Study Questions
1. What, if any, was the international significance of Antony’s death?

2. Why was Octavius (Caesar) anxious to prevent Cleopatra’s death?

3. What did Dolabella do for Cleopatra that no other of Octavius’ officers or soldiers did for her?

4. What was Octavius’ approach to Cleopatra after he learned that Antony was dead? Does this approach shed any light on his character, which Shakespeare developed throughout the play? If so, what?

5. What was Cleopatra’s reaction to Octavius and his emissaries?

6. Did Octavius intend to kill Cleopatra later?

7. What was the threat Procleius made to Cleopatra to disuade her from committing suicide?

8. Why did Octavius, upon learning of Cleopatra’s death, order a huge funeral for her and Antony?

9. Did Octavius make any move to physically harm Cleopatra or her attendants after he learned of Antony’s death?

10. What did Octavius intend to do after the funeral for Antony and Cleopatra?

Answers
1. Octavius (Caesar) was then the sole ruler of the civilized world surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. He became known as Caesar Augustus.

2. Octavius wanted to prevent Cleopatra’s death because he intended to take her to Rome and parade her as a prize of war.

3. Dolabella warned Cleopatra that Octavius intended to take her to Rome as a prize of war and parade her through the streets as a symbol of his victory.

4. After learning of Antony’s death, Octavius was afraid that Cleopatra would commit suicide, so he promised her “half the world” to dissuade her from her intentions. He said that she could command him as to what her fate should be, but the play suggests that he had no intention of keeping his promises.

5. Even without Dolabella’s warning of what Octavius intended, she did not trust him. She pretended to be his vassel, ready to do his will.

6. There is no historical evidence nor evidence within the play that Octavius ever intended to kill Cleopatra. We are not told what he intended to do with her after he displayed her in Rome.

7. Procleius warned Cleopatra that the children would be treated well if she served Octavius’ will. This is a veiled threat that he would kill her children if she committed suicide.

8. Octavius wanted to be known as a gentle monarch. As the sole ruler of the world, he could afford to be so.

9. Neither Octavius nor his soldiers attempted to harm Cleopatra—only to restrain her and her attendants from suicide and prevent their escape.

10. Octavius intended to return to Rome with his army after the funeral.