Classic to Modern English Literature

William Shakespeare's historical tragedy "Antony and Cleopatra" was written in 1606–07 and first performed around 1607. It was published in 1623 in the First Folio, under the title, "The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra." The play is about the love affair between Mark Antony, a Roman military leader and triumvir, and Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. Antony is needed in Rome, but he lingers in Egypt with Cleopatra. The play is set in the entire Roman Empire and is based on the well-documented history of Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavius Caesar. The play was first performed by the King's Men at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre. The plot is based on Thomas North's 1579 English translation of Plutarch's Lives (in Ancient Greek) and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony from the time of the Sicilian revolt to Cleopatra's suicide during the War of Actium. It is difficult to classify Antony and Cleopatra as be

"All for Love" by John Dryden is a tragic play that reimagines the story of Antony and Cleopatra. The play was first performed in 1677 and published in 1678. The play delves into the internal struggle of Antony as he balances his love for Cleopatra with his duty to Rome, ultimately leading to a tragic downfall. In All For Love, the conflict between personal desires and public responsibilities, the manipulation inherent in political relationships is deeply shown. It reflects the changing political and social landscape of the time, marked by the restoration of the monarchy under Charles II.  The play is a tragedy written in blank verse and is considered Dryden's best known and most often performed play. It was revived in 1704 and performed 123 times between 1700 and 1800. All for Love is considered an early text of Romantic “sentimentalism,” a literary movement that emphasized passion, sentiment, and feeling over rational considerations. The play explores themes of love, du