Caesar and Cleopatra

by Bernard Shaw

"Caesar and Cleopatra" by Bernard Shaw is a play written in 1898 that depicts a fictionalised account of the relationship between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra. Shaw portrays the sixteen-year-old Egyptian queen meeting the Roman conqueror, deliberately avoiding romantic overtones to focus on political themes and parallels with British imperialism. Drawing from Mommsen's admiring historical account rather than Shakespeare's treatment, Shaw presents Caesar as a wise leader guiding a fearful young ruler. The play contrasts sharply with Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," offering Shaw's vision of "real" characters over "love-obsessed" ones.