Alexandria and he continued to reside in Egypt.

Cleopatra, displaying her controlling ways, wanted Antony all to herself. Octavian then declared war on Cleopatra, and Antony in revenge, divorced Octavia. Against the counsel of Antony s advisers, Cleopatra insisted on taking part in the ensuing campaign.

At the naval battle of Actium, believing Antony s defeat to be inevitable, she withdrew her fleet from Action and fled to Alexandria. On the approach of Octavian, Antony, deceived by a false report of the queen s death, fell by his own hand. Cleopatra made some attempts to bring Octavian under her charms, but failing in this and hearing that he intended to exhibit her in his triumph at Rome, she killed herself by poison. Octavian put Caesarion, her son by Caesar, to death.

Throughout the entire finale, Cleopatra was portrayed as an extremely intelligent woman, who aimed to impress and conquer. She was controlling and determined. She made continuous provocations, and she was not afraid to follow through on her actions.

This book is not recommended as a research source, because there is no proof of it having factual content. It was written in 1937, and was not a university publication. The book, however informative it may be, is quite misleading. The reason for this is that the author had no footnotes, nor a bibliography to back up any of his points of view or any of his arguments. The narrative was third person, and was from a viewpoint of the 1930 s. It is typical of a historian from that era due to the vocabulary that was used, and the focus it took on. This book is however recommended as a display of the 1930 s historical views and vocabulary. Overall, the book brought up many interesting points about Cleopatra and her personality. The book claimed that she was one of the most shrewd and intelligent women of her time. She had a thirst for sensation, and was full of enthusiasm. The author did an excellent job in portraying Cleopatra as such a woman.

Even as she faced her destiny, she did so with pride, and was able to look back at her many accomplishments. The death of Cleopatra symbolized that power, however strong it may be, does not last forever.