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Act 3
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Caesar and Cleopatra, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Romanticization of History
Vengeance vs. Mercy
Pragmatism vs. Sentimentality
Empire, Civilization, and Progress
Age, Experience, and Power
Summary
Analysis
Six months later, Cleopatra rests in her chamber at the palace in Alexandria and listens to a slave girl play the harp. The girl’s instructor, an old musician, sits nearby and assesses the performance. Ftatateeta and some other female enslaved people listen to the performance from the doorway. Cleopatra asks the musician if he can teach her to play the harp, too, since Caesar loves music. The musician tells Cleopatra the task will take four years, since she must first learn the philosophy of Pythagoras. Cleopatra asks if the slave girl learned to play this way, too, and the musician explains that the girl is enslaved and “learns as a dog learns.” Cleopatra tells him that she will learn the slave girl’s way, since she plays better than the musician, anyway. Cleopatra pays the girl and dismisses them.
Pythagoras was an ancient Greek philosopher who supposedly discovered that musical pitches could be translated into mathematical equations. In other words, there’s a direct correlation between the length of string on a stringed instrument and the pitch the string produces. There’s an inherent elitism in the old musician’s claim that knowledge of Pythagoras’s theory is necessary to learn the harp, since the enslaved girl (not to mention most contemporary musicians) master their instrument without such extraneous technical knowledge. Cleopatra’s rejection of this traditional, institutionally sanctioned type of musical education shows that she has adopted Caesar’s progress-oriented personal philosophy, rejecting arbitrary reverence to the past and tradition in favor of a more practical approach to the world.
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Cleopatra asks her ladies and enslaved people for gossip. One girl, Iras, tells Cleopatra that Pothinus has been attempting to bribe Ftatateeta to speak with Cleopatra. Cleopatra declares that she will only see the guests that she wants to see. The girls laugh at Cleopatra. Annoyed, Cleopatra asks the girls if they know why she allows them to say whatever they want, even if it’s at her expense. One of the girls, Charmian, replies that it’s because Caesar would let them, and Cleopatra copies everything that Caesar does. The girls erupt into laughter.
This scene presents further evidence of just how hard Cleopatra has tried to emulate Caesar’s personal principles and approach to leadership. She’s trying to treat her subjects with more mercy and compassion, a far cry from her earlier embrace of violence and retribution. Yet, one gets the sense that Cleopatra’s new embrace of compassion is less evidence of her new principled demeanor than a childish effort to impress Caesar.
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When Ftatateeta returns, Cleopatra asks her if the rumors about Pothinus are true. Ftatateeta sputters. Cleopatra ignores Ftatateeta’s discomfort and orders her to accept Pothinus’s bribe and bring him to her chamber. Ftatateeta leaves. Iras wishes that Caesar would return to Rome. Charmian agrees, arguing that Caesar makes Cleopatra “so terribly prosy and serious and learned and philosophical.” Their conversation ends when Ftatateeta returns with Pothinus.
Cleopatra asks Pothinus if he’s heard any news about future battles from his rebel friends. Pothinus reminds her that prisoners don’t receive mail, then he accuses her of being a child incapable of understanding the complex matter of war. Cleopatra assures him that she is no longer a child. Cleopatra orders everyone besides Pothinus to leave. Ftatateeta protests, but Cleopatra threatens to throw her into the Nile if she resists. Ftatateeta mutters about Cleopatra being as bad as “what these Romans call a New Woman” but obeys and exits the chamber.
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Once Cleopatra and Pothinus are alone, Cleopatra asks Pothinus why he wanted to speak to her. He’s visibly flustered and claims that he wanted to ask her for his freedom. Cleopatra doesn’t believe him, arguing that he would have gone to Caesar for this request, not her. She correctly guesses that Pothinus had planned to approach Cleopatra about something assuming that she was still a naïve child. Now that he sees that she’s grown up, he can no longer ask her. Pothinus realizes that Cleopatra really has changed. He wonders aloud whether Cleopatra is really queen or if she, like the rest of them, is enslaved by Caesar. While Cleopatra might be enslaved now, she promises Pothinus that Caesar will make her queen when he departs Egypt for Rome.
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Pothinus mentions the rumors floating around that Cleopatra is in love with Caesar. Cleopatra insists that she only admires Caesar for teaching her how to be wise. Moreover, Cleopatra is in love with a different Roman, a man named Mark Antony, whom Caesar has promised to bring to Egypt. After a moment, Pothinus asks Cleopatra why she sent for him today. Cleopatra tells Pothinus that he is wrong to assume that he will rule Egypt through Ptolemy, should Ptolemy gain control of the throne. Caesar will eat him, Ptolemy, and Achillas “as a cat eats mice.” Pothinus argues that the Egyptians outnumber Caesar’s ranks, but Cleopatra ignores him and leaves.
Pothinus tries to follow Cleopatra, but Ftatateeta, who has been eavesdropping on their conversation, stops him. She tells Pothinus that he should arrange for Lucius Septimius to speak with Cleopatra, since she refuses to listen to her own people. Pothinus tells Ftatateeta that he’s going to go to a Roman even more powerful than Lucius, since literally any ruler is better “than a woman with a Roman heart.” He tells Ftatateeta that her scheme to rule Egypt through Cleopatra will never work, since Cleopatra will never claim the throne while Pothinus is alive.
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Meanwhile, Rufio climbs onto the palace roof, where a table is set for dinner. Rufio sits down at the table. Caesar appears, freshly bathed and dressed in a purple silken tunic. He nods approvingly at Rufio’s fine clothing and suggests that Rufio must have dressed up to celebrate Caesar’s birthday. Rufio scoffs, reminding Caesar that he always says it’s his birthday when he wants to impress a beautiful woman or ingratiate himself with some public official—in fact, Caesar has had seven birthdays over the past 10 months alone. Caesar tells Rufio that Cleopatra and Apollodorus the Sicilian will dine with them this evening. Rufio curses Apollodorus, calling him a “popinjay.” Caesar doesn’t disagree, though he adds that the man is always a good time. Furthermore, old politicians will bore Cleopatra, and he needed to invite a guest capable of entertaining her.
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Rufio implies that he has something important to tell Caesar, and Caesar motions for his enslaved people to draw the curtains. Once certain that they are alone, Rufio tells Caesar that Pothinus wants to speak with him about a supposed scheme the women are developing. Caesar is irritated when he learns that Pothinus hasn’t escaped, which Caesar usually expects and allows prisoners to do. Rufio tells Caesar that Pothinus willfully sacrifices his freedom to spy on Caesar. He also admits that he has brought Pothinus with to speak with Caesar. Caesar reluctantly agrees to see him. Pothinus enters, stalls for a bit, and then informs Caesar that Cleopatra is plotting to betray him.
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Before Caesar can respond to Pothinus’s scandalous claim, Cleopatra appears, dressed glamorously. Caesar tells her that Pothinus was just about to say something about her that she ought to hear, too. At first, Pothinus refuses to speak. Cleopatra warns him that she has ways of making him talk, but Pothinus insists that Caesar would never approve such methods. Sure enough, Caesar grants Pothinus his freedom and orders him to never appear again. Cleopatra is furious that Caesar won’t punish Pothinus. Pothinus refuses to leave, however. He demands that Caesar speak with him in private, suggesting Caesar’s life is in danger. Finally, Pothinus breaks the news in front of Cleopatra: Cleopatra wants Cesar to leave Egypt—either voluntarily or by death—because she believes that he will crown her the ruler of Egypt upon his departure.
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Cleopatra furiously denies Pothinus’s accusation, but Caesar is entirely unmoved. He tells Cleopatra that even if she doesn’t realize it, she likely wants him to leave Egypt—and she should. Caesar can’t justify being angry at Cleopatra, since it’s only natural that she would want to rule Egypt. Cleopatra is overcome with emotion, so Caesar, Rufio, and Pothinus exit to give her some time to collect herself.
Only Ftatateeta and Cleopatra remain on the roof. Once Cleopatra is satisfied that nobody can hear her, she orders Ftatateeta to kill Pothinus. Ftatateeta smiles a toothy grin and promises to follow through with the request. Caesar returns, followed by Apollodorus and Rufio. Cleopatra runs to Caesar and wraps her arms around him. Ftatateeta exits, exchanging a meaningful glance with Cleopatra on her way out. Apollodorus compliments Cleopatra’s beauty. The Major-Domo enters to take the guests’ dinner orders. He offers Caesar delicacies like sea hedgehogs, sea acorns, and beccaficos, but Caesar opts for a simple meal of British oysters instead. He and Rufio both turn down the Greek wines the Major-Domo offers, opting for barley water and Falerian, respectively, instead.
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Cleopatra teases Caesar about his common tastes. He reluctantly tries one of the wines and jokes that he will pass a law against such luxuries when he returns to Rome. Cleopatra tells him that it’s okay to indulge and be idle from time to time. She offers her hand to him, and he kisses it. Cleopatra pauses a moment before asking Caesar when he intends to leave for Rome. Caesar suggests that he might never return. Rufio is shocked. Caesar explains that he’s had enough of Rome and thinks it would be nice to discover the origin of the Nile with Cleopatra and establish a new kingdom there.
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The prospect of forming a new kingdom excites Cleopatra. She tells Caesar that she is a descendent of the Nile and ought to name the kingdom herself. She sends for a priest. A priest enters not much later, carrying a miniature sphinx atop a small tripod that contains smoking incense. Caesar asks what all the “hocus-pocus” is all about. Apollodorus suggests that they ask Cleopatra’s “hawkheaded friend” to name the new kingdom. Cleopatra silences them, not wanting their jokes to offend the god Ra. She tells the men that only her sphinx can name the kingdom and calls on the spirit of the Nile to name the kingdom.
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Cleopatra wonders if the Nile will make his presence known by “rap[ping] on the table.” Caesar can’t believe that people still believing in such nonsense “in this year 707 of the Republic[.]” Next, Cleopatra asks the Nile to speak in his own voice. Suddenly, they hear a man’s agonizing scream. Caesar glares at Cleopatra and demands to know the cause of the scream. Cleopatra feigns ignorance. Without warning, Caesar rises from the table. He’s convinced a murder has taken place and orders Apollodorus to go down to the courtyard to investigate. Caesar is about to follow him when Ftatateeta appears, a “murderous expression” on her face. Rufio immediately understands what has happened and quietly warns Caesar that something is going on between Ftatateeta and Cleopatra.
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Cleopatra lunges at Ftatateeta, kissing her violently. She rips off her own jewelry and places it on Ftatateeta. Ftatateeta says nothing and only walks over to Ra’s alter to pray. Caesar demands that Cleopatra tell him what happened. She feigns ignorance again and moves closer to caress him. Caesar doesn’t respond to Cleopatra’s advances. Rufio tries to make Ftatateeta leave, but Ftatateeta remains loyally at Cleopatra’s side. Caesar tells Cleopatra to order Ftatateeta to leave. Cleopatra tells Caesar that she loves him and obliges; Ftatateeta exits. Rufio follows, cursing Caesar for his passivity.
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Once they are alone, Caesar asks Cleopatra to tell him the truth. Cleopatra says little but promises that she hasn’t betrayed him. Caesar acknowledges that this is true—but only because he never trusted her in the first place. Suddenly, a trumpet sounds below. Rufio returns, followed by Lucius Septimius. Seeing Pompey’s murderer again disgusts Caesar. Rufio tells Caesar that the townspeople have gone crazy and are tearing down the palace, while Lucius explains that someone has murdered Pothinus. The news horrifies Caesar. Rufio eyes Cleopatra and tells Caesar that whoever slayed Pothinus must be “a wise man and a friend of [Caesar’s],” prompting Cleopatra to stand and boldly declare that it was she who ordered Pothinus’s assassination. Cleopatra promises that she only did so after Pothinus tried to coerce her to conspire with him against Caesar—and after he insulted her to her face.
Cleopatra turns to Lucius and asks whether she was right to avenge herself. Lucius approves of Cleopatra’s actions but warns her that Caesar likely disagrees with him. She turns to Apollodorus next. While Apollodorus agrees that Pothinus’s death was justified, he wishes Cleopatra would have called on him to engage Pothinus in a duel so that the man could have died honorably. Next, Cleopatra consults Britannus. Britannus tells her that she was right to punish Pothinus for his misdeeds and that Caesar is too merciful.
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Finally, Cleopatra turns to Caesar. Caesar furiously gestures toward the sound of the rioting villagers that have finally reached the palace. Like Cleopatra, the villagers “are believers in vengeance and in stabbing.” Because Cleopatra has killed their leader, they, too, seek vengeance. Furthermore, when the mob inevitably kills Cleopatra, it will be Caesar’s duty to avenge her. In this way, “to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace[.]” Cleopatra realizes the gravity of her error and begs Caesar not to leave her. Caesar replies that only she is to blame for destroying the peace that he created through his leniency and merciful treatment of the Egyptians. Still, not everybody disagrees with Cleopatra. Apollodorus stands behind her and promises that she will not die alone. Rufio argues that he has an instinct to kill.
Lucius offers to join Caesar in battle against the Egyptians, delivering the good news that the Roman army has arrived in Alexandria. Caesar excitedly accepts Lucius’s offer, and the men get to work strategizing battle plans. One by one, the men abandon Cleopatra to join Caesar’s ranks.
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The men head downstairs to address the troops. Cleopatra approaches Caesar timidly and asks if he’s forgotten her. Caesar brushes her aside. Referring to Cleopatra as “my child,” Caesar tells her that he’s too busy at the moment but promises that “[her] affairs shall be settled” when he returns. He exits, leaving Cleopatra to wallow in her humiliation and self-pity. Rufio tells Cleopatra that she has “played [the game] and lost,” and that “the woman always gets the worst of it.” As he is about to leave, he whispers to her knowingly, suggesting that her assassin botched his job, since Pothinus wouldn’t have screamed if her man had stabbed the right way, in the throat. Cleopatra coyly insinuates that her assassin wasn’t a man.
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Rufio draws open the curtains to leave. He sees Ftatateeta, who is still praying at Ra’s pale white alter, and asks Cleopatra if Ftatateeta is responsible for the murder. Cleopatra doesn’t answer directly, but she angrily advises Rufio—and everyone else—to think twice before “ma[king] the Queen of Egypt a fool before Caesar.” Rufio stares gravely at Cleopatra before walking through the curtains, loosening his sword as he walks.
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Cleopatra hears Roman soldiers cry out, “Hail Caesar!” down below. Feeling suddenly scared and alone, she cries out for Ftatateeta but receives no reply. Cleopatra cries out louder and louder. Finally, she frantically draws back the curtains, revealing Ftatateeta’s dead body lying before the alter of Ra. Her throat is cut, and her dark, red blood seeps into the white stone of the alter.
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