Cleopatra Gender Roles

The historical epic film, “Cleopatra” depicts the queen and her relationships with two great Roman rulers, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Produced in 1963, this movie is a one of a kind as it portrays the Roman Republic transition. Although the motion picture is mostly very true to the historic facts, there are a few examples where the producers deviated from accuracy. The movie is not entirely correct with some of the costume and set choices, representation of the character Octavian, and Mark Antony’s family affairs. More importantly, Octavian’s character is adapted for the movie and does not precisely represent his true character. In general, “Cleopatra” gives the viewer a factual look at the events of Cleopatra and her

Cleopatra not only ruled Egypt but also influenced Roman politics during a crucial period. Her legend also consists

"For Rome, who had never condescended to fear any nation or people, did in her time fear two human beings; one was Hannibal, and the other was a woman" (Lefkowitz and Fant 126). During a time dominated by male rulers, Cleopatra VII Philopator (69 BCE – 31 BCE), the Last Pharaoh of Egypt, stood out among them all. With Egypt’s wealth at her disposal, she was “incomparably richer than anyone else” (Schiff 2). The amount of power a ruler had at the time of Cleopatra’s existence depended highly on the level of financial stability. However, wealth was not all Cleopatra was known for. She exhibited high militant leadership skills equal to that of her male counterparts to keep Egypt a prosperous country.

Cleopatra VII, most commonly known as Cleopatra, was the last of a series of rulers called Ptolemies; this family ruled Egypt for nearly 300 years. Cleopatra ruled not only Egypt, but also cyprus, parts of modern-day Libya, and other territories in the middle East. Cleopatra was also the last pharaoh to rule Egypt (Jarus,1). Cleopatra was born into an insane family that had deranged beliefs, beginning with having to marry her brother, Ptolemy, which broke out in a tragic war. Cleopatra's life didn't get much better afterwards, she fell in love with Julius Caesar and then watched him get assassinated and when she fell in love again with Mark Antony, it resulted in her own death.

“She was the one who captured two of the greatest Romans of her day, and completely destroyed herself because of the third.” Cleopatra was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the year of 69 B.C. into the Ptolemaic dynasty. When she stepped up to become ruler alongside her brothers. Together, they controlled the whole eastern Mediterranean Coast. She ruled for twenty two years, and in that time she made enemies and also got many Roman men with her imperial ambitions and motives. At the same time though, the dynasty was quickly diminishing. Although she was the last Ptolemaic ruler, she was one of the Egyptians most influential and remembered rulers. As a ruler, she was mostly described as ruthless, yet intelligent, educated and wise. During her time, she also was lovers with Mark Antony, Julius Caesar and many other men. Her full story

Cleopatra's reign made Egypt wealthier and more powerful. For example, the economic state of Egypt thrived under her reign(Highet). Although the first few years of her reign there were economic difficulties, she pulled through and made the economy of Egypt strong once again. She kept the connection with Rome, which was one of Egypt's biggest partners in trade at the time. She built up Egypt's economy also by expanding Egypt's trade routes to Eastern Nations.

The two fell in love. Their dalliance was kept a secret from Cleopatra's brother Ptolemy. With her lover Caesar by her side, she finally had enough military strength to fight off her brother and his supporters. She then took the throne and became the new queen.

When she first became co-ruler of Egypt with her brother, it was evident that “Cleopatra was the dominant ruler” (111). In order to gain more power, her brother banished her, because it was unacceptable for the woman to be more dominant in the eyes of her brother. The advisors at the time were sabotaging him against Cleopatra in order to gain control of Egypt. He banished her independently, and even though Cleopatra was clearly the higher ruler, he had the final word because he was male. Cleopatra continued to “hold the belief that she was the most qualified leader” for Egypt (168). The age difference between Cleopatra and her husband/brother made ruling together extremely difficult. Cleopatra realized that “both of her brothers had neither the influence nor intelligence to compete with the politics of the time”, and that she was going to make connections with men of power to make any kind of difference (90). Although exiled, she was still revered as a goddess-like powerful ruler. So she went to Thebaid to manipulate what godlike power she had left there. Her plan was to “muster her own military forces and prepare to wage a civil war for control of her kingdom” (119). However, when Cleopatra saw an alternative to military tactics, she seized the opportunity. Caesar’s victory marked a significant political shift in Rome. Recognizing that Caesar’s new unrivaled Roman power was a great

How did Cleopatra rise to and maintain her power? Not much is known about her life since she lived so long ago, but what is known is enough to piece together some of her life story. Cleopatra was a strong and intelligent woman who made it through all the struggle and strife of the ancient world until it became too much for her. Cleopatra’s reign began and ended with tragedy, but was maintained by exploited love connections.

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Cleopatra was a woman. “Cleopatra stood at one of the most dangerous intersections in history: that of women and power. Clever women, Euripides had warned hundreds of years earlier, were dangerous” (112). The number of successful female leaders up until this day is drastically smaller than the male ones, and even now in 21st century the stereotype of a leader is a male. How did Cleopatra manage to go around this stereotype and become such a successful ruler? She got the men of her time obsessed with her. When thinking about power, we should remember Aristotle’s saying, “Yet what difference does it make weather the women rule or the rulers are ruled by women? The result is the same”. Cleopatra managed to be a ruler herself, while ruling the most influential men of her time. No one before, or after Cleopatra was ever able to do this again, but to this day she is a role model. She proved that not only men can be in charge and that women can do as much as a man

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Caesar and Cleopatra married and bore a child. They named him Caesarion, which means Little Caesar. Because Caesar love Cleopatra, he did anything for her. Ancient History states, “During the Alexandrian War, he killed Ptolemy XIII and defeated his army.

The division of the royal family provided Cleopatra with an opportunity to use Caesar to kill her siblings in battle. As Cleopatra wanted, Caesar reinforced his troops and easily defeated the rebels resulting in Ptolemy drowning while retreating. Following this Caesar captured Arsinoe, who had survived and sent her back to his country of Rome as a prisoner. Caesar also executed numerous enemies of Cleopatra and imprisoned others who opposed her. Caesar also supplied Cleopatra with a child, whom after Ptolemy XIV’s death she made co-regent as a three year couldn't interfere with her plans (Schiff, 2010).