Overlay: Audience perception of characters in the film Cleopatra (1963)

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Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
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Missing (1)

Context of Will Seizure: The summary mentions Octavian 'illegally' reads the willost-nuance

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Cleopatra (1963), which character does the audience root for, and which do they root against, and why (e.g. which of their actions cause the audience perception)?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

In the 1963 epic Cleopatra, audience perception is heavily shaped by the film’s narrative structure, which frames the conflict as a struggle between individual passion/national sovereignty (Cleopatra and Antony) and cold political pragmatism (Octavian).

The Character the Audience Roots For: Cleopatra

Cleopatra is the clear protagonist, and the audience is conditioned to root for her not just as a queen, but as a visionary who wants to unite the world.

Action – The Burning of the Library: When the Great Library of Alexandria is accidentally burned during Caesar's siege, Cleopatra’s visceral grief and fury over the loss of human knowledge make her deeply sympathetic. It positions her as a "defender of civilization" against the "brutishness" of Rome.
Action – The Grand Entrance to Rome: Her extravagant arrival on a giant sphinx is one of the most famous scenes in cinema. The sheer audacity and majesty of the spectacle make the audience admire her power and refusal to be cowed by the hostile Roman Senate.
Action – Her Defiant Suicide: Rather than being paraded through Rome as a captive in Octavian's triumph, her choice to die on her own terms is portrayed as a noble, queenly act of defiance.
Why: Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal emphasizes Cleopatra’s intelligence and vulnerability. The film suggests that her "manipulations" are actually necessary survival tactics for a woman in a man's world.

The Character the Audience Roots Against: Octavian (Augustus)

Octavian is portrayed as the quintessential "villain" of the film—cold, calculating, and devoid of the "fire" possessed by Caesar or Antony.

Action – Manipulation of Antony’s Will: In a pivotal scene, Octavian illegally reads Antony’s private will to the Senate. He uses Antony’s desire to be buried in Egypt to brand him a traitor. The audience perceives this as a sleazy, "below the belt" political maneuver.
Action – The Murder of Caesarion: The film depicts Caesarion as a young, innocent boy (younger than he was historically) to make Octavian’s order to execute him feel especially heinous and "un-Caesar-like."
Action – Callous Dialogue: After Antony's death, Octavian is informed by a messenger. He responds with the famous "soup" line: "Is that how one says it? As simply as that? 'Mark Antony is dead... the soup is hot; the soup is cold.'" His lack of emotion regarding the death of a man who was once his ally makes him appear sociopathic and unlikable.
Why: Roddy McDowall plays Octavian as an "effeminate wimp" (as critics called the portrayal at the time) who wins through bureaucracy and treachery rather than the battlefield bravery the audience values.

The "Tragic" Middle Ground: Mark Antony and Julius Caesar

Audience sympathy for these characters is more complex:

Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison): The audience roots for him in the first half because of his wit and "cultured warrior" persona. However, his growing arrogance and the way he dismisses the burning of the Library (initially) alienate the audience slightly, making his eventual assassination feel like a tragedy of his own making.
Mark Antony (Richard Burton): Antony is the most "human" character. The audience roots for him because of his desperate, self-destructive love for Cleopatra. However, his action of abandoning his fleet at the Battle of Actium to follow her ship causes a dip in "rooting" interest; he is seen as having lost his Roman honor and his mind, transitioning from a hero to a pathetic, drunken figure.

Summary Table of Audience Perception

Character	Perception	Key Action Driving This
Cleopatra	Heroic/Visionary	Defending the Library; choosing a noble death.
Octavian	Villainous/Cold	Reading the will; killing the child Caesarion.
Mark Antony	Tragic/Weak	Abandoning his men at Actium; heavy drinking.
Julius Caesar	Respected/Arrogant	Restoring Cleopatra to the throne; declaring himself Dictator.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film's central conflict is accurately described as the clash between the romantic/monarchical vision of Cleopatra/Antony and the bureaucratic/republican (later imperial) pragmatism of Octavian.

[2] In the film, Caesar orders the Egyptian fleet burned to prevent pursuit; the fire spreads to the library. Cleopatra confronts him, shouting, 'How dare you... set fire to my library?'

[3] The entrance into Rome features a massive black sphinx float pulled by hundreds of slaves, a scene famous for its scale and spectacle.

[4] Octavian seizes the will from the Vestal Virgins (violating religious sanctuary) and reads it to the Senate to prove Antony's allegiance to Egypt over Rome.

[5] Historically, Caesarion was 17 when he died (47-30 BC). In the film, he is portrayed by Kenneth Nash (age 12), emphasizing his innocence and Octavian's cruelty.

[6] The quote is accurate to the film script. Octavian says this to the messenger who delivers the news of Antony's death.

[7] Roddy McDowall's performance is widely cited as a highlight for its chilly, effete, and intellectual villainy, contrasting with the rugged masculinity of Burton and Harrison.

[8] Antony abandoning the Battle of Actium to follow Cleopatra's retreating barge is a key plot point that marks his downfall and loss of honor.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

Context of Will Seizure

The summary mentions Octavian 'illegally' reads the will. The specific context—that he seized it by force from the Vestal Virgins, a major sacrilege—adds weight to his villainy but was not strictly necessary for the summary.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What was the critical reception of Roddy McDowall's performance in Cleopatra?

#02 How does the film's depiction of Caesarion differ from historical fact?

#03 Did Elizabeth Taylor have creative control over the script of Cleopatra?

#S SOURCES

blogspot.com youtube.com youtube.com wikipedia.org wikipedia.org youtube.com

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

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In the 1963 epic *Cleopatra*, audience perception is heavily shaped by the film’s narrative structure, which frames the conflict as a struggle between **individual passion/national sovereignty** (Cleopatra and Antony) and **cold political pragmatism** (Octavian). ### The Character the Audience Roots For: Cleopatra Cleopatra is the clear protagonist, and the audience is conditioned to root for her not just as a queen, but as a visionary who wants to unite the world. * **Action – The Burning of the Library:** When the Great Library of Alexandria is accidentally burned during Caesar's siege, Cleopatra’s visceral grief and fury over the loss of human knowledge make her deeply sympathetic. It positions her as a "defender of civilization" against the "brutishness" of Rome. * **Action – The Grand Entrance to Rome:** Her extravagant arrival on a giant sphinx is one of the most famous scenes in cinema. The sheer audacity and majesty of the spectacle make the audience admire her power and refusal to be cowed by the hostile Roman Senate. * **Action – Her Defiant Suicide:** Rather than being paraded through Rome as a captive in Octavian's triumph, her choice to die on her own terms is portrayed as a noble, queenly act of defiance. * **Why:** Elizabeth Taylor’s portrayal emphasizes Cleopatra’s intelligence and vulnerability. The film suggests that her "manipulations" are actually necessary survival tactics for a woman in a man's world. ### The Character the Audience Roots Against: Octavian (Augustus) Octavian is portrayed as the quintessential "villain" of the film—cold, calculating, and devoid of the "fire" possessed by Caesar or Antony. * **Action – Manipulation of Antony’s Will:** In a pivotal scene, Octavian illegally reads Antony’s private will to the Senate. He uses Antony’s desire to be buried in Egypt to brand him a traitor. The audience perceives this as a sleazy, "below the belt" political maneuver. * **Action – The Murder of Caesarion:** The film depicts Caesarion as a young, innocent boy (younger than he was historically) to make Octavian’s order to execute him feel especially heinous and "un-Caesar-like." * **Action – Callous Dialogue:** After Antony's death, Octavian is informed by a messenger. He responds with the famous "soup" line: *"Is that how one says it? As simply as that? 'Mark Antony is dead... the soup is hot; the soup is cold.'"* His lack of emotion regarding the death of a man who was once his ally makes him appear sociopathic and unlikable. * **Why:** Roddy McDowall plays Octavian as an "effeminate wimp" (as critics called the portrayal at the time) who wins through bureaucracy and treachery rather than the battlefield bravery the audience values. ### The "Tragic" Middle Ground: Mark Antony and Julius Caesar Audience sympathy for these characters is more complex: * **Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison):** The audience roots for him in the first half because of his wit and "cultured warrior" persona. However, his growing arrogance and the way he dismisses the burning of the Library (initially) alienate the audience slightly, making his eventual assassination feel like a tragedy of his own making. * **Mark Antony (Richard Burton):** Antony is the most "human" character. The audience roots for him because of his desperate, self-destructive love for Cleopatra. However, his **action of abandoning his fleet at the Battle of Actium** to follow her ship causes a dip in "rooting" interest; he is seen as having lost his Roman honor and his mind, transitioning from a hero to a pathetic, drunken figure. ### Summary Table of Audience Perception | Character | Perception | Key Action Driving This | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Cleopatra** | **Heroic/Visionary** | Defending the Library; choosing a noble death. | | **Octavian** | **Villainous/Cold** | Reading the will; killing the child Caesarion. | | **Mark Antony** | **Tragic/Weak** | Abandoning his men at Actium; heavy drinking. | | **Julius Caesar** | **Respected/Arrogant** | Restoring Cleopatra to the throne; declaring himself Dictator. |

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

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The audience roots for Cleopatra (protagonist/visionary) and against Octavian (villain/cold pragmatist). Cleopatra is sympathetic due to her defense of culture (Library burning), her defiance of Rome (Grand Entrance), and her noble suicide. Octavian is disliked for his lack of honor, exemplified by reading Antony's private will, ordering the death of the child Caesarion, and his callous 'soup' reaction to Antony's death. Antony is viewed as a tragic figure whose abandonment of his fleet at Actium alienates the audience.

OVERLAY REPORT