The political and personal lives of Mark Antony and Cleopatra collide as their intense romantic entanglement threatens the stability of the Roman Empire. Antony, a triumvir of Rome, finds himself torn between his duty to the state and his overwhelming passion for the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. As Octavius Caesar maneuvers to consolidate power in Rome, the lovers face mounting external pressures and internal conflicts that lead toward their inevitable downfall. The narrative unfolds through dramatic dialogue and soliloquies, capturing the shifting loyalties and grand scale of the conflict across the Mediterranean world.

Discussion often centers on the play's unique blend of epic historical scope and intimate character study. Readers frequently highlight the linguistic complexity of the verse, which is often cited as some of the most sophisticated in the Shakespearean canon. Critics often debate the moral ambiguity of the central figures, questioning whether their actions represent a grand romantic sacrifice or a catastrophic political failure. The play's experimental structure and rapid scene changes continue to generate analysis regarding its effectiveness as a piece of performance art. Many scholars emphasize how the text challenges traditional gender roles through the portrayal of Cleopatra's political agency.