Triumph over tragedy in Antony and Cleopatra A summary of the plot of Antony and Cleopatra would suggest that it is a tragedy. The play focuses on Antony's downfall as a Roman warrior due to his love affair with Cleopatra, as well as the suicides of both protagonists. However, despite these incidents, the play lacks the sombre note of Shakespeare's other tragedies. Cleopatra, who represents the cheerfulness of Egyptian society, brings a sense of humor to the work that contrasts with the seriousness of Rome. Antony's preference for Cleopatra over Rome is confirmed within the play, and his failure as a warrior is a Roman loss that is outweighed by his subsequent success as Cleopatra's lover. Furthermore, the play's ending itself has a sense of triumph that does not suggest tragedy. Although Caesar achieves victory over Antony and gains world power, he is unable to destroy the most precious love between Antony and Cleopatra. Antony and Cleopatra's suicides are not sad and desperate ends, but an escape from impending Roman imposition and a means of furthering their love into a freer and happier life together in heaven. Therefore, although the plot suggests tragedy, the greater value of Antony's love for Cleopatra over Roman success, and the perpetuation of this love allows for a sense of comedy. The work is marked by the tension that Antony feels due to the conflict between his love for Cleopatra and the pleasures of Egyptian life, with his sense of duty as a Roman warrior and member of the triumvirate. Although he returns to Rome to carry out his duties, Antony places a higher value on the love he and Cleopatra have for each other. Cleopatra is worth a lot to him and he declares her...... middle of paper...... shers, 1988. 109-35.Barton, Anne. “'The Nature Piece 'Gainst Fancy': The Catastrophe Divided into Antony and Cleopatra.” Modern Critical Interpretations: William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. 35-55.Bloom, Harold, ed. Introduction. Modern Critical Interpretations: William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988.---. Shakespeare: The invention of the human. New York: Riverhead Books, 1998.Kittredge, George Lyman. Introduction. Antony and Cleopatra. By William Shakespeare. Waltham, MA: Blaisdell Publishing Company, 1966. Markels, Julian. The Pillar of the World: Antony and Cleopatra in the Development of Shakespeare. Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1968. Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. Ed. Barbara Everett. New York: Seal, 1998.