Caesar and Cleopatra is another notable play by one of the greatest dramatists of English literature, Bernard Shaw. Shaw’s plays mark a milestone in the history of British drama as they show a movement away from romanticism to realism. They are plays of ideas. Caesar and Cleopatrais about the historical situation of Caesar conquering Egypt and holding the queen Cleopatra under his thumb. The iconoclastic Shaw breaks the idols of Cleopatra and of Caesar in such an unforgettable way that the reader then begins to see the humorous side of Caesar while also seeing the unglamorous side of Cleopatra. The light-veined humorous touches to the history of Egypt with Rome as the conquering nation are made memorable through this play.
This AC Ward series from Orient BlackSwan has been now enhanced and enriched with additional student-friendly features such as analyses of themes and characterisation, act-wise summaries and questions and also a select reading list. We hope that these value additions will help maintain the popularity that the series has long enjoyed with teachers and students alike.
The fresh sections of the book, that is, the new Critical Analysis, Summaries, etc. have been prepared by Kanchana Ugbabe who is a faculty member at the University of Jos, Nigeria.
General Introduction to the Works of Bernard Shaw: AC Ward Introduction to Caesar and Cleopatra: AC Ward General Notes: AC Ward Preface: Better than Shakespear?: Bernard Shaw Prologue An Alternative to the Prologue Act I Act II Act III Act IV Act V
Author’s Notes to Caesar and Cleopatra
Notes on the Preface to Caesar and Cleopatra Notes on Caesar and Cleopatra Critical Analysis Summary of the Play Questions Topics for Discussion A Select Bibliography