Award Date

1-1-2003

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

English

First Committee Member

Evelyn Gajowski

Number of Pages

188

Abstract

This examination is a study of the characterization of Cleopatra in three early modern English plays. The three plays are the following: Mary Sidney's The Tragedie of Antonie, Samuel Daniel's The Tragedie of Cleopatra, and William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra . Although all three playwrights shared essentially the same cultural environment and historical context, they each created a different vision of the queen of the Nile. Cleopatra's gender and race are the focus of this examination. Sidney presents us with a "white-washed" version of Cleopatra---in an effort to make her more acceptable to the Elizabethan audience. Daniel is sympathetic to Cleopatra, but does make her take responsibility for the disaster that befalls the couple. Shakespeare creates a Cleopatra that is perfect in her imperfection.

Keywords

Cleopatra; Cleopatra, Queen Of Egypt; Daniel, Samuel; Infinite; Mary Sidney; Plays; Samuel Daniel; William Shakespeare; Sidney, Mary; Shakespeare, William; Variety; Visions

Controlled Subject

British literature; English literature--Irish authors; Irish literature; Theater

File Format

pdf

File Size

4167.68 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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