DRivera Honors British Literature 030.01 29 October 2008 The Quintessential Woman in Power: Cleopatra Seemingly, yet unknowingly, Cleopatra loves to command attention. Especially in the presence of men that she knows has an attached feeling towards her. This is evident in the beginning. Her findings of Antony’s sudden, but much needed, departure leaves her to exclaim in despair. In her most ostentatious way, Cleopatra says to Antony, “Eternity was in our lips and eyes/ Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor/ But was a race of heaven. They are so still,/ Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,/ Art turned the greatest liar” (1.3.44-8). Beginning this speech by making a sensual reference shows her as a hopeless romantic. The dramatic sense increases by the comment about Antony’s militaristic stance as “the greatest soldier of the world.” Ending this speech by declaring that he has turned into “the greatest liar,” indicates that she feels extreme contempt about his leaving. This speech is not the only instance that she mentally abuses Antony. Cleopatra is shown in an even more dramatic sense when she commits suicide. Her use of the Egyptian asps, snakes that are known to be very poisonous, clearly marks her connection with the Nile. Before her suicide she speaks of dangerous and poisonous snakes in the Nile. And throughout the novel, Antony and many others used the Nile as a symbol of ominous yet unknown danger. At one, particularly, resentful speech Cleopatra says, “Some innocents ‘scape not the thunderbolt./ Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures/ Turn all to serpents” (2.5.96-98). Her love of serpents first appears in this dialogue. Her attachment to them becomes more evident during her extremely dramatic suicide scene. Later, after Caesar’s departure, Dollabella informs the queen that in three days’ time Caesar will summon Cleopatra and her children to come to Rome. She, having the pride of a queen, thinks that Caesar will only use her as...