Erin Bumgarner
Honors 141
December 5, 2002
Fiction Report
I. Complete Bibliographical Reference
Essex, Karen. Pharaoh. Warner Books Inc. New York, NY. 2002
II. Brief Biographical Sketch of the Author
Essex was born in New Orleans. She attended the University of Tulane
for undergraduate school and went on to get a MFA in writing from
Goddard College. Later, while researching for her books, she attended
graduate school at Vanderbilt where she studied Classics. After
college, she moved to Los Angeles and quickly climbed the corporate
ladder to become the Vice President of Force Ten Productions. There
she co produced The In Crowd. Along with Kleopatra
and Pharaoh, she is the coauthor of a biography on Bettie
Page. She has adapted both of her books along with Anne Rice's The
Mummy for screenplay. Essex also has many essays and profiles
that have appeared in many magazines including Playboy, Vogue,
TV Guide, and LA Weekly.
III. Brief Account of Historical/Cultural Background
Essex wrote to "present the woman behind the myth, the secrets
behind the histories, and deliver the gift of an enduring role model
for women today." She wanted to prove that the idea of Cleopatra
as only a seductress was wrong. Essex actually enrolled in Vanderbilt's
graduate program for Classics in order to further research the book
and the history.
IV. Principal Sources Used
She read most books that have to do with Antiquity including the
books we use in class (Grant, Shaw). She also studied many ancient
texts including Plutarch and Caesar. Essex specifically thanks Mikel
Gilmore and Nancy Walker for their expertise.
V. Summary of Plot
The book begins with Kleopatra attempting to cheer up Antony with
whores after his defeat at Actium. From there the chapters alternate
between her time with Caesar and her time with Antony. If put in
chronological order, it would begin with her being 18 and sneaking
in to meet Caesar in her palace. The story tells of her political
schemes with Caesar. It explains the event of them having a son
and struggling to present him the to Roman people. She travels to
Rome with him and is there for his death. Antony helps her sneak
out of the city and then later calls her to him for negotiations.
They fall in love and begin to battle Octavian. The book goes until
they both end up committing suicide after the fall of Alexandria.
He kills himself because she sends word to him that she is already
dead. Then she kills herself when she finds out that she will be
a political prisoner of Octavian.
VI. Evaluation of Historical/Cultural Accuracy
I think the novel was accurate. It at least followed the facts of
history that we are sure about. Other than that, Essex was very
creative forming a story around these facts. She created many lovers
and advisors that Cleopatra could have very well had. She also may
have exaggerated the death scenes a little bit. She did this with
Caesar's, Cleopatra's, and Antony's. She did some stuff though that
made the novel a little more interesting. For example, Iras was
a cross-dressing unic. I also liked how Essex characterized Cleopatra's
children.
VII. Characterization of the Portrait of Cleopatra
Cleopatra is portrayed as being very smart politically. She is cunning
and gets exactly what she wants. She is willing to use sex to get
it, but does not always stoop to doing this. She is said to be attractive,
but not beautiful. Her sister Arsinoe is supposedly much prettier
than she is.
VIII. Representative Passages
"What is troubling you?" Caesar posed this question as
if he was inquiring about the weather in Spain at this time of the
year. Kleopatra felt her fury rise. Privately, he had acted as if
they were partners, equals, queen and dictator acting in concert
toward a common goal. She had grown so confident of her power over
him, yet now she wondered if he would even take into consideration
the fact that she carried their child. She must think carefully
before she revealed her news. She must wait until she was certain
that Caesar shared the vision. Until then, she would let him make
love to her, but she would hold her heart outside the arrangement.
For that was a woman's downfall."
"Not that Kleopatra had the beauty of Venus. Were she not
the queen of Egypt, with royal carriage and dazzling clothing and
jewels, she might not be thought beautiful at all. The nose was
far too beaklike to have been carried off by a mere woman. But somehow
the face of a queen tolerated it quite well. It added to her authority.
Had she been a conventional beauty, her power might have been diminished.
Somehow, what would be considered flaws on the face of an ordinary
woman only enhanced the genius that radiated from every expression
Kleopatra offered."
IX. Overall Evaluation as a Work of History
It taught me a lot and makes Egyptian history easy to understand.
It is mostly accurate, so I believe it to be a great work of history.
The novel portrays the relationships between characters in history
very well and very accurately. It gives us a correct picture at
the politics of the time.
X. Overall Evaluation as a Work of Literature
The novel was an intriguing story that was very well-written. The
story is easy to follow and very catching. It was fun to read.
XI. Bibliography
www. Twbookmark. Com/authors/87/2166/critical_praise.html
www. KarenEssex.com