Act 5, Scene 2 Summary

Cleopatra sends Caesar word that she wishes to die. Caesar visits her at the monument, to tell her that she will be spared if she submits to share her rule of Egypt. If she kills herself, he has promised to destroy her heirs. Cleopatra learns that Caesar will take her with him to Rome in three days' time; she imagines that she and Antony will be humiliated and mocked on Roman stages. She prepares for her suicide: a clown brings the basket bearing figs and multiple asps. Iras kisses her and dies. She holds the asp to her breast, puts another to her arm, and dies from the bites. Charmian kills herself. Caesar returns and orders for Cleopatra to be buried next to Antony.

Act 5, Scene 2 Analysis

With Antony dead, the final scene provides insight into the power of Cleopatra's personality...