Antony & Cleopatra, by William Shakespeare "Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Cleopatra through her death - Act 5, Scene 2 - from "What poor an instrument," and Act 1, Scene 5."

As Act 5, Scene 2 is the scene where Cleopatra dies; Shakespeare needed to make this scene dramatic in order for one of his eponymous characters to truly reflect the grand life she led. He does this by providing characters for her to interact with so that the audience can know her thoughts, but also by setting aside large chunks for her to soliloquise, so that the change in her personality can be noted since Antony's death. …

…as she dies. Also, in 1,5 she says that Antony calls her, "my serpent of old Nile," which has ominous undertones when compared with her method of death. Finally, Cleopatra's death is obviously pleasurable. She uses sensual and sexual similes, "As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle..." to describe her feeling as she is about to die. She even calls out, "O Antony!" which can definitely be read as being a climatic reference.