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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. See below for specifics of what to read.

### Session 3 — Cleopatra and the East

Consider: Does Cleopatra corrupt Antony—or reveal him?

Start: First meeting with Cleopatra VII Philopator
End: Height of their alliance and indulgent court life
Also includes tension with:

  • Octavius

This is the centerpiece.

  • The barge scene
  • The “infinite variety” version of Cleopatra already present in Plutarch
  • Antony’s gradual surrender—not just politically, but temperamentally

This is where Plutarch’s moral voice sharpens:
luxury, excess, “effeminacy,” loss of Roman discipline.

Facilitated by Robin Williams and Jenny Kirby.

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