Theatre
مصرع كليوباترا
Not translated into English
Ahmad Shawqi · 1927
Synopsis
Octavian, master of Rome, makes war on Antony, the triumvir who has bound his fate to that of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. The play focuses on the queen's last days, beginning with the naval battle of Actium. In the middle of the fight, Cleopatra withdraws her fleet and leaves Antony weakened. After the defeat comes a passing victory, which the couple celebrate at the palace. Far from the seductress described by Western historians, the queen appears there as a sovereign devoted to her people and to the throne of Egypt.
Context
The play dates from 1929 (from 1927 according to Al Jazeera, which places it after its author was proclaimed prince of poets). Britannica regards Shawqi as the pioneer of verse drama in the Arabic language. In it he takes the opposite view to Shakespeare, who made Cleopatra a “serpent of the Nile” corrupting the Romans, and shows her as a queen devoted to her country. This choice has been linked to Pharaonism, a current that sought the roots of national identity in ancient Egypt and to which the poet rallied after his exile; a critical essay, published with the play, defends the choice of subject.
Who it is for
A tragedy in verse, in classical Arabic; no translation into French or English has been found.
Prizes and reception
Tragedy by a pioneer of Arabic verse drama; several university studies compare it with Shakespeare's play.
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