Shakespeare's multifaceted Antony and Cleopatra has been seen on one hand as a romance about the transcendence of love and, on the other, as a lesson against neglect of duty. Centered on the richly drawn presence of the Egyptian ruler, generations of critics have hailed Cleopatra as one of Shakespeare's greatest literary creations. In this new edition, a new selection of critical essays examines this classic work. A chronology, a bibliography, an index, and an introduction from master scholar Harold Bloom round out this valuable volume.