During the 1960’s the feminist movement began to take shape. This movement addressed many different inequalities women were experience within society. A few of the inequalities debated during this movement were sexuality, workplace ethics, and legal inequality. Historical female depictions in film have changed throughout the 20th century. These changes have occurred due to different Women’s movements. One such change would be the depiction of Cleopatra in the 1963 film “Cleopatra” and the 2005 TV series “Rome.” The female role of Cleopatra as portrayed in the 1963 film; has evolved alongside different women’s movements, into a portrayal as seen in the TV series “Rome.” When the two portrayals are compared, Cleopatra’s political leadership roles …show more content…
Elizabeth Taylor exonerated class and beauty within her acting career. Taylor’s portrayal of Cleopatra reflected these traits. In the film Cleopatra was a stateswoman with great intellect. She used her intellect to bridge the gap in equality between men and women. Cleopatra was portrayed as a great leader and commanded respect from both genders. These characteristics very closely reflect the message of the 1960’s women’s movement. A particular inequality many women faced before this movement was, the idea that women could not be political leaders. In Kathleen Dolan’s book “When Does Gender Matter?”, this political leadership inequality is discussed. In the text it states, “For much of our history, women were excluded from political life because of widespread beliefs that they did not possess the requisite skills and abilities to be successful in politics.” (Dolan 19) Women’s movements of the 1960’s wanted to demonstrate to society that women could be great political leaders. This portrayal of Cleopatra reflected the gender equality progression, taking place within …show more content…
The portrayal here is different because Cleopatra is portrayed as a more seductive female, compared to a respectable stateswoman. The women’s movements of present day focus on breaking the stereotypes of gender roles. The portrayal of Cleopatra in this series is far from the historically traditional role of a woman. In place of this image, is a drug addicted and seductive woman, who is attempting to survive execution. In Gregory N. Daugherty’s book “Rome, Season One: History Makes Television”, the difference in roles is discussed. In the text it states, “Her drug use, her sexuality, and her calculated plans to seduce Caesar in order character to save herself shock us as much as her petulance, self-absorption, and violence. On the surface, this is not a Cleopatra whom the audience has seen before, and certainly not the Elizabeth Taylor version (from the 1963 Joseph Mankiewicz film, Cleopatra).” (Daugherty 141) This role would not have been received as acceptable during the 1960’s. The portrayal would not have been acceptable because women were fighting to gain the respect of men. The acceptance of the seductive and more historically accurate portrayal is an extension of breaking the traditional gender
Depictions of Cleopatra in film and TV series, focus more on the personal aspects of her life, with little excerpts of her political life being thrown in. Each depiction having undertones, of what is happening politically, at the time the film was made.
Similar to the 1963 film Cleopatra, in Plutarch's The Life of Antony, sexism is maintained in the passage and compatible with its message. Through the author's portrayal of Cleopatra and Antony, he spreads the message that obsession with power is bad and the idea that manipulation and attempts at domination are signs of a bad ruler. Sexism is compatible with such messages because as indicated by Plutarch, Cleopatra utilizes sexist expectations of women in order to manipulate Antony through her aspirations of domination. Therefore, similar to the films Cleopatra and Quo Vadis, because Cleopatra is unsuccessful as she commits suicide in the end and is found "lying dead upon a golden couch," as well as is portrayed as an immoral ruler in
The purpose of this paper is to look at the history of Cleopatra VII, as well as how and why she wanted to be portrayed in a certain manner with respect to visual art. As the last noble of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, her images communicate her political abilities, her religious feeling, her caring duties and determination in preserving royal lineage, and her direct connection to ancient Egyptian gods. In addition, having relationships with two of the most powerful men in ancient Roman history, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony. Cleopatra was also able to improve her skills as a powerful pharaoh and set her status as pharaoh.
Over in Rome Mark Antony and Octavian split the power and when Antony came into this power her ask her Cleopatra to come to Tarsus in Cilicia. He wanted this meeting between them to be more humiliating to her and for her to then pledge Egypt’s allegiance. Cleopatra then arrived in Cilicia and her entrance was so dazzling and surrounded by special effects of the most theatrical sort. So instead of humiliation this provided her with the chance to display her talent for diplomatic persuasion. (Chauveau,
The Cleopatra from Fielding's The Lives of Cleopatra and Octavia and George's The Memoirs of Cleopatra, and a collection of movies including, DeMille's "Cleopatra", Mankiewicz's "Cleopatra", and ABC's "Cleopatra", vary in the extent by which she utilizes her sexuality and intelligence to manipulate Julius Caesar.
(“Cleopatra: The Woman…”) In 49 B.C., Cleopatra was forced to flee to Syria after Pothinus, Achillas, and Theodotus, who were Ptolemy XIII’s advisors, sought to overthrow her. They convinced the Egyptian people that Cleopatra was the cause of the famine that they were experiencing. (“Cleopatra.”)(“Cleopatra VII’s Childhood…”) She smuggled herself into the royal palace in a rug to plead her case with Julius Caesar. Cleopatra and Caesar became lovers. Ptolemy XIII discovered this and declared war on Caesar. Caesar overpowered Ptolemy XIII’s army and Ptolemy XIII drowned in the Nile River while trying to escape. (Cleopatra: The Woman…”)
Cleopatra’s ultimate struggle for the the throne led her to kill her brothers and seduce two roman generals. “The Battle of the Actium” ultimately decided her fate (Cleopatra Encyclopedia). The forces and dreams of Cleopatra were large ones, but they could not win her a war (Stanley, Vennema 1), and in a final attempt to keep her people free of roman rule, she begged for a new egyptian ruler. Cleopatra did everything to return Egypt to its former glory (Stanley, Vennema 1). She left an unmistakable mark on the world as a queen of Egypt.
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
Women are seen as fickle, emotional creatures that spend most of their time on nonsense. Women are also known for their ability to hold a grudge, remember every wrongdoing ever done to them, and for their aptitude for revenge. Most women today would disagree with this stereotype, and women have made great strides, but women’s roles in society have not come as far as we may think. The roles of women in Shakespeare’s Hamlet demonstrate that women are fickle, obedient, and passive, but in Euripides’ Medea women are exhibited as aggressive, prideful, and subject to extreme emotion.
Images and interpretations of a person can change over time. Such movement is paralleled with changes in opinion and morals throughout generations. Cleopatra the seventh is subject to this fluctuation. Ancient images and interpretations differ greatly to the impression left today merely by her name. Chris Dumasis, a modern day historian amplifies this theory in ‘Interpretations of Cleopatra’. She argues, “women have been demeaned of their true substance since the early time of patriarchal society.” Taken into account, this argument entails that when studying ancient sources it must be understood that at times, only a very narrow view of the events are presented
I consider Cleopatra to be a strong, independent woman. She was the only one to break tradition and not marry her brother. She fought for what she wanted and made it happen. My favorite saying of her’s is, “Things do not happen, we must make them happen.” Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
Following the play Agamemnon we will examine the three female characters and how their stereotypes apply to the current day society.
Cleopatra innovatively utilised Roman politicians to benefit both herself and Egypt. Cleopatra's skillful manipulation of Roman generals consequences in her triumphs but also ultimately the downfall of Egypt. Many agree that Cleopatra never truly loved Caesar or Antony but it does seem evident that at least Casar did in fact love Cleopatra. While Cleopatra skillfully used Caesar and Antony to rid her of enemies and threats to the throne it was also a Roman politicians that effected the end of her reign and the prosperity of Egypt. Cleopatra’s manipulation of Roman politians which at first benefited her but ultimately was the source of her destruction.
As it is mentioned previously, Cleopatra was viewed as a God since she was born. She kept the same status and became the queen of Egypt. In the movie, Cleopatra seems to make all the decision by her without taking anyone’s consent. As for historically, Cleopatra was also talking her decisions on her own but probably needed some point of view of other people in different expertise. The message projected behind this movie is that even though Cleopatra was a young woman who was controlling the Egyptian Empire, she was still able to defeat Caesar even if she has many obstacles.
Cleopatra knew how to get what she wanted. She was considered a “Mistress of disguise and costume.” She could disguise herself to suit any occasion. With the help of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra regained Egypt’s throne. She bore Caesar a son, but he was already married. She was forced to marry her brother Ptolemy. When Caesar died in 44 B.C., Cleopatra had Ptolemy killed so he wouldn't get in the way of her son’s succession. She also had her sister, Arsinoe, killed to make sure her grip on the throne would be solid. Such acts were important features of ruling politics in Egypt. It was also necessary to keep her life and her son’s. Since she had all threats removed, Cleopatra set out to become the ruler of Egypt.