Thesis
Devavrat Joshi
Topic: Cleopatra: Caring queen or a ruthless tyrant?
Thesis statement: Cleopatra is a queen who cares about her country and will protect it at any cost.
Subtopic#1 Proof: Cleopatra is one of the most famous Egyptian queens, you might have heard about her. She is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman, yet a ruthless and a tyrant, but few people know the truth about her. Although her character and intentions may be a topic of controversy, she indeed was a remarkable, fearless woman of strategy, courage, and perseverance. Cleopatra belonged to a weakening royal dynasty that was struggling to save itself from Rome for generations and turned into power hungry beasts that didn't hesitate to kill family. Cleopatra killed her own siblings in order to secure her place on the throne. After I started reading about her, I realized that she was a smart, diplomatic and caring queen. Unlike other females of her time, she was competent, dynamic, and had the privilege of a tutor and access to an education in Alexandria. She strove all of her life to restore the glory and greatness of Egypt that it was known for. "Had she succeeded, a Greco-Roman monarchy would have been established; the influence of Hellenism upon the Roman world would have been extended; and Alexandria-not Rome-might well have become the capital of this empire. Cleopatra still casts a long shadow over history." - Ernle Bradford (Rosenberg, Marvin, Mary Rosenberg.)
Subtopic#2 Proof: Cleopatra had Macedonian origins but she was concerned about Egypt's welfare. She grew up in a Greco-Egyptian environment. She cared for Egyptian people. She went to extent of dressing up as Isis, an Egyptian Goddess. She was the first Ptolemy to speak Egyptian. "It was even more surprising because most of her ancestral kings barely struggle to learn the Egyptian language and some of them have pretty neglected the Macedonian language." -Plutarch. (macedoniangenealogies.org)
She would go to any lengths to protect her people and restore her empire. When her brother exiled her, she rolled herself up into a carpet that was supposed to be delivered to Julius Caesar, who was the most powerful Roman general. Although she was only 22 years at the time when she met 50 year old Caesar, she had the art of negotiation that convinced him to be along her side. Being a woman she could not use power or get support from her army . She used diplomacy to regain power. Yet, she did not let Egypt to fall into Rome's hands. In the end, she went down with a fight.
Subtopic#3 Proof: She was very persuasive. Her beauty and charm helped overpower two great Roman leaders: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Roman people condemned her association with these famous men. Some historians describe her as a greedy queen who would stop at nothing to gain power. "She captivated the two greatest Romans of her day, and because of the third she destroyed herself." - Cassius Dio (penelope.uchicago.edu)
Had Octavian not captured her at the battle of Actium, forcing her to commit suicide, she would have ruled an enormous Greco-Roman empire; and Alexandria would have been the capital instead of Rome. She truly loved Mark Antony. After his death, she wept incessantly until finally, she committed suicide. Archibios, A wealthy Alexandrian, paid 2000 talents to Octavian to save Cleopatra's statues. Her legend still lives on today and has inspired writers for more than 2000 years. If Cleopatra could have succeeded in her intense efforts of making Egypt powerful, we might be living in a different world today. Nevertheless, she undoubtedly succeeded in keeping Rome from capturing Egypt while she was alive.
Topic: Cleopatra: Caring queen or a ruthless tyrant?
Thesis statement: Cleopatra is a queen who cares about her country and will protect it at any cost.
Subtopic#1 Proof: Cleopatra is one of the most famous Egyptian queens, you might have heard about her. She is commonly portrayed as a beautiful woman, yet a ruthless and a tyrant, but few people know the truth about her. Although her character and intentions may be a topic of controversy, she indeed was a remarkable, fearless woman of strategy, courage, and perseverance. Cleopatra belonged to a weakening royal dynasty that was struggling to save itself from Rome for generations and turned into power hungry beasts that didn't hesitate to kill family. Cleopatra killed her own siblings in order to secure her place on the throne. After I started reading about her, I realized that she was a smart, diplomatic and caring queen. Unlike other females of her time, she was competent, dynamic, and had the privilege of a tutor and access to an education in Alexandria. She strove all of her life to restore the glory and greatness of Egypt that it was known for. "Had she succeeded, a Greco-Roman monarchy would have been established; the influence of Hellenism upon the Roman world would have been extended; and Alexandria-not Rome-might well have become the capital of this empire. Cleopatra still casts a long shadow over history." - Ernle Bradford (Rosenberg, Marvin, Mary Rosenberg.)
Subtopic#2 Proof: Cleopatra had Macedonian origins but she was concerned about Egypt's welfare. She grew up in a Greco-Egyptian environment. She cared for Egyptian people. She went to extent of dressing up as Isis, an Egyptian Goddess. She was the first Ptolemy to speak Egyptian. "It was even more surprising because most of her ancestral kings barely struggle to learn the Egyptian language and some of them have pretty neglected the Macedonian language." -Plutarch. (macedoniangenealogies.org)
She would go to any lengths to protect her people and restore her empire. When her brother exiled her, she rolled herself up into a carpet that was supposed to be delivered to Julius Caesar, who was the most powerful Roman general. Although she was only 22 years at the time when she met 50 year old Caesar, she had the art of negotiation that convinced him to be along her side. Being a woman she could not use power or get support from her army . She used diplomacy to regain power. Yet, she did not let Egypt to fall into Rome's hands. In the end, she went down with a fight.
Subtopic#3 Proof: She was very persuasive. Her beauty and charm helped overpower two great Roman leaders: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Roman people condemned her association with these famous men. Some historians describe her as a greedy queen who would stop at nothing to gain power. "She captivated the two greatest Romans of her day, and because of the third she destroyed herself." - Cassius Dio (penelope.uchicago.edu)
Had Octavian not captured her at the battle of Actium, forcing her to commit suicide, she would have ruled an enormous Greco-Roman empire; and Alexandria would have been the capital instead of Rome. She truly loved Mark Antony. After his death, she wept incessantly until finally, she committed suicide. Archibios, A wealthy Alexandrian, paid 2000 talents to Octavian to save Cleopatra's statues. Her legend still lives on today and has inspired writers for more than 2000 years. If Cleopatra could have succeeded in her intense efforts of making Egypt powerful, we might be living in a different world today. Nevertheless, she undoubtedly succeeded in keeping Rome from capturing Egypt while she was alive.