I'm sorry, but this characterization of women and relationships really bothers me. We need to get beyond this idea that being catty and playing mind-games is a healthy way for a woman to behave in a relationship, or that it creates "mystery" or "sizzle."

The description of Cleopatra's behavior in that passage is simply destructive. Manipulating your boyfriend or husband and engineering his humiliation is hardly a sign of a mature or well-adjusted adult. It certainly isn't a way to "spice-up" your relationship. It's symptomatic of mental illness.

Capriciousness isn't a trait anyone would want in a friend or a spouse. Good, strong, long-term relationships are built on trust, intimacy, and a well-understand division of responsibilities. I think that this image of Cleopatra is the female equivalent of the "bad-boy" image for men. Sure, it seems alluring from a distance, but no one wants to spend his/her life with that. The people you want to marry and spend the rest of your life with are thoughtful, dependable, and stable. It's best constrained to the world of fantasy.

I wish we'd finally get to the point where we can stop romanticizing periods of history where women were treated and traded like possessions in return for assets or social status. I guarantee you that most would take their chances in an egalitarian world if they understood the differences.