Antony and Cleopatra is a historical political tragedy by William Shakespeare written in 1606-1607 approximately. The play, based on Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Life of Mark Antony, follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony.
The entire play is based upon history, even though time is distorted. In this paper, I will discuss the tragedy of the play, and its relevance to Antony's actions and decisions towards Cleopatra. From the beginning of the play, Antony is strongly attracted to both Rome and Egypt, and his loyalty vacillates from one to the other. His loyalty is divided between the Western and Eastern worlds; he is torn between the sense of duty and the desire to seek pleasure, between reason and passion. The struggle between these contrasts is not a question of whether Antony will choose military triumph or male one, but the simple fact that he does not have a choice at all. Therfore, the solution will come only through death.