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The Wednesday Readers just started a close read on Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra, so we will read Plutarch's essay on Antony, "The Life of Marcus Antonius." We will see how obvious it is that Shakespeare read this essay!

These sessions will be like a book club: Read the section at home, then come to discuss.

The essay is in VOLUME 2 of Plutarch, The Lives (or the Parallel Lives) (or the Lives of the Ancient Greeks and Romans).

It is possible to find the edition by Sir Thomas North, which is the edition Shakespeare read.

You can read it online if you like: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/674/674-h/674-h.htm#chap60

It's quite long, so we will read it in four sections. Today is Session Two:

### Session 2 — The Shock of Caesar’s Death

Consider: Is Antony principled or purely opportunistic?

Start: Where Antony is fully in Caesar’s orbit
End: After the immediate aftermath of Caesar’s assassination settles (funeral oration material included)

Key figures:

  • Julius Caesar
  • Marcus Junius Brutus
  • Gaius Cassius Longinus

What to watch:

  • Antony’s political cunning
  • His manipulation of public emotion
  • The pivot from loyal lieutenant to power player

This is where Shakespeare practically lifts tone and tactic whole.

Facilitated by Robin Williams and Jenny Kirby.

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