Motivation for the Suicides of Antony and Cleopatra:
             At the heart of the play lies the relationship between Antony and Cleopatra which develops against the background of political conflicts, and ultimately brings the protagonists to suicide. The expressions of adoration of each other by the protagonists throughout the play and especially in the culmination scenes suggest that their motivations to die spring from their love of each other. However, Cleopatra's theatricality and Antony's sporadic disregard of her result in the divergence of critical opinions concerning the genuineness of their love. Moreover, by placing their relationship in the context of political clashes between the Roman Empire and Egypt, Shakespeare gives grounds for the alternative interpretation that their resolutions to commit suicide are brought about by politics rather than love. The opposing views of Antony's motivation to kill himself are Cleopatra's sham death versus his defeat by Octavius Caesar; and of Cleopatra's motivation to kill herself are Antony's death versus her fear of her impending humiliation by Caesar. However, close reading of the play reveals that Shakespeare does not really accentuate either of the two possible motivations but rather mixes them, thus leaving it unclear which is uppermost in driving his characters. In this essay, I will demonstrate that a preference of one position over another concerning the protagonists' motivations to commit suicide results in an incomplete perception of the artist's intention; and only a view of the play as a whole allows it to be fully understood
             The division of views on the protagonists' motivations to commit suicide originates both from uncertainty about the genuineness of their love, and from their conflicting speeches. Some critics erroneously take one strict position, disregarding other possible interpretations. For example, A.C. Bradley, advocate of the view that Ant...