Caesar and Cleopatra

by

George Bernard Shaw

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Caesar and Cleopatra makes teaching easy.

Cleopatra Character Analysis

Cleopatra is one of the play’s central protagonists. At the beginning of the play, she is holding court in Syria after her younger brother Ptolemy, with whom she is vying for sole control of the Egyptian throne, banishes her from the royal palace in Alexandria. Whereas Cleopatra the historical figure was likely in her early 20s when she met Caesar, Shaw reimagines Cleopatra as a naive, immature teenager who still believes in nonsensical stories about cannibalistic Romans. Likewise, the play portrays Cleopatra’s ongoing feud with Ptolemy as less a conflict of political import than a stereotypical squabble between siblings. Cleopatra worships the Sphinx. As such, the Sphinx–and cats in general–become an important symbol for her, evoking both her connection to Egyptian culture and the transitional element of her identity. Like the Sphinx, which has the head of a human and the body of a lion, Cleopatra exists between two worlds: she is simultaneously a child and a young woman on her way to becoming a competent leader. Caesar becomes Cleopatra’s mentor rather than her lover, teaching the inexperienced young queen how to command the respect of her subjects and instilling in her a reverence for his political ideals. Although Cleopatra develops a childish infatuation with Caesar and is eager to please him, her youthful sense of entitlement provides her with little of Caesar’s disdain for unnecessary bloodshed, and she frequently fantasizes about exacting revenge on her enemies and subordinates. In Act IV, Cleopatra orders Ftatateeta to kill Pothinus in retaliation for Pothinus insulting her in front of Caesar. While Cleopatra attempts to construe her order for Pothinus’s assassination as politically motivated, she ultimately acts out of spite. Although her reckless decision nearly destroys the peace between the Roman and Egyptian people that Caesar has established, he manages to defeat the Egyptian army once more. In a battle that takes place between Act IV and Act V, Caesar’s army sinks Ptolemy’s ship, drowning the boy-king and leaving Cleopatra the sole ruler of Egypt.

Cleopatra Quotes in Caesar and Cleopatra

The Caesar and Cleopatra quotes below are all either spoken by Cleopatra or refer to Cleopatra. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Romanticization of History  Theme Icon
).
An Alternative to the Prologue Quotes

They care nothing about cowardice, these Romans: they fight to win. The pride and honor of war are nothing to them.

Related Characters: Bel Affris (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ra
Page Number: 10
Explanation and Analysis:

Cleopatra is not yet a woman: neither is she wise. But she already troubles men’s wisdom.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Bel Affris
Page Number: 13
Explanation and Analysis:

BELZANOR [with solemn arrogance] Ftatateeta: I am Belzanor, the captain of the Queen’s guard, descended from the gods.

FTATATEETA [retorting his arrogance with interest] Belzanor: I am Ftatateeta, the Queen’s chief nurse; and your divine ancestors were proud to be painted on the wall in the pyramids whom my fathers served.

Related Characters: Belzanor (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ftatateeta
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1 Quotes

In the little world yonder, Sphinx, my place is as high as yours in this great desert; only I wander, and you sit still; I conquer, and you endure; I work and wonder, you watch and wait; I look up and am dazzled, look down and am darkened, look round and am puzzled, whilst your eyes never turn from looking out—out of the world—to the lost region—the home from which we have strayed. Sphinx, you and I, strangers to the race of men, are no strangers to one another: have I not been conscious of you and of this place since I was born? Rome is a madman's dream: this is my Reality.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:

Of course not: I am the Queen; and I shall live in the palace at Alexandria when I have killed my brother, who drove me out of it. When I am old enough I shall do just what I like. I shall be able to poison the slaves and see them wriggle, and pretend to Ftatateeta that she is going to be put into the fiery furnace.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Ftatateeta, Ptolemy
Related Symbols: The Sphinx, Thrones
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA [very seriously] Oh, they would eat us if they caught us. They are barbarians. Their chief is called Julius Caesar. His father was a tiger and his mother a burning mountain; and his nose is like an elephant’s trunk [Caesar involuntarily rubs his nose]. They all have long noses, and ivory tusks, and little tails, and seven arms with a hundred arrows in each; and they live on human flesh.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2 Quotes

Ptolemy: Yes—the gods would not suffer—not suffer—[He stops; then, crestfallen] I forgot what the gods would not suffer.

THEODOTUS: Let Pothinus, the King’s guardian, speak for the King.

POTHINUS [suppressing his impatience with difficulty] The King wishes to say that the gods would not suffer the impiety of his sister to go unpunished.

Related Characters: Pothinus (speaker), Ptolemy (speaker), Theodotus (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR [recovering his self-possession] Pardon him, Theodotus: he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Britannus , Theodotus
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR. Cleopatra: I really think I must eat you, after all.

CLEOPATRA (kneeling beside him and looking at him with eager interest, half real, half affected to show how intelligent she is). You must not talk to me now as if I were a child.

CAESAR. You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us the other night; and you think you know more than I do already.

CLEOPATRA (taken down, and anxious to justify herself). No: that would be very silly of me: of course I know that. But, (suddenly) are you angry with me?

CAESAR. No.

CLEOPATRA (only half believing him). Then why are you so thoughtful?

CAESAR (rising). I have work to do, Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA (drawing back). Work! (Offended) You are tired of talking to me; and that is your excuse to get away from me.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Page Number: 44
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3 Quotes

APOLLODORUS. I do not keep a shop. Mine is a temple of the arts. I am a worshipper of beauty. My calling is to choose beautiful things for beautiful Queens. My motto is Art for Art's sake.

Related Characters: Apollodorus (speaker), Cleopatra, Ftatateeta, Roman Sentinel
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4 Quotes

CHARMIAN. He makes you so terribly prosy and serious and learned and philosophical.

Related Characters: Charmian (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Pothinus
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA: When I was foolish, I did what I liked, except when Ftatateeta beat me; and even then I cheated her and did it by stealth. Now that Caesar has made me wise, it is no use my liking or disliking; I do what must be done, and have no time to attend to myself. That is not happiness; but it is greatness. If Caesar were gone, I think I could govern the Egyptians; for what Caesar is to me, I am to the fools around me.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Pothinus
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

POTHINUS (looking hard at her). Cleopatra: this may be the vanity of youth.

Related Characters: Pothinus (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA: Love me! Pothinus: Caesar loves no one. Who are those we love? Only those whom we do not hate: all people are strangers and enemies to us except those we love. But it is not so with Caesar. He has no hatred in him: he makes friends with everyone as he does with dogs and children.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Pothinus
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:

POTHINUS. From her own lips I have heard it. You are to be her catspaw: you are to tear the crown from her brother's head and set it on her own, delivering us all into her hand—delivering yourself also. And then Caesar can return to Rome, or depart through the gate of death, which is nearer and surer.

CAESAR (calmly). Well, my friend; and is not this very natural?

POTHINUS (astonished). Natural! Then you do not resent treachery?

CAESAR. Resent! O thou foolish Egyptian, what have I to do with resentment? Do I resent the wind when it chills me, or the night when it makes me stumble in the darkness? Shall I resent youth when it turns from age, and ambition when it turns from servitude? To tell me such a story as this is but to tell me that the sun will rise to-morrow.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Pothinus (speaker), Cleopatra, Ptolemy
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA (sinking back trembling on the bench and covering her face with her hands). I have not betrayed you, Caesar: I swear it.

CAESAR. I know that. I have not trusted you.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra (speaker), Ftatateeta, Pothinus
Page Number: 98
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR. If one man in all the world can be found, now or forever, to know that you did wrong, that man will have either to conquer the world as I have, or be crucified by it. […] These knockers at your gate are also believers in vengeance and in stabbing. You have slain their leader: it is right that they shall slay you. […] then in the name of that right (He emphasizes the word with great scorn.) shall I not slay them for murdering their Queen, and be slain in my turn by their countrymen as the invader of their fatherland? Can Rome do less than slay these slayers too, to show the world how Rome avenges her sons and her honor? And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand. […]

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Rufio, Ftatateeta, Pothinus, Britannus , Apollodorus
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 99-100
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5 Quotes

CAESAR (energetically). On my head be it, then; for it was well done. Rufio: had you set yourself in the seat of the judge, and with hateful ceremonies and appeals to the gods handed that woman over to some hired executioner to be slain before the people in the name of justice, never again would I have touched your hand without a shudder. But this was natural slaying: I feel no horror at it.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Rufio, Ftatateeta, Pothinus
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 111
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Caesar and Cleopatra LitChart as a printable PDF.
Caesar and Cleopatra PDF

Cleopatra Quotes in Caesar and Cleopatra

The Caesar and Cleopatra quotes below are all either spoken by Cleopatra or refer to Cleopatra. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Romanticization of History  Theme Icon
).
An Alternative to the Prologue Quotes

They care nothing about cowardice, these Romans: they fight to win. The pride and honor of war are nothing to them.

Related Characters: Bel Affris (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ra
Page Number: 10
Explanation and Analysis:

Cleopatra is not yet a woman: neither is she wise. But she already troubles men’s wisdom.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Bel Affris
Page Number: 13
Explanation and Analysis:

BELZANOR [with solemn arrogance] Ftatateeta: I am Belzanor, the captain of the Queen’s guard, descended from the gods.

FTATATEETA [retorting his arrogance with interest] Belzanor: I am Ftatateeta, the Queen’s chief nurse; and your divine ancestors were proud to be painted on the wall in the pyramids whom my fathers served.

Related Characters: Belzanor (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Ftatateeta
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1 Quotes

In the little world yonder, Sphinx, my place is as high as yours in this great desert; only I wander, and you sit still; I conquer, and you endure; I work and wonder, you watch and wait; I look up and am dazzled, look down and am darkened, look round and am puzzled, whilst your eyes never turn from looking out—out of the world—to the lost region—the home from which we have strayed. Sphinx, you and I, strangers to the race of men, are no strangers to one another: have I not been conscious of you and of this place since I was born? Rome is a madman's dream: this is my Reality.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 18
Explanation and Analysis:

Of course not: I am the Queen; and I shall live in the palace at Alexandria when I have killed my brother, who drove me out of it. When I am old enough I shall do just what I like. I shall be able to poison the slaves and see them wriggle, and pretend to Ftatateeta that she is going to be put into the fiery furnace.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Ftatateeta, Ptolemy
Related Symbols: The Sphinx, Thrones
Page Number: 20
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA [very seriously] Oh, they would eat us if they caught us. They are barbarians. Their chief is called Julius Caesar. His father was a tiger and his mother a burning mountain; and his nose is like an elephant’s trunk [Caesar involuntarily rubs his nose]. They all have long noses, and ivory tusks, and little tails, and seven arms with a hundred arrows in each; and they live on human flesh.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Page Number: 21
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2 Quotes

Ptolemy: Yes—the gods would not suffer—not suffer—[He stops; then, crestfallen] I forgot what the gods would not suffer.

THEODOTUS: Let Pothinus, the King’s guardian, speak for the King.

POTHINUS [suppressing his impatience with difficulty] The King wishes to say that the gods would not suffer the impiety of his sister to go unpunished.

Related Characters: Pothinus (speaker), Ptolemy (speaker), Theodotus (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR [recovering his self-possession] Pardon him, Theodotus: he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Ptolemy, Britannus , Theodotus
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR. Cleopatra: I really think I must eat you, after all.

CLEOPATRA (kneeling beside him and looking at him with eager interest, half real, half affected to show how intelligent she is). You must not talk to me now as if I were a child.

CAESAR. You have been growing up since the Sphinx introduced us the other night; and you think you know more than I do already.

CLEOPATRA (taken down, and anxious to justify herself). No: that would be very silly of me: of course I know that. But, (suddenly) are you angry with me?

CAESAR. No.

CLEOPATRA (only half believing him). Then why are you so thoughtful?

CAESAR (rising). I have work to do, Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA (drawing back). Work! (Offended) You are tired of talking to me; and that is your excuse to get away from me.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Sphinx
Page Number: 44
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3 Quotes

APOLLODORUS. I do not keep a shop. Mine is a temple of the arts. I am a worshipper of beauty. My calling is to choose beautiful things for beautiful Queens. My motto is Art for Art's sake.

Related Characters: Apollodorus (speaker), Cleopatra, Ftatateeta, Roman Sentinel
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4 Quotes

CHARMIAN. He makes you so terribly prosy and serious and learned and philosophical.

Related Characters: Charmian (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Pothinus
Page Number: 80
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA: When I was foolish, I did what I liked, except when Ftatateeta beat me; and even then I cheated her and did it by stealth. Now that Caesar has made me wise, it is no use my liking or disliking; I do what must be done, and have no time to attend to myself. That is not happiness; but it is greatness. If Caesar were gone, I think I could govern the Egyptians; for what Caesar is to me, I am to the fools around me.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Pothinus
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

POTHINUS (looking hard at her). Cleopatra: this may be the vanity of youth.

Related Characters: Pothinus (speaker), Julius Caesar, Cleopatra
Page Number: 81
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA: Love me! Pothinus: Caesar loves no one. Who are those we love? Only those whom we do not hate: all people are strangers and enemies to us except those we love. But it is not so with Caesar. He has no hatred in him: he makes friends with everyone as he does with dogs and children.

Related Characters: Cleopatra (speaker), Julius Caesar, Pothinus
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:

POTHINUS. From her own lips I have heard it. You are to be her catspaw: you are to tear the crown from her brother's head and set it on her own, delivering us all into her hand—delivering yourself also. And then Caesar can return to Rome, or depart through the gate of death, which is nearer and surer.

CAESAR (calmly). Well, my friend; and is not this very natural?

POTHINUS (astonished). Natural! Then you do not resent treachery?

CAESAR. Resent! O thou foolish Egyptian, what have I to do with resentment? Do I resent the wind when it chills me, or the night when it makes me stumble in the darkness? Shall I resent youth when it turns from age, and ambition when it turns from servitude? To tell me such a story as this is but to tell me that the sun will rise to-morrow.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Pothinus (speaker), Cleopatra, Ptolemy
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 90
Explanation and Analysis:

CLEOPATRA (sinking back trembling on the bench and covering her face with her hands). I have not betrayed you, Caesar: I swear it.

CAESAR. I know that. I have not trusted you.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra (speaker), Ftatateeta, Pothinus
Page Number: 98
Explanation and Analysis:

CAESAR. If one man in all the world can be found, now or forever, to know that you did wrong, that man will have either to conquer the world as I have, or be crucified by it. […] These knockers at your gate are also believers in vengeance and in stabbing. You have slain their leader: it is right that they shall slay you. […] then in the name of that right (He emphasizes the word with great scorn.) shall I not slay them for murdering their Queen, and be slain in my turn by their countrymen as the invader of their fatherland? Can Rome do less than slay these slayers too, to show the world how Rome avenges her sons and her honor? And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand. […]

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Rufio, Ftatateeta, Pothinus, Britannus , Apollodorus
Related Symbols: Thrones
Page Number: 99-100
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5 Quotes

CAESAR (energetically). On my head be it, then; for it was well done. Rufio: had you set yourself in the seat of the judge, and with hateful ceremonies and appeals to the gods handed that woman over to some hired executioner to be slain before the people in the name of justice, never again would I have touched your hand without a shudder. But this was natural slaying: I feel no horror at it.

Related Characters: Julius Caesar (speaker), Cleopatra, Rufio, Ftatateeta, Pothinus
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 111
Explanation and Analysis: