Contrasting Leaders and Justified Empire in Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra

This paper examines Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra (1899), with a focus on the binary representation of the two lead characters. An analysis of the two representative figures of Rome and Egypt reveals Shaw’s ambivalent attitude toward the British imperial rule and his political justification of empire itself. Despite active research on Shaw’s other works, discussion of this play is relatively scarce in Korean academic circles. Shaw intentionally categorizes Caesar and Cleopatra as “History,” deliberately eliminating any sense of romance in the narrative. This decision amplifies the emphasis on the national narrative for a collective entity rather than a love story between two individuals. Furthermore, the author employs a binary depiction that underscores the difference between the invading Rome and the invaded Egypt. Rome, represented by experienced and mature middle-aged Caesar, is portrayed as competent ruling power, whereas Egypt, represented by young and immature Cleopatra, appears hopeless in governing its own country. The rhetoric Shaw uses to describe the queen also associates her with incompetence and weakness, further disqualifying her as a leader. Throughout the play, Shaw highlights the inferiority of the colonized to assert the benevolent aspect of imperialism. Interestingly, he maintains a satiric tone in describing the Romans, which makes his attitude ambivalent. Through this play, Shaw advocates the benevolence of a properly operated empire with a capable leader rather than expressing unconditional reverence toward the concept of an empire itself.