cleopatra

• structure:

  • Lengthy stanzas symbolize Cleopatra's long reign and significant impact.
  • Each stanza reflects major parts of Cleopatra's life, showcasing her influence and achievements.
  • Duffy remembers Cleopatra's success through the extended stanzas, highlighting her enduring legacy.
  • Cleopatra's death is briefly mentioned, emphasizing her remarkable reign and overshadowing her demise.
  • The extended stanzas emulate Cleopatra's longevity, mirroring her enduring presence in history.
• 'she reached and pulled him down'Duffy suggests that Cleopatra controlled Caesar through her beauty and intelligence, 'reached and pulled him down' but this could also suggest that she is using her sexuality and her appearance to corrupt him and tarnish his soul as she is seducing him and making him impure.
• 'saw her wrapped in satins like a gift'Duffy is referencing the decadence of ancient Egypt but also the control of women - Cleopatra is nothing more than a 'gift' to a man because of her body and appearance - she has been reduced to nothing more than an object
• 'tough beauty'Duffy begins this stanza with a oxymoron, 'tough beauty' displaying how a woman is both beautiful and powerful. Using her beauty to gain leverage and being able to outsmart the men in her way - she is equal with Caesar 'matched him glass for glass' implying that though feminine, she holds equal power to him. 'Tough beauty' also contrasts 'dumb beauty' and 'beauty is fame' suggesting that beauty standards are constantly evolving.
• 'Lost forever in a sea of snakes' sibilance societal views shes sneaky for transgression, actual death, sounds of whispers of wanting her
• • Death: After learning of Octavian's intention to parade her as a captive in Rome, she committed suicide, traditionally by the bite of an asp.

  By framing her death as a choice to maintain her dignity and autonomy, you can highlight her as a feminist icon who resisted subjugation.