Antony and Cleopatra Book Notes

Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

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Author/Context

Most scholars agree that the life of William Shakespeare is a hard one to piece together. There is not a lot of documentation that would traditionally lead to a biography of a person's life. There is very little documentation about Shakespeare. What scholars have been able to come up with is based on bits and pieces of his work (plays, poems, sonnets, critical essays, etc.). However, it must be noted that this information is what is believed by most scholars to be true about Shakespeare, and is not made up of hard facts.

William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564. Based on this date, many people believe that he was born on April 23. His father was John Shakespeare, from Stratford-upon-Avon, in England. John traded as a glover, dealt in wood, and lent money to earn interest. He also served as a town official. In 1557, he married Mary Arden. She was the youngest daughter of Robert Arden, a wealthy land owner from whom John Shakespeare's father, Richard Shakespeare, had leased land. John and Mary had four sons and four daughters. William was the oldest son. William and his siblings grew up on Henley Street.

On November 28, 1582, William married Anne Hathaway. He was eighteen and she was twenty-six. They had three children: Susanna, and twins: Hamnet (a boy) and Judith.

Throughout the years that followed, Shakespeare achieved the status as the most renowned playwright of Elizabethan theater. In 1597, he bought a rather expensive home in Stratford, called New Place. His family would remain there, while he traveled to London to work. He was associated with a theater named the Globe. His name appeared as one of the owners in 1599. His acting company was known as the King's Men. In 1608 or early 1609, the King's Men purchased and refurbished the Blackfriars Theater, in London. In 1612, some type of financial situation caused Shakespeare to move back to Stratford and withdraw from the daily duties of his professional career. He moved back one year later and continued to work in the theater.

He spent the last few years of his life in Stratford, where it is noted that he finally died on April 23, 1616. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church, in Stratford-upon-Avon. On his tombstone, it says:

Good Friend, for Jesus' sake, forbear
To dig the dust enclosed here;
Blest be the man that spares these bones
And curst be he who moves my bones.

Throughout his life, William Shakespeare wrote 37 (or more) plays, more than 150 sonnets, two lengthy narrative poems and some shorter poems. His work is still recognized today as a great literary achievement. However, over the last one hundred years, the question of authorship has become an issue of interest to many literary scholars. The earliest noted claim that Shakespeare's plays could have been written by someone else appeared in 1856. It was an article in the American journal Putnam's Monthly, written by Delia Bacon. Her article and later book entitled Philosophy of the Plays of Shakespere Unfolded did not achieve great success. But once she proposed this idea of a hidden author, others started to wonder themselves. Still today, the controversy continues over whether or not Shakespeare wrote his own plays. Some people claim that he would not have had the education or training to write such brilliant plays. Still, others rely on a great deal of testimony from Shakespeare's time that says he was a widely respected playwright.

Bibliography

Fido, Martin. Shakespeare. London: Galley Press, 1988.

Levi, Peter. The Life and Times of William Shakespeare. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1988.

Schoenbaum, S. Shakespeare: His Life, His Language, His Theater. New York: The Penguin Group, 1990.

Shakespeare, William. "Antony and Cleopatra." Shakespeare, The Complete Works. Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc.W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, 1968.

Plot Summary

Mark Antony has been spending his time in Egypt with his mistress, Cleopatra, and neglecting his duties as part of the triumvirate of Rome. His wife, Fulvia, dies, and Octavius Caesar and Lepidus send word that he must return immediately to help them against the threat of Sextus Pompeius, who is building a very strong navy. Despite the assurances by Domitus Enobarbus that Antony is obviously meant to stay in Egypt with Cleopatra, he decides to leave nonetheless. When he tells Cleopatra that he must leave, she becomes upset and accuses him of not caring about her; he informs her of Fulvia's death, which she then uses to prove that he is fickle and will treat her death as lightly as he treated his wife's. She tells him he should leave, and he does, assuring her that his heart will stay with her. When he is gone, she sends him messengers every day to prove the scope of her love.

Pompey is building his forces to defeat the triumvirate, and is pleased that Antony is out of the way, being in Egypt. He receives news that Antony is going to Rome, and he hopes that Antony and Caesar will fight with each other, leaving them more vulnerable for him to take over. When Antony returns to Rome, he finds that his relationship with Caesar is very unstable; both his wife and his brother had made wars against Caesar, and the only way to make peace is to marry Caesar's sister, Octavia, to forge a family relationship. Agrippa and Maecenas talk with Enobarbus about Cleopatra; he tells them that she is so unique and wonderful that there is no way Antony could stay faithful to Octavia. When Cleopatra receives the news about the marriage to Octavia, she is outraged and beats the messenger, then sends for word on what Octavia is like, to reassure herself that she is a better woman. Caesar and Antony have offered Pompey the chance to be their ally, promising if they fight they will win, and he somewhat reluctantly accepts their offer. All of the men celebrate this new alliance.

Pacorus, the son of Orodes, the King of Parthia, has been killed in order to revenge the death of Marcus Crassus. Tensions mount between Antony and Caesar, they fight against each other, and Antony goes back to rule with Cleopatra in Egypt. Caesar and Lepidus defeat Pompey, breaking the alliance, and Caesar puts Lepidus in prison. Octavia goes to Caesar, torn between her husband and her brother, and she is informed that Antony is living with his mistress, when she thought he was in Athens. She joins her brother, and Caesar challenges Antony to a sea battle, for which Antony is not prepared, but fights nonetheless. He employs sixty of Cleopatra's ships; in battle they are overpowered, her ships flee, and Antony follows dishonorably. He must now appease Caesar. In order to keep her kingdoms, Cleopatra tells Thidias, a messenger sent by Caesar, that she was cajoled into helping Antony out of fear. When Antony hears of this he beats the messenger, and then he and Cleopatra reconcile and he promises her that the next day he will battle Caesar again and win.

Enobarbus leaves Antony to go to Caesar's side, as it is evident who has the advantage, but his guilt overpowers him and he commits suicide because he cannot live with his disloyalty to Antony. The land battle between Antony and Caesar at first seems to be to Antony's advantage, but then Caesar attacks by sea and many of Antony's men go over to Caesar's side, ending in a victory for Caesar. Antony blames Cleopatra for betraying him, and wishes her dead. She is heartbroken by his accusation and pretends to be dead to see how he will react. Upon hearing of her death, Antony tries to kill himself by falling on his sword, but he does not die right away; he is brought to Cleopatra, having heard too late that she is truly alive, and he dies in her arms, while she proclaims how honorable he was.

Caesar attempts to capture Cleopatra alive to make a show of his victory over her, but she explains her situation to Dolabella, one of Caesar's followers, who takes pity on her and arranges for her to commit suicide as she desires. A clown enters her chamber before she is to be taken away by Caesar, bringing a basket of figs in which there is a poisonous asp which Cleopatra uses to kill herself. Caesar finds her dead, along with her attendants, and arranges to have a funeral for her, burying her next to Antony, before returning to Rome.

Major Characters

Mark Antony: One of the triumvirs of Rome. He has an unstable relationship with Caesar, and spends most of his time in Egypt with his mistress, Cleopatra, with whom he is in love. After marrying Caesar’s sister and abandoning her, the two men battle against each other; Antony loses the first sea battle dishonorably because he fled, and many of his men desert him to go to Caesar’s side in the second battle, which he blames on Cleopatra. Hearing a rumor of Cleopatra’s death, Antony tries to kill himself, but does not die instantly; he is awake long enough to be brought to Cleopatra, who is not truly dead, for one last reconciliation and to say goodbye.

Octavius Caesar: One of the triumvirs of Rome, and the adopted son of Julius Caesar. Holds Antony responsible for Antony’s brother and wife fighting against him, and disagrees with Antony’s spending most of his time in Egypt. He becomes Antony’s enemy when Antony, after marrying his sister, Octavia, deserts her to go back to Egypt and rule with Cleopatra. Caesar wins a battle against Antony at sea because Antony flees, and wins another because Antony’s former followers join him. After Antony commits suicide, Caesar tries to capture Cleopatra in order to make a military trophy out of her, humiliating her and making her bow to him, but she escapes him by committing suicide herself. Caesar, in one last noble gesture, agrees to bury the two lovers together and returns to Rome.

Lepidus: The third triumvir, along with Caesar and Antony. Although he does fight on Caesar’s side when the two men fight, he is generally the most neutral; he loves both Caesar and Antony, but eventually he is put in prison by Caesar for trying to make peace with Caesar’s enemy, Pompey. Several times he is compared to a woman, for he is not as strong a leader as either of the other two triumvirs, and seems to love each one so much that he cannot decide on an alliance.

Cleopatra: The Queen of Egypt; an unparalleled beauty, who once had a love affair with Julius Caesar and bore him a son, Caesarion. She is jealous, possessive, and fiercely loyal to Antony; though they fight often, whether it be her distrust of him or his distrust of her, they always come back to each other, as they are madly in love. When Antony blames her for making all of his soldiers desert him in favor of Caesar, she locks herself in a monument and sends word to him that she is dead so that she can see how he takes the news. He tries to commit suicide, and, still conscious, he is brought to her to say goodbye. After his death, she feels incomplete and will not allow his memory to be tarnished by serving Caesar, so she kills herself.

Domitus Enobarbus: A follower of Antony and a great soldier who has fought nobly in many battles. He has many moral debates with himself over the issue of whether or not to stay loyal to Antony; although Antony is noble and a good friend, he is losing the war against Caesar and Enobarbus does not want to be on the losing side. He resolves to stay with Antony several times, but eventually gives in and goes to Caesar’s camp. Realizing that he made a mistake and paying for it with a horrible guilt that overpowers him, Enobarbus eventually commits suicide.

Sextus Pompeius (Pompey): Son of Pompey the Great, he is at the beginning the greatest enemy of Caesar and Antony; however, he becomes their ally, and then is defeated by Caesar and Lepidus, and murdered by an officer. Antony had hoped to use him as an ally in the fight against Caesar, so he is therefore very upset with the officer that killed him.

messengers: Many different messengers are used in this play: as a way to get information from one camp to the other, to show the level of power commanded by the person who sends the messenger, and to bargain with enemies and friends.

Minor Characters

Philo: A friend and follower of Antony. He is disappointed that Antony has neglected his military duty in favor of lust.

Demetrius: A friend and follower of Antony. Along with Philo, he hopes that Antony will come to his senses and leave Egypt.

Fulvia: Antony’s wife at the start of the play. We never see her, but we hear that she has fought against Lucius, then joined him to fight against Caesar. She dies early in Act One.

Charmian: An attendant to Cleopatra. She serves her lady with much love and respect, and dies by the same method shortly after Cleopatra.

Alexas: An attendant to Cleopatra.

Soothsayer: A fortuneteller who predicts that Charmian will outlive Cleopatra and she and Iras will both be childless. Later, a Soothsayer predicts bad luck for Antony with respect to Caesar.

Iras: An attendant to Cleopatra; dies of heartache before Cleopatra.

Lucius: Antony’s brother. Fights against Caesar at the beginning of the play, causing a rift between Antony and Caesar.

Labienus: Does not appear in the action of this play; he had been sent by Brutus and Cassius to the King of Parthia to gain power against Antony and Octavius Caesar.

Menas: Friend of Pompey, has been victorious in many sea battles.

Menocrates: Notorious pirate and friend of Antony.

Mardian: A eunuch who serves Cleopatra. Eunuchs were used both for entertainment for royalty and as sexual partners (because they have been castrated, they cannot get a woman pregnant).

Julius Caesar: The great uncle and adopted father of Octavius Caesar. Along with Pompey the Great and Marcus Crassus, he ruled Rome as part of the first triumvirate.

Pompey the Great: Sextus Pompeius’s father, who was assassinated by Julius Caesar, his former co-triumvir.

Varrius: A follower of Pompey who brings the news that Antony is on his way to Rome.

Ventidius: A friend of Antony. Kills Pacorus to revenge Marcus Crassus’s death.

Maecenas: A follower of Caesar; wants Caesar to reconcile with Antony.

Agrippa: A follower of Caesar. Encourages the marriage between Antony and Octavia.

Octavia: Caesar’s sister. Said to be very beautiful but very cold, Antony marries her to make good relations with Caesar. This deal does not last, and before long, he is back with Cleopatra.

Brutus: Along with Cassius, assassinated Julius Caesar, then was defeated at Philippi by Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.

Cassius: Helped Brutus assassinate Julius Caesar, and then was defeated by Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.

Silius: Antony’s follower.

Pacorus: The son of Orodes, King of Parthia. He is killed by Ventidius as revenge for the murder of Marcus Crassus committed by his father.

Orodes: The King of Parthia, who murdered Marcus Crassus.

Marcus Crassus: Part of the first triumvirate, along with Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great.

Eros: A follower of Antony; stays with him until the very end, when Antony asks him to kill him; Eros cannot bear the thought, so he instead kills himself.

Alexander: One of Cleopatra’s sons.

Ptolemy: One of Cleopatra’s sons.

Canidius: A friend and follower of Antony.

Soldier: Warns Antony not to wage a sea battle against Caesar; this warning is not heeded and Antony loses. Later, the Soldier comes back, and he tells Antony that had he heeded the warning, many men would still be on Antony’s side that have gone over to Caesar’s.

Taurus: Caesar’s lieutenant.

Scarus: A follower of Antony.

Schoolteacher (Ambassador): Used as a messenger from Antony to Caesar after Antony loses the sea battle. It is a sign of Antony’s weakness that his messenger is a lowly Schoolteacher.

Dolabella: A follower of Caesar who takes pity on Cleopatra and not only tells her what he fears Caesar is to do to her, but also helps her commit suicide by sending for a Clown to bring her the asp.

Thidias: Sent as a messenger from Caesar to Cleopatra, to promise her anything so that she will give herself up. Antony catches word that Cleopatra has responded well to his offer, and comes in to see Thidias kissing Cleopatra’s hand. Antony flies into a rage and has Thidias whipped.

sentry and first watchman: While waiting for a battle to begin between Antony and Caesar, they eavesdrop on Enobarbus committing suicide. They then carry him off.

Dercetus: A follower of Antony; after he sees Antony wounded after falling on his sword, he takes the sword and goes to Caesar to show him.

Diomedes: An attendant to Cleopatra. She sends him to Antony to tell him the truth about her false death; she is not dead, she has locked herself in the monument to see how Antony would receive news of her death.

Proculeius: A follower of Caesar who tries to trick Cleopatra into cooperating, but to no avail.

Gallus: A follower of Caesar.

Seleucus: Cleopatra’s treasurer; he betrays her when she bids him tell Caesar that she has kept no treasure for herself.

Clown: Brings a basket of figs containing several asps at Cleopatra’s request, with which she kills herself.

Objects/Places

triumvirate: Refers to the three men who rule the Roman Empire at the beginning of the play: Octavius Caesar, Lepidus, and Mark Antony. This is the second triumvirate in Rome’s history; the first one was made up of Julius Caesar, Marcus Crassus, and Pompey the Great.

Rome: The capitol of the Empire and the center of the Western world at this time.

Egypt: The country that Cleopatra rules, and the center of the Eastern world in this play.

weet: Acknowledge.

die: Has a double meaning: also, a woman’s orgasm.

noise: Rumor.

poorer moment: Lesser cause.

mettle: Sexual vigor.

abstract: Epitome.

mandragora: A narcotic which comes from the mandrake root.

Sicily: The location of Pompey’s camp.

Misena: Misenum, in Southern Italy.

cloy: Satisfy.

riggish: Wanton, licentious.

meaner: A person of lower status.

cuckoo: A bird that lives in the nests of other birds (the root of the term 'cuckold').

timelier: Earlier.

Nile River: The largest river in Egypt; the Egyptians use it to tell the fortunes of the upcoming seasons.

greensickness: An anemia that affects woman; also lovesickness.

Philipi: The site of the battle Antony fought against Brutus. In Julius Caesar, the title character was murdered by Brutus and Cassius, among others, and a new triumvirate formed, the same one that we see at the beginning of this play: Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus. The three fight Brutus for revenge, and he is defeated, and later he kills himself.

merely: Utterly.

alone the villain of the earth: The greatest villain of the earth.

mine: Abundance.

turpitude: Depravity.

mean: Suicide.

odds: The quality distinguishing one thing from another.

moiety: Half.

figs: Used to disguise the asp brought to Cleopatra by the Clown

asp: A poisonous snake said to kill painlessly.

after wrath: The wrath given by the gods to a person who has been lucky in life after they die.

Quotes

Quote 1: "Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life
Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair
And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless." Act 1, Scene 1, ll. 35-42

Quote 2: "Under a compelling occasion, let women die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she has such a celerity in dying." Act 1, Scene 2, ll. 144-151

Quote 3: "You shall find there
A man who is the abstract of all faults
That all men follow." Act 1, Scene 4, ll. 8-10

Quote 4: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Other women cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish." Act 2, Scene 2, ll. 245-250

Quote 5: "And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' East my pleasure lies." Act 2, Scene 3, ll. 40-41

Quote 6: "These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause." Act 2, Scene 5, ll. 83-85

Quote 7: "The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you,
That called me timelier than my purpose hither,
For I have gained by 'it." Act 2, Scene 6, ll. 50-52

Quote 8: "You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause." Act 3, Scene 11, ll. 64-67

Quote 9: "He is a god, and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquered merely." Act 3, Scene 13, ll. 60-62

Quote 10: "I'll strike, and cry, 'Take all.'" Act 4, Scene 2, ll. 9

Quote 11: "I am alone the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most. O Antony,
Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
My better service when my turpitude
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do't, I feel.
I fight against thee? No, I will go seek
Some ditch wherein to die. The foul'st best fits
My latter part of life." Act 4, Scene 6, ll. 31-40

Quote 12: "The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon." Act 4, Scene 15, ll. 68-70

Quote 13: "The death of Antony
Is not a single doom; in the name lay
A moiety of the world." Act 5, Scene 1, ll. 17-19

Quote 14: "I dreamt there was an emperor Antony,
O, such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!" Act 5, Scene 2, ll. 75-77

Quote 15: "Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act. I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come!" Act 5, Scene 2, ll. 283-287

Topic Tracking: East/West

Act 1

East/West 1: Antony makes a strong contrast between the outside, Western world, and the world he cares about, in the East. Though he technically rules Rome with Caesar, he openly admits that he does not care what happens to it: that is the world of politics, wars, and men, whereas the East is the home of love and women (or more particularly, Cleopatra). He and Cleopatra, ruling their own world together, could easily take on the rest of the world for the simple reason that their love makes them the strongest pair ever to rule.

East/West 2: Caesar insults both Antony and Cleopatra to Lepidus, saying that they have essentially switched gender roles: Antony, who should be masculine and powerful, has now become womanly and lovesick, and Cleopatra, who should be a woman, has taken over the man's role and is ruling Antony by making him stay. Metaphorically, Antony has crossed over not only into the East, but into the woman's role, symbolized by Egypt.

Act 2

East/West 3: Enobarbus's description of Cleopatra paints her as a creature from another world entirely, thus lengthening the distance between the West and East. In the West, things are in order: men rule, women obey, and wars are fought, whereas in the East, Cleopatra rules and her attendants have an element of the supernatural (he describes her gentlewomen as sea nymphs).

East/West 4: Here we see another reference to Antony and Cleopatra switching roles; Cleopatra recalls a time when she and Antony were very happy, and one night they got very drunk, went to bed, and in the morning she put her clothes on him and she wore his sword. This is more than merely to show a playfulness between them; it is important that Cleopatra was the one who did the dressing, and took the sword as well. Her influence causes Antony to be more womanly, and she is at times the more powerful of the couple, symbolized by wearing his sword (which is also a phallic symbol, showing that she has a masculine quality).

Act 3

East/West 5: The split between Antony and Caesar has now been increased: Caesar is now in complete control of the West, having defeated Pompey and gotten rid of Lepidus, and Antony and Cleopatra are in complete control of the East, having spread their empire to Syria, Cyprus, and Lydia, and given Cleopatra's sons control of several other countries.

East/West 6: Antony blames Cleopatra, in part, for his loss in the battle: she should have known her power was such that he would follow her anywhere. His line, "My sword, made weak by my affection, would / Obey it on all cause" brings to attention the fact that he has been undone by his lust. His sword, again, is a phallic symbol in addition to being a symbol for his power; both have been weakened by his lust for Cleopatra and he has no will of his own.

Act 4

East/West 7: The order of the universe has been greatly changed by Antony's death; the power struggle between East and West has been won by the West, and because there is no longer the kind of conflict there used to be between Antony and Caesar, East and West, or Antony and Cleopatra (their lovers' quarrels), there might as well be no distinction between anything anymore.

Topic Tracking: Honor

Act 2

Honor 1: We discover here that the reason for Pompey's waging a war against Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus is a matter of honor. His father was murdered by Caesar, and Caesar was murdered by Brutus and Cassius, and Brutus and Cassius were defeated by the triumvirate, therefore the chain must continue, revenge must be had, and Pompey must defeat the triumvirate. This is his reasoning, although we can see that he is somewhat easily swayed by Caesar's promises of an alliance, and his honor is forgotten in favor of feasting and celebrating.

Act 3

Honor 2: Again we see honor enacted in revenge: Pacorus was killed because of the deeds of his father, the King of Parthia. Ventidius, however, does not want too much recognition for this honorable deed, for it is more honorable for him to bend to Antony and have his actions honor Antony rather than drawing attention to himself.

Honor 3: Antony is very reasonable on the subject of his new wife's loyalty. He tells Octavia that he must fight Caesar to restore the honor that Caesar has taken away from him by saying bad things about him and fighting against his allies; he tells her she must choose who is the more honorable and deserving of loyalty, he or her brother.

Honor 4: Antony completely loses all honor in this battle; as a general, the worst thing one can do is to flee when caught in a tough battle. Not only did he flee, he also followed rather than led as Cleopatra's ships left the battle, thus losing not only honor as a military leader, but also as a man (following a woman rather than commanding her).

Honor 5: Antony compares his recent actions to Octavius Caesar's in the battle of Philippi; in that battle, Caesar stood idly by as Antony fought honorably. In this one, however, his dishonor far surpasses Caesar's actions at Philippi.

Act 4

Honor 6: Having proved himself a dishonorable, disloyal traitor, Enobarbus reasons that the only thing left for him to do is die. He ponders how honorable Antony has proved to be, sending him gifts even when he has deserted him at his hour of need: what greater reward would there have been were he to have stayed with him? Now, however, he cannot undo what he has done, and he will ask, as he is dying, for Antony to forgive him, and for the world to remember him as a traitor.

Act 5

Honor 7: Now that Antony is dead, Cleopatra has nothing else to live for. She acknowledges his death as noble, and she knows that she must now do the same as he did, and end her life honorably rather than lose all honor and succumb to Caesar. She hopes that Antony is watching her perform this act, and calls to him to watch her noble death and to wait for her in the afterlife.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty

Act 1

Loyalty 1: Even at the very beginning of the play, Antony's loyalty towards his fellow triumvirs is called into question because he is spending so much time in Egypt with his mistress, Cleopatra. Lepidus and Caesar wonder if he is truly loyal to them, or if his loyalty lies with Egypt because his lust has a stronger hold on him than his brain. He used to be a strong military leader, but it seems that they can no longer count on his loyalty.

Loyalty 2: Antony believes that Enobarbus's comments about Cleopatra indicate that she is of a disloyal nature; Enobarbus has seen her with many different men, having the same sexual appetite for them and the same passion and love that she seems to have with Antony. However, Enobarbus insists that she is not as fickle as it may seem; each time she falls in love, she is fiercely loyal to the object of her love, and Enobarbus advises Antony to trust in her and not to regret their love affair.

Act 2

Loyalty 3: Caesar distrusts Antony because not only has Antony been absent and did he refuse to come to Rome when Caesar first asked, his brother Lucius and his wife Fulvia had both made arguments with Caesar in Antony's name. In order for them to rule together, Caesar needs to trust that Antony will be loyal to him. The only way to guarantee that, then, is to forge them together with some unbreakable bond, and Agrippa proposes the way to do this: that Antony should marry Caesar's sister.

Loyalty 4: Menas believes that Pompey is being disloyal to the memory of his father by allying himself with the triumvirate, since they were the ones who defeated Brutus and Cassius for murdering Julius Caesar, who was the murderer of Pompey the Great.

Act 3

Loyalty 5: Antony assures Caesar that although there has been tension between them in the past, Caesar has never needed fear Antony's loyalty to him; and now, with the new marriage to Octavia, they promise to be great friends, and upon parting they wish each other well.

Loyalty 6: Now that Caesar and Antony are fighting again, Octavia is caught in an unenviable position; her husband and brother, two men to whom she traditionally owes her full loyalty, are on opposite sides. Antony encourages her to think about it and choose the man to whom she wants to be loyal on the basis of who deserves her love the most. He gives her permission to leave if she chooses, letting her out of the contract of loyalty she bears to him if this is what she wants.

Loyalty 7: Octavia had chosen to be loyal to Antony; however, upon returning to her brother and discovering that Antony has been in Egypt all this time, she changes her mind. Antony's disloyalty to her prompts her to return and give all of her loyalty to her brother.

Loyalty 8: Enobarbus battles with his own loyalty to Antony; although Antony is a good friend and has been a great military leader in the past, the recent news puts him at quite a disadvantage against Caesar. Many people have already gone over to Caesar's side, but Enobarbus reasons with himself that his loyalty to Antony, even if he does not win the war, is a moral victory over those who desert Antony and win with Caesar.

Loyalty 9: Antony hears that Cleopatra has told Thidias that she will bend to Caesar's noble rule, and walks in to discover that she is letting Thidias kiss her hand. He loses control out of anger for her disloyalty, and has Thidias whipped. We see here how important Cleopatra is to him; not only as a lover, but also as a strong ally whose loyalty he desperately needs.

Act 4

Loyalty 10: Enobarbus has lost the battle with himself to preserve his loyalty to Antony; though he tried to remain loyal, his desire to be on the winning side won him over, and he deserted Antony to go serve Caesar. He has chosen a military victory over a moral victory. Antony takes this news not as an indication of Enobarbus's character, for he calls him honest, but as an indication that his own fortune has caused this, and that it is a terrible shame that his luck should have affected the honesty of another man.

Loyalty 11: Though he has deserted Antony in the battle, Enobarbus's heart is loyal to the very end of his life; as he dies, he is calling Antony's name.

Loyalty 12: The second time he loses a sea battle, Antony's fleets have all deserted him to go over to Caesar's side and celebrate. Antony blames this on Cleopatra and says that she must have betrayed him; this is a higher form of disloyalty than Enobarbus, or anyone else, leaving him for Caesar because he is in love with Cleopatra as well as dependent on her for military victory. There is nothing that could happen that would be worse than her disloyalty to him, Antony reasons, and for this, she must die.

Loyalty 13: When Antony attempts to kill himself by falling on his sword, and does not die right away, he calls for help from his followers to finish the job. None of them will do it: the men who are with him at the end are by far the most loyal to him, and at this point, if all of the other things that happened have not dissuaded them from being loyal, they will not agree to kill him now. Eros would rather kill himself, indeed, then kill Antony or even live to see Antony's death.

Topic Tracking: Messengers

Act 1

Messengers 1: The first of many appearances by messengers is marked by the messenger's hesitation to deliver the whole message; Shakespeare gives these small characters quite a range of personalities, and it seems that the first messenger fears what might happen if Antony hears the whole message, so he stops and Antony must send for someone else, and again, and again, until finally the fourth messenger tells him of Fulvia's death.

Messengers 2: Two more messengers bring news of the war and tell Caesar how Pompey is gaining power, both through his own conquests and through those of his pirate friends, Menas and Menecrates. As the first four messengers to Antony were, these messengers are also common people, rather than named characters, showing that Antony and Caesar have not yet reached their highest status yet. Later, Dolabella will remark that Antony used to be able to send Kings as messengers; he has clearly not yet reached the height of his power.

Messengers 3: Since Antony's departure, Cleopatra has sent him a messenger every day with a message of her love; Alexas questions this, but she maintains that the reason she does it is to show the scope of her love for him. If necessary, she would use all of the people of Egypt to be her messengers. This not only shows the scope of her love, it also shows the scope of her power and wealth to be able to have so many people at her disposal.

Act 2

Messengers 4: This long scene with Cleopatra and the messenger illustrates many things about Cleopatra's character. She is devoted to Antony and very jealous, and, fearing the news to be bad, quite some time passes before she lets the messenger actually deliver his message, because she keeps interrupting him. She fears at first that Antony could be dead, and promises to reward the messenger if he is not dead. This could be where the phrase "don't blame the messenger" comes from: she praises and rewards him when the news he has is good, and, eventually, physically assaults him when he tells her that her lover is married to another woman.

Act 3

Messengers 5: The messenger that had been attacked by Cleopatra in Act 2 learns from the past: he is back, and though he feared to reappear before Cleopatra, he knows that what he needs to do in order to survive her wrath is to tell her what she wants to hear. She asks for news of Octavia, and he reports only bad things about Octavia so as to please her and convince her that she has nothing to fear.

Messengers 6: A Schoolmaster is sent by Antony as an Ambassador to Caesar; Dolabella recognizes that the lowly status of the Ambassador, a mere teacher, is a good indication that Antony is rapidly losing power. In the past, he could have afforded to send a message by way of a King, but now, he is reduced to using lowly teachers to do his bidding. Caesar takes this as a good sign.

Act 5

Messengers 7: Dolabella becomes an unwitting messenger to Cleopatra; although he is on Caesar's side, he listens to Cleopatra talk about her grief about losing Antony and decides to let her know that Caesar plans to use her to show off his victory. She then sends him to arrange for a way for her to commit suicide, and he obeys, just as a good messenger would do, captivated by her beauty and her heart.

Act 1, Scene 1

Philo and Demetrius, followers of Mark Antony, enter. Philo expresses his disgust that Antony, one of the three men who make up the triumvirate that rules Rome (the other men are Octavius Caesar and Lepidus), has been ignoring his duty as a military leader because he has fallen in love with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, whom Philo calls a hussy.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 1

Antony and Cleopatra enter. Cleopatra asks Antony to tell her how much he loves her; he tells her it would be impossible to quantify it. A messenger enters with news; Cleopatra urges Antony to hear it, saying that it might be orders from Caesar or Fulvia, Antony's wife. Antony refuses to talk of anything but love; he says that the world can fall to pieces, because the most important thing is their love:

"Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike
Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life
Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair
And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to
weet
We stand up peerless." Act 1, Scene 1, ll. 35-42

Topic Tracking: East/West 1

Cleopatra doubts that he truly means this, and tells him again to hear the news, but he insists that he will only hear her words tonight. They exit.

Demetrius and Philo express regret that Antony seems not to be devoted to Caesar, but hope that tomorrow things will change.

Act 1, Scene 2

Charmian, a servant to Cleopatra, asks Alexas to call in the Soothsayer, and he does. Charmian gives the soothsayer her palm to read, begging him for a good fortune; he tells her he does not make fortunes, he sees them, and for her he sees that she will outlive Cleopatra. Charmian is happy, taking this to mean long life. She asks him if she will have children, and he says only if wishes had wombs--at this, she tells him to leave, joking that she forgives him for saying this because he is a fool. Iras is next. The soothsayer calls her chaste--at which Charmian scoffs--and says that she has the same fortune as Charmian. She says she would rather it be better than Charmian's fortune, making a bawdy reference to a well-endowed potential husband. The women then turn their attention to Alexas, praying to Isis that he have an infertile wife and die a cuckold, a fortune they joke that he deserves.

Enobarbus, a follower of Antony who has been listening to this conversation, hushes the women and says that Antony is coming. It is Cleopatra instead, however, and she asks if anyone has seen Antony. They haven't, and as she is sending Enobarbus to find him, he arrives. She is upset at Antony's having changed his mind about thinking about love all the time, and leaves with her attendants, without speaking to him. Antony is left alone with the messenger.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 1

The first messenger tells Antony what has happened: Fulvia had fought Antony's brother, Lucius, but soon they united and fought against Caesar. The messenger becomes troubled relating this to Antony, but Antony urges him to continue. He says that Labienus has conquered more territory, but cannot go on; Antony tells him not to hesitate and to speak bluntly, but he cannot, so Antony instructs him to leave.

Second and third messengers arrive, and Antony asks if they are from Sicyon, where he left Fulvia. They leave to get the man from Sicyon; the fourth messenger appears and tells Antony that Fulvia is dead. The messenger leaves Antony alone; Antony contemplates that it was his absence and unfaithfulness that caused her sickness, and feels that he should end his relationship with Cleopatra.

Enobarbus enters, and Antony tells him that they must leave. Enobarbus says that it would be murder to the women to leave, since unkindness from a man means death to them, and then says: "Under a compelling occasion, let women die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she has such a celerity in dying." Act 1, Scene 2, ll. 144-151 There is a double meaning in this speech; the word "death" also referred to a woman's orgasm. Enobarbus is making a joke about how many times he has seen Cleopatra climax as well as how often he has seen her pine over a man. Antony comments that she must be cunning, but Enobarbus insists that all of her passions and sighs come from real love. Antony wishes he had never seen her, but Enobarbus says that he would have missed something spectacular.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 2

Antony tells Enobarbus of Fulvia's death; Enobarbus tells Antony that she was a wonderful woman and that this tragedy has shown him how the gods work; they have given Antony a replacement in Cleopatra. Antony says that he has to attend to the business that Fulvia has started, and Enobarbus tells him he must stay with Cleopatra. Antony says that he will get Cleopatra's consent to leave, because he must go to Rome. Sextus Pompeius (Pompey) has been attempting to build an empire and poses a threat to Caesar; things are happening for which Antony should not be absent. Enobarbus agrees to tell the people who should know his reasons for leaving quickly.

Act 1, Scene 3

Cleopatra is looking for Antony, and tells Alexas to find him; if Antony is happy, Alexas should say she is sad, and if he is sad, say she is happy. Alexas leaves. Charmian cautions Cleopatra that this is not the way to win Antony's love, but Cleopatra tells her she is wrong, and Charmian warns her not to test him like this.

Antony enters and Cleopatra immediately tells him she is sick and that he should stay away from her. She asks him what happened and, without giving him any chance to explain, guesses that Fulvia has called him back home. She says that she does not contest that he is his wife's property, and accuses him of betrayal. She curses herself for thinking he could be faithful, and wishes she were as powerful as he is and that she could have been more courageous. Antony takes an opportunity to speak; he tells her that Sextus Pompeius is planning on taking over Rome and that he needs to be there; and to comfort her, he tells her Fulvia is dead. She is not sure whether she should believe him, but he offers the letters of proof. She is outraged that he is unemotional, and predicts that this is how he will receive the news of her death, accusing him of being fickle in love. He assures her that his love for her could withstand the test of time, but she challenges him to make a show of his grief over losing Fulvia. He warns her that he will leave her if she keeps behaving like this, but she keeps on; she starts to stay something and then cuts off, saying her forgetfulness is just like Antony. She tells him to leave, to obey his honorable duty and leave her to be hurt; he tells her that his heart will be with her, just as hers will be with him.

Act 1, Scene 4

Caesar and Lepidus discuss Antony. Caesar says that he is more womanly than Cleopatra (to whom he refers as "the Queen of Ptolemy") for ignoring his duties and acting out of lust. He says to Lepidus:

"You shall find there
A man who is the
abstract of all faults
That all men follow."
Act 1, Scene 4, ll. 8-10

Topic Tracking: East/West 2

Lepidus does not want to think that Antony is truly as bad as Caesar indicates, and says that his faults are not under his control. Caesar insists that although it is not that bad to drink and enjoy women every so often, it is not acceptable that Antony is doing this when there are more important political matters at hand. He should be severely reprimanded.

A messenger enters with news: Pompey is gaining strength and a good reputation among the people who have followed Caesar only out of fear. Caesar says that he should have known this; the populace will often bring a man into power only to realize it is someone else they want, and then repeat the cycle once again.

Another messenger enters and brings the news of Menas and Menocrates, pirates and friends of Pompey, who are causing trouble in Italy. Caesar speaks about the way Antony used to be, full of courage and the ability to thrive in the roughest of situations. He tells Lepidus that he hopes that Antony's shame will make him come back and do what he should be doing. Caesar then agrees to share any news that he might receive with Lepidus.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 2

Act 1, Scene 5

Cleopatra asks Charmian for mandragora to pass the time while she waits for Antony to come back. She tells the eunuch Mardian to entertain her by talking about his passions--or lack thereof--but cannot be distracted and asks Charmian what she thinks Antony must be doing. She ponders her own attractiveness; she used to be young and beautiful, and men like Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great could not take their eyes off her. Now, however, she is beginning to show signs of age.

Alexas comes in, bringing Cleopatra a pearl and a message from Antony, promising her many kingdoms to make up for his absence. Cleopatra asks about Antony's disposition, and Alexas tells her he was neither sad nor happy. She celebrates this news as an indication of his divine character. He asks why she has sent so many messengers--at least one every day--to Antony, and she replies that that is the scope of her love. She asks if she ever loved Caesar as much as this, and Charmian calls Caesar brave and valiant, at which Cleopatra reprimands her and warns her not to compare Antony with Caesar. Cleopatra says she was young and cold when she paid such compliments to Caesar. She tells Charmian to get her pen and paper so she can write to Antony again.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 3

Act 2, Scene 1

Pompey and Menas discuss what will happen next in Pompey's camp in Sicily. Pompey believes he has the gods on his side and does not want to waste time praying when taking the time to do so might mean the loss of power; Menas assures him that the gods know more than they do and will do what is best. Pompey is confident that the people love him and his power is rising. He tells Menas that his rivals pose no real threat: Mark Antony is with Cleopatra in Egypt, Caesar is not loved by the people, and Lepidus does not have strong alliances with either of them. Menas warns him that Caesar and Lepidus have a strong army, but Pompey does not believe him, and says they are instead looking for Antony. He expresses the wish that Cleopatra keep Antony in Egypt so that he cannot fight Pompey for power.

Varrius enters with the news that Antony has left Egypt and is expected in Rome. Pompey did not expect this, but Menas says it is likely that Antony and Caesar could turn against each other, since before her death Fulvia had wronged Caesar as had Antony's brother. Pompey hopes that Antony and Caesar fight; however, he knows that having an enemy in common could have the opposite effect and settle their differences. He resolves to use his greatest strength to fight them.

Act 2, Scene 2

In Rome, Lepidus asks Enobarbus to encourage Antony to be civil to Caesar. Enobarbus answers that he will only encourage Antony to be himself; if Caesar angers him, he should respond. Lepidus says that small arguments should give way to more important matters and asks Enobarbus not to stir up trouble.

Antony enters in conversation with Ventidius, and at another door, Caesar enters with Maecenas and Agrippa. Lepidus speaks to them both, asking them to put aside small differences in order to concentrate on the larger task at hand; Antony and Caesar greet each other and sit. Caesar says that the only reason Antony's being in Egypt would have offended him is if he were planning to overthrow him. He reminds him that both Antony's wife and his brother had fought against him. Antony protests that their grievances had nothing to do with him, and tells him that he was indeed conflicted because he was on Caesar's side. Caesar reminds him of the messenger he sent to Egypt that Antony threw out without hearing, but Antony defends himself, saying that the messenger burst in on him while he was drunk and not in any shape to listen to news. Caesar counters with the oath that Antony has broken by denying him aid when he needed it; Antony again protests that it was ignorance, and not malice, that prevented him from coming to his aid. Lepidus, Maecenas, and Enobarbus cut in to the conversation, urging Caesar and Antony to reconcile because the small quarrel they have is not as important as fighting against Pompey. When Enobarbus tells them that they can fight when they have nothing better to do, which is not the case now, Antony tells him to stay silent. Caesar says that if there were something that would reconcile their differences he would gladly pursue it, but believes their temperaments are simply too different to allow a friendship to thrive. Agrippa asks for permission to speak, and reminds Caesar of his sister, Octavia, and Antony's newly widowed state. Caesar quiets him, reminding him of Cleopatra's claim on Antony, but Antony tells Agrippa to go on. Agrippa says that a marriage between Octavia, whom he praises as very beautiful, and Antony would mend the friendship between the two men. Both Caesar and Antony agree to this, and they clasp hands.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 3

The conversation turns to Pompey. He has been friendly to Antony lately, so Antony feels he must thank him, and then immediately after this, he will be free to plot against him. Pompey is in Misena now; his sea power is great, and his land power is getting stronger, and Antony worries about confronting him. Caesar takes Antony away so as to introduce him to Octavia, and Lepidus follows.

Agrippa and Maecenas, left by the triumvirs, welcome Enobarbus back to Rome and ask him about Egypt. He tells them about all the celebrating that took place in the East; sleeping during the day, drinking at night, and plenty of feasting. They beg him to tell them about Cleopatra, for she is quite a legend; he tells about the first time that she met Antony. She appeared on a great barge, decorated lavishly, with boys fanning her and her gentlewomen standing around her like sea nymphs. Her beauty was such that everyone wanted to look at her, even the air. Antony invited her to dinner, but she would rather he be her guest, and he accepted. Agrippa says that she made Julius Caesar lay down his sword to go to bed with her, and she bore him a son, and Enobarbus says that Antony will not leave her:

"Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
Her infinite variety. Other women
cloy
The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
Become themselves in her, that the holy priests
Bless her when she is
riggish." Act 2, Scene 2, ll. 245-250

Topic Tracking: East/West 3

She has such a charm that people cannot help but fall in love with her; and once they have seen her, they just want more. Maecenas hopes that Octavia will be able to fulfill Antony's desire. Agrippa invites Enobarbus to be his guest while he is in Rome.

Act 2, Scene 3

Antony, Caesar, and Octavia enter. Antony tells Octavia that he will sometimes be taken away from her by his work, and she promises to pray for him whenever he is gone. He also says that he has not always followed the rules, but from now on he will. Caesar and Octavia say goodnight and exit.

A soothsayer enters to speak with Antony, warning him to go back to Egypt quickly. Antony asks who will be luckier, he or Caesar, and the soothsayer says that Caesar will. Antony's guardian angel, he says, is noble and courageous except when Caesar is nearby, out of fear; therefore Antony cannot be protected when he is around Caesar. Antony tells the soothsayer to leave and tell Ventidius that he wants to speak with him. Left alone, Antony worries that although Caesar is not as skilled as he is, he is luckier, and would win were everything left up to chance. He decides to leave for Egypt, as the soothsayer has asked him:

"And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' th' East my pleasure lies."
Act 2, Scene 3, ll. 40-41

Ventidius enters and Antony tells him to go to Parthia.

Act 2, Scene 4

Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa enter. Agrippa and Maecenas tell Lepidus that they will follow Antony and watch him, and agree to go directly to Mount Misenum. Lepidus will be there several days later, as he has to take a longer route. They exit.

Act 2, Scene 5

Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas enter. Cleopatra calls for music, and Mardian the eunuch enters. She asks Charmian to play billiards with her, but Charmian's arm is sore and she asks Mardian to play. Cleopatra decides that she will go fishing instead, and she will pretend that each fish she catches is Antony. Charmian recalls one time when Antony and Cleopatra went fishing together, and Cleopatra joins in the recollection: they got very drunk, went to bed, and in the morning she dressed him up in her clothes and she wore his sword.

Topic Tracking: East/West 4

A messenger arrives from Italy, and Cleopatra gets very excited, and urges him to bring her news of Antony. He starts to say something, and she cuts him off, saying that if he tells her Antony is dead, he is in fact killing her, but if he tells her Antony is well, she will reward him greatly with gold. He tells her Antony is well, but she cuts him off again, worrying that "well" is a word that people use to refer to the dead; she once again threatens him, and says that if Antony were in fact healthy, he would not have such a sour face. She again tells him she will reward him if he tells her that Antony is alive, healthy, and friends with Caesar. He tells her all of these things, and after she has cut him off one more time to recap what he has said and add that Antony is free as well, the messenger answers that Antony is not, in fact, free. He is married to Octavia. Cleopatra flies into a rage and strikes the messenger, cursing at him and insulting him. He pleads with her, saying that he has just brought the news, not made the match. She tells him if he takes it back, she will again reward him, but he tells her again that Antony is married. Cleopatra draws a knife, and the messenger runs away. Charmian tells Cleopatra to mind what she does, for the messenger is innocent. Cleopatra promises she will not hurt him and sends for him again. Cleopatra acknowledges that she has been wrong:

"These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
A
meaner than myself, since I myself
Have given myself the cause."
Act 2, Scene 5, ll. 83-85

The messenger enters again, and she asks him again to tell her if Antony is married. He says that he is, and she tells him that there is nothing that could make him more hateful than he is at this moment, although she acknowledges that it is a shame that Antony's bad news should damage the messenger's character, since he is probably otherwise a decent man. She tells him to leave, wishing financial ruin on him. She tells Alexas to go find out what Octavia looks like and to come back to report, and tells Charmian to pity her, but not to speak to her, as they go to her chamber.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 4

Act 2, Scene 6

Pompey enters with Menas, and Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, and Agrippa enter at another door. Pompey and Caesar agree to talk before they fight; Caesar asks if Pompey has considered their offer and will send his soldiers back to Sicily rather than have them die at the hands of the triumvirate's army. Pompey tells the three his reason for battling them: his father, Pompey the Great, was defeated by Julius Caesar, and then after Brutus and Cassius assassinated Caesar, the forces of Octavius Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus defeated Brutus and Cassius. It is only right for Pompey to continue the chain of revenge and defeat the three men who defeated his father's revengers.

Topic Tracking: Honor 1

Antony acknowledges that Pompey has great power at sea, but reminds him that by land, their army greatly outnumbers his. Pompey reminds Antony of the house he bought, Pompey's father's house, that he later refused to pay for, calling him a "cuckoo." Lepidus brings the conversation back to the present, asking Pompey how he will respond to their offer to join them. Pompey says that he had come prepared to accept. He reminds Antony that when Caesar and Lucius were fighting, Antony's mother came to Sicily and was warmly welcomed; Antony thanks him for this and they shake hands. He also thanks him for causing him to leave Egypt when he did:

"The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you,
That called me
timelier than my purpose hither,
For I have gained by 't."
Act 2, Scene 6, ll. 50-52

Pompey agrees to their offer, and the four men decide to feast together. Pompey invites the men on his ship, and they exit, leaving only Menas and Enobarbus.

Menas remarks, as Pompey is leaving, that Pompey's father would never have agreed to such an offer. He and Enobarbus recognize that they have fought against each other, and praise each other on their strengths as soldiers: Enobarbus by land, and Menas by sea. Menas tells Enobarbus that he thinks Pompey has undone himself by not fighting with the triumvirate.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 4

He asks if Antony is married to Cleopatra, and Enobarbus tells of his marriage to Octavia. Menas remarks that now Antony and Caesar are forever bonded, but Enobarbus says that it is not likely to last. Octavia has a very cold nature, and Antony is the sort of man to like a fiery woman such as Cleopatra. The two men decide to join the others on the ship for a night of drinking.

Act 2, Scene 7

Several servants enter, having just witnessed the men drinking. Lepidus is very drunk, and though he protests he does not want to drink any more, the others unite in urging him to do so, and in the name of encouraging a friendship, he does. The servants discuss the fact that Lepidus is out of place, not being as powerful as the other men, and indeed his weakness weakens the triumvirate.

Trumpets sound and Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Pompey, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Menas, Agrippa, other captains, and a boy enter. Antony is speaking to Caesar about the Nile River, and how the Egyptians use it to predict the following season. Lepidus is drunk, and everyone drinks to his health. Menas asks Pompey to speak to him alone, but Pompey tells him to wait. Lepidus asks about the Egyptian crocodile; Antony tells him what kind of a creature it is. Again Menas pesters Pompey to hear him, and they walk away from the group a few steps. He tells Pompey he has always been a faithful servant, and asks him if he wants to rule the whole world. Pompey asks if he is drunk, but Menas insists that he can help him become ruler of all by betraying the triumvirate. Pompey responds that his honor is more important than his profit, and tells Menas not to say anything more, but to go back to the group and drink. Menas, aside, swears he will not follow Pompey anymore, reasoning that anyone who would refuse power like this will never be successful. Pompey makes another toast to Lepidus's health, and Antony says that he will drink for him, and tells someone to carry him to bed. The drinking and celebrating continue; a boy sings a song about wine, and Caesar finally says that it is time to go to bed, as they are all drunk and tired. Everyone exits but Enobarbus and Menas; they say goodnight, and exit.

Act 3, Scene 1

In the Middle East, Ventidius and Silius, two of Antony's followers, enter bearing the dead body of Pacorus. Pacorus was the son of Orodes, the king of Parthia, who murdered Marcus Crassus (part of the first triumvirate along with Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar). Pacorus's death is Ventidius's revenge for the treacherous act committed by his father. Silius encourages Ventidius to follow the rest of the fleeing Parthians so that Antony can promote him, but Ventidius replies that he does not want to draw attention to this act, for someone of his rank who outdoes his captain could offend him; he would rather not flaunt his success so that Antony does not take offense and demote him. He tells Silius he will humbly let Antony know of what has happened. Antony is on his way to Athens; Ventidius and Silius will meet him there.

Topic Tracking: Honor 2

Act 3, Scene 2

Agrippa and Enobarbus enter in Rome. The business has been finished with Pompey, Pompey has left, and the triumvirs are settling matters. Enobarbus says that Lepidus has "greensickness," both referring to his hangover and his love for Caesar and Antony. Agrippa and Enobarbus make fun of how Lepidus praises Antony and Caesar, each one more lavishly than the other. They say farewell, but watch as Antony, Caesar, Lepidus, and Octavia enter. Caesar expresses his hope that this bond of marriage will cement their friendship, and Antony assures him that there was never any threat to fear concerning his loyalty. He wishes Caesar well, and Octavia begins to cry, telling Caesar to look after Antony; she then whispers in Caesar's ear. Antony remarks that she has such conflicting thoughts that she must whisper. Agrippa and Enobarbus comment on this, saying that Caesar looks like he might cry. Agrippa recalls the time when Antony found that Julius Caesar had been killed, and cried; he also cried when he found Brutus dead. Caesar assures Octavia he will not forget to think of her, and the three triumvirs say goodbye.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 5

Act 3, Scene 3

Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas enter the scene in Egypt. Cleopatra has sent for the messenger who, Alexas says, is afraid to come back. The messenger enters, greets the queen, and Cleopatra asks him if he has seen Octavia in Rome, and prompts him to tell her that Octavia is not as tall as she is, and has a low voice. Cleopatra takes this as an indication that Antony will tire of her quickly. Knowing what Cleopatra wants to hear, the messenger goes on to say that Octavia does not walk majestically, she has no apparent life to her, she is thirty years old with a face that is too round, brown hair, and a low forehead (a colloquial expression for being ugly). Cleopatra gives him gold for this, and tells him to forget the way she treated him when he first came to her. She says she will use him again, and sends him away. Cleopatra muses to Charmian that if the messenger is right, she has nothing to worry about.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 5

Act 3, Scene 4

Antony and Octavia enter in Athens. Anthony is speaking about Caesar; he says that not only has Caesar fought against him and against Pompey, he has also spoken badly of Antony to the public and not taken any opportunity to speak well of him. Octavia laments that she is caught between her brother and her husband and does not know who to pray for. Any prayer for Caesar would negate her prayers for Antony, and vice versa. Antony tells her to go with whichever man deserves her love the most, and tells her that he must fight to preserve his honor, for if he loses his honor he is no good for her anyway. He tells her he will wage a war against Caesar, and that she should make preparations to leave. He says that she will have to decide where this quarrel began and choose a side. They exit.

Topic Tracking: Honor 3
Topic Tracking: Loyalty 6

Act 3, Scene 5

Enobarbus meets Eros, another one of Antony's followers, in Athens. Eros brings news; Caesar and Lepidus have fought against Pompey and defeated him, and instead of letting Lepidus share in the glory of the victory, Caesar has accused him of treachery, finding letters he had written to Pompey, and locked him in prison for the rest of his life. Pompey, after the defeat, has been murdered, and Antony is cursing the officer who did it because Pompey could have been a good ally in the fight against Caesar. Eros says there is more he would like to tell, but Antony calls for Enobarbus, and he must go see him. They exit.

Act 3, Scene 6

Agrippa, Maecenas, and Caesar enter the scene in Rome. Caesar tells the other two what has been happening in Egypt; Antony has returned there to rule with Cleopatra, and made her queen not only of Egypt but of Syria, Cyprus, and Lydia. He has made their sons Alexander and Ptolemy the kings of other countries as well. Maecenas and Agrippa say that when the Roman people find out about this, they will lose all good opinion of him; Caesar says that they already know, and that Antony accuses him of denying him his share of Sicily, borrowing ships and not returning them, and requests that he take all of Lepidus's wealth and depose him. Caesar says that he will fulfill these requests in return for part of Antony's conquered territories. Maecenas says that Antony will never agree to these terms.

Topic Tracking: East/West 5

Octavia enters with her attendants. Caesar is surprised to see her, and tells her that the wife of Antony should enter with an army when coming to see him. He is upset that she has not shown any love for him. She tells him that she came of her own will, not forced by Antony; in fact, she had to ask for his permission to return home after he told her what had happened. Caesar says that he is not surprised Antony granted permission, since with his wife out of the way it is one less obstacle to being with Cleopatra. Octavia thinks Antony is in Athens, but Caesar informs her that he is in Egypt with Cleopatra. Octavia laments that her heart is split in two between the two men, and Caesar takes pity on her and welcomes her back to Rome, as do Maecenas and Agrippa. Caesar rejoices that his sister has come back to him.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 7

Act 3, Scene 7

Cleopatra and Enobarbus enter the scene in northwestern Greece, where Antony has set up his camp. Cleopatra tells Enobarbus that she is upset that he is trying to encourage her to stay out of the war. She reasons that the war has to do with her, so therefore she is justified in having some say. He tells her that people are talking in Rome about the war, saying that it is being led by a eunuch and her maids. Cleopatra curses Rome for speaking against her, and says she will not stay behind.

Antony and Canidius enter. Caesar has been making progress at sea, and has challenged Antony to a sea battle. Antony wants to accept the challenge, but Canidius and Enobarbus warn him not to do so, because he is much weaker than Caesar at sea; they want him to fight a land battle, one he is prepared to win. Cleopatra backs Antony; she says she has sixty ships. He is resolved to win at sea, and says that if he does not triumph, then he will fight Caesar on the land.

A messenger enters with the news that Caesar has defeated Toryne. Antony muses that Caesar could not have been there in person, so it is strange that his army could have been there. A soldier enters, pleading with Antony not to fight by sea, but he does not listen, and exits with Cleopatra and Enobarbus.

The soldier remains to speak to Canidius; they discuss what has happened and worry that they are being led by a woman. Canidius asks who Caesar's lieutenant is, and the soldier answers that it is a man named Taurus, whom Canidius knows well. A messenger enters saying that Antony calls for Canidius; he exits, remarking that there is more news every second.

Act 3, Scene 8

Caesar and Taurus enter with their army. Caesar gives the order to Taurus not to fight any battle by land until they have waged a war at sea. They exit.

Act 3, Scene 9

Antony enters, telling Enobarbus to put their army on a hill where they can see Caesar's fleet and count the ships, so they can prepare for the sea battle. They exit.

Act 3, Scene 10

Canidius marches across the stage with his army, Taurus marches the other way, and then when they exit we hear the noise of a sea battle. Enobarbus enters, crying that everything has come to nothing; he has seen all sixty of Antony's ships all turn and flee. Scarus enters and tells what has happened; when it looked like the battle was even, Antony's main flagship turned and left, and Antony followed, leaving all of his honor behind. Scarus says he has never seen a more shameful action. Canidius enters, saying that Antony could have won, but instead chose to be a coward. Antony has flown to Peloponnesus. Scarus will wait there to see what is to happen next; Canidius has decided to give his army over to Caesar, as have several of the kings who had previously been fighting for Antony. Enobarbus says that, against his better judgement, he will stay with Antony.

Topic Tracking: Honor 4

Act 3, Scene 11

Antony enters with his attendants. He admits his dishonor, and tells them to leave him and join Caesar. The attendants refuse to betray him, but he goes on to explain that he has acted cowardly and does not require their services anymore. He tells them not to be sad or feel like they are betraying him, for he has already betrayed himself.

Topic Tracking: Honor 5

The attendants exit and Cleopatra, Charmian, Eros, and Iras enter. Cleopatra's attendants are encouraging her to go to Antony and comfort him. Eros approaches Antony, and Antony recalls the battle at Philippi, where Caesar let him fight Brutus and Cassius while he stood by; but in light of his own cowardice in this recent battle, that has no importance. Eros announces Cleopatra and says that she needs him to comfort her. Antony cannot look in her eyes, because it reminds him of his shame. She apologizes for her ships' fleeing, and he says she should have known that his heart is tied to Egypt and he had no choice but to follow them. Now, he must go to Caesar and beg for mercy. He tells Cleopatra:

"You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause."
Act 3, Scene 11, ll. 64-67

Topic Tracking: East/West 6

She apologizes again; he tells her not to cry, and they kiss. He asks her if the schoolteacher whom he sent to Caesar has returned.

Act 3, Scene 12

Caesar enters with Agrippa, Dolabella, and several others. A messenger has arrived from Antony; Dolabella announces the messenger as Antony's schoolmaster, and says that the fact that his messenger is a mere teacher, when not so long ago he had sent kings for messengers, means that Antony is truly out of power.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 6

The Ambassador enters, and speaks Antony's will: he requests to live in Egypt, and if this is not granted, he would like to live in Athens. Cleopatra, moreover, admits that Caesar is all-powerful and asks that he give her heirs control over the Ptolemies. He will not grant Antony's request, but says that if Cleopatra will drive Antony from Egypt, he will hear her petition. The Ambassador leaves with an escort from Caesar. Caesar tells Thidias to go to Cleopatra and take her away from Antony. He gives Thidias permission to promise anything in order to get her, and muses how Antony will bear his disgrace once he has Cleopatra taken away from him.

Act 3, Scene 13

Cleopatra, Charmian, Enobarbus, and Iras enter the scene in Cleopatra's palace. Enobarbus tells Cleopatra that Antony is at fault for what has happened, for he should not have let his sexual desire rule his mind. When he and Caesar stood opposed, Antony's turning and following Egypt's ships instead of fighting was a shameful act.

Antony and the Ambassador enter. The Ambassador has told Antony Caesar's response: that he will give Cleopatra what she wants as long as she gives up Antony. Antony is outraged, and tells the Ambassador to go back and insult Caesar, calling him a boy and telling him that his subordinates could thrive as well under the command of a small child, and to challenge him to a duel. Antony and the Ambassador leave to write the message to Caesar, and Enobarbus speaks aside, saying that Antony could only dream that Caesar would accept his challenge. His judgement is clearly as bad as his luck has been. He begins to doubt whether following Antony is mere foolishness, but reasons that his loyalty to Antony is a moral victory, even if Antony's side does not win the war.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 8

Thidias arrives as a messenger from Caesar. He wishes to speak to Cleopatra alone, but she assures him that he can say what he came to say in front of her friends; for, as Enobarbus insists, they are friends of Antony, who is a friend of Caesar. Thidias tells her that Caesar acknowledges that she went along with Antony not because she loved him but because she feared him, and that he forgives her because she was forced to do what she did. Cleopatra responds:

"He is a god, and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquered
merely." Act 3, Scene 13, ll. 60-62

Upon hearing her say this, Enobarbus leaves, saying to himself that he must ask Antony about what Cleopatra has said, and worries that he should possibly leave Antony, since his most beloved has apparently left him. Cleopatra tells Thidias that she will bend to Caesar's worthy rule, and will do what he asks in return for her kingdom. As Thidias kisses her hand (at which she recalls that Julius Caesar had done the same), Antony enters and, having been informed by Enobarbus, asks what Thidias is doing. Thidias replies that he is carrying out the orders of the man most able to rule. At this, Antony flies into a rage and calls for his servants to whip Thidias; they come and take him away. Antony accuses Cleopatra of being a whore, of lying to him and being unfaithful, and does not give her a chance to explain herself. The servants enter with Thidias, having whipped him, and Antony tells him to go back to Caesar and tell him how his message was received, desiring to make Thidias regret that he serves Caesar. Antony has been greatly angered, and he dares Caesar to try and make a servant of him leave him. Thidias exits.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 9

Antony asks Cleopatra if she would truly give her sexual favors to Caesar or his attendants, and she answers that if that were true, let the gods take away her ability to have children and strike down all the people of Egypt as well. Antony tells her he is satisfied, and promises that they do have a chance against Caesar. The navy and army are rebuilding, and a new battle is to come. He will fight bravely and restore her faith in him. Tonight they decide to feast and drink before the battle tomorrow; Cleopatra calls their attendants to get together the lords for the celebration. They exit, leaving Enobarbus alone. He still finds Antony foolish and decides that he will find a way to leave him.

Act 4, Scene 1

Caesar enters reading a letter from Antony, flanked by Agrippa, Maecenas and the army. Caesar reads that Antony calls him a boy, tells him that he has power to defeat him, and challenges him to a man-to-man fight. Caesar laughs at this challenge. Maecenas advises Caesar to take advantage of Antony's rage and battle with him right away. Caesar gives the order that tomorrow they will wage the last battle, and tonight the army will feast.

Act 4, Scene 2

Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas enter. Enobarbus has told Antony that Caesar will not fight one-on-one with him, and tells him the reason is that he believes Antony is at a far greater advantage. Antony asks Enobarbus to fight tomorrow with him, and Enobarbus says "I'll strike, and cry, 'Take all.'"Act 4, Scene 2, ll. 9, with the double meaning that he will fight to the finish and he will strike sail and surrender. Antony says that they will feast well tonight. Several servants enter and Antony thanks them all for their support and service; he wishes that he could be divided and they could be united so he could serve them as well as they have served him. He asks them to serve him well tonight, for tomorrow it could be that they will serve another master. Enobarbus asks him to stop, as he is making them all about to cry, but Antony insists that he does not mean this in a sad way; he is hoping not for death and honor but for life and victory. They go to the feast.

Act 4, Scene 3

In Alexandria, several soldiers gather for the night watch. They greet each other, hope for the best in the battle tomorrow, and then hear oboe music; they wonder where it is coming from and ask each other. They decide to follow it as far as their night watch extends, and see if they can tell where it comes from.

Act 4, Scene 4

Antony, Cleopatra, and Eros enter. Antony asks Eros to put on his armor; Cleopatra wants Antony to come back to bed, but at his insistence at getting dressed, she tries to help him. She does not know how to put on the armor, but he shows her, and praises her when it is done. He bids Eros leave, chiding him that Cleopatra is better at his office than he is, and says that no one will dare remove this armor until it is time to rest. He wishes that Cleopatra could see the battle. A soldier enters to tell Antony there are a thousand soldiers, though it is still early, ready to go with their armor on. Captains and more soldiers enter, and Antony addresses them, telling them it is a fine morning and they will be brave today. He says goodbye to Cleopatra with a kiss, and tells the army to follow him. Charmian and Cleopatra retire to Cleopatra's bedroom, hoping for a good outcome in the battle.

Act 4, Scene 5

Antony and Eros meet the soldier who had warned Antony earlier not to fight a sea battle. Antony admits that he should have followed that advice, and the soldier tells him that many would still be on his side if he had not fought in that battle. He reveals that Enobarbus has gone to fight with Caesar. Antony sends Eros to write a letter to Enobarbus with his greetings, and curses that his luck should have corrupted such an honest man as Enobarbus.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 10

Act 4, Scene 6

Agrippa, Caesar, Enobarbus, and Dolabella enter. Caesar tells Agrippa to go begin the fight, intending to take Antony alive rather than kill him. A messenger enters, saying that Antony has entered the battlefield, and Caesar tells him to tell Agrippa put the soldiers who had formerly been Antony's allies but are now Caesar's on the front lines, so Antony will seem to be attacking his own. Enobarbus is left alone, and says that he has done such an awful thing by leaving Antony that he will never be happy again. A soldier enters saying that he has all of Enobarbus's treasure, and some additional items, from Antony. Enobarbus does not believe him at first, but the soldier assures him he speaks the truth, and requests safe passage in return. He exits. Enobarbus feels even worse, and decides that he can no longer serve Caesar as the traitor that he is. He will find a place to die:

"I am alone the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most. O Antony,
Thou
mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
My better service when my
turpitude
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.
If swift thought break it not, a swifter
mean
Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do't, I feel.
I fight against thee? No, I will go seek
Some ditch wherein to die. The foul'st best fits
My latter part of life."
Act 4, Scene 6, ll. 31-40

Topic Tracking: Honor 6

Act 4, Scene 7

Agrippa and others of Caesar's men enter the field; Agrippa proclaims to them that they must retreat, since they are unexpectedly losing. They exit.

Antony and Scarus enter. Though Scarus is wounded, he excitedly claims that they will win the battle. Antony hears the call of a retreat, and they rejoice; Scarus tells him they can do more; he has room for more wounds still. Eros enters to bring the news of the retreat and say that a victory is quite possible. Scarus is still ready to go out and fight more, and Antony says he will reward him both for his loyalty and his courage. They exit.

Act 4, Scene 8

Antony enters, addressing the soldiers. He tells one to go tell Cleopatra of what has happened, and tells the rest to go celebrate with their loved ones. Tomorrow before the sunrise they will finish the battle.

Cleopatra enters, and she and Antony feverishly greet each other and embrace. He tells her that although Caesar has the advantage of age, he was nonetheless able to defeat him. He asks Cleopatra to let Scarus kiss her hand, as he has been most valiant in the war. Tomorrow they will beat Caesar once and for all; he wishes the Palace were big enough to hold the whole army so they could all celebrate, but commands the trumpeters to play and everyone to rejoice.

Act 4, Scene 9

A sentry and a first watchman say that this has been an awful day for them, and that the battle is set to begin early tomorrow morning. Enobarbus enters and they listen to him; he talks to himself without knowing of their presence. He calls to the moon to poison him and let him die, and asks for Antony to forgive him just as the whole world remembers him as a fugitive. Calling to Antony, he dies.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 11

The sentry and first watch approach his body, wondering if he is just asleep, and try to speak to him. When they get no response, they decide to carry him off, thinking that he might awaken, even though he seems like he is dead.

Act 4, Scene 10

Antony enters, telling Scarus that Caesar is setting up his navy so as to fight at sea once again; they are obviously no match for Antony on land. He says that they are ready for Caesar, whether it be by sea, land, air, or fire, and says that they will set up the army and navy to find out what Caesar is planning.

Act 4, Scene 11

Caesar enters, telling his army that they will remain inactive by land unless they are provoked. He believes Antony is building up his navy and will be preoccupied doing that, so perhaps a land battle is not necessary.

Act 4, Scene 12

Antony and Scarus enter; Antony tells Scarus that he will go discover how things are going, and will come back to report. Alone, Scarus muses that the outlook is not as positive as the day before; he knows Antony is optimistic, but also very fearful of another sea battle.

Antony returns, cursing Cleopatra, and saying that she has betrayed him, just as she betrayed many men before him. His fleets have gone to Caesar's side and are celebrating with him, and he holds her responsible. He tells Scarus to tell his army to flee, and Scarus exits. Alone, Antony cries that he has been betrayed by the woman in whom he has put all his love and his faith. Cleopatra enters, and he turns her away, saying that he wishes that Caesar will capture her and make a public spectacle of her. She exits. Antony calls for Eros and vows that Cleopatra will die for her betrayal.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 12

Act 4, Scene 13

Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian enter. Cleopatra asks them what she should do, since Antony is in such a rage as she has never seen him before. Charmian advises her to lock herself in the monument and to send word to Antony that she is dead; she agrees, and tells Mardian to go to Antony and tell him that the last word she spoke was his name, and bring news as to how he takes it.

Act 4, Scene 14

Antony and Eros enter. Antony tells Eros about things which are not what they seem: clouds that take on strange shapes, for example, which are really nothing more than water and air. He believes himself to be such an apparition; he has fought battles for his love, the Queen of Egypt, and she has thanked him by betraying him to his worst enemy. The only thing left for him to do, he says, is to kill himself.

Mardian enters and Antony curses Cleopatra to him. Mardian defends her, saying that she loved him greatly and would never betray him; Antony insists that she should die, but Mardian says that a person can only die once, and that she has already paid that debt. When he realizes that Mardian is saying that Cleopatra is dead, Antony sends him off and wishes him safety for his pains. He begs Eros to take off his armor, and dismisses him. Alone, he decides that the only thing he can do is kill himself, since to live is to prolong the torture of being without Cleopatra. He calls Eros to return, and tells him that since he is living with such shame, it is only right to end everything; long ago, Eros had promised to do as he asked, and he asks now for Eros to kill him with his own sword. Eros can hardly believe he is being asked to do so, when so many men have tried to kill Antony and failed. Antony begs him to consider what life will mean, that he will be publicly humiliated by Caesar; Eros agrees that he would hate to see that, and asks Antony to turn away so that he does not have to see his face as he strikes with the sword. Antony does so, and gives the command; Eros stabs himself instead, and before dying has a chance to say that in this act he escapes witnessing Antony's death. Antony praises Eros as nobler than he himself is, and decides to do the deed himself. He falls on his sword.

Several guards and Dercetus enter; Antony pleads with them to finish what he has started and kill him, but none of them will. Dercetus takes the sword from Antony's body and goes to show it to Caesar. Diomedes, a follower of Cleopatra, enters and speaks to Antony. Cleopatra has sent him, and he tells Antony that she is alive, locked in the monument, and that she had a vision of what was happening; she wanted Diomedes to tell Antony the truth, that she had wanted to find out how he would take her death. Antony knows it is too late, but sends for his guards and asks them to take him to Cleopatra. They exit, carrying Antony.

Topic Tracking: Loyalty 13

Act 4, Scene 15

Diomedes comes to tell Cleopatra that Antony is still alive, but soon to die. She sees the guards approaching below, carrying Antony, and calls to him; she says it is fitting that the only person to be able to conquer him is himself, but she is overtaken with sadness. He says he has delayed his death until he can kiss her one last time. She cannot come down, but tells her women to help her lift Antony up. It is difficult since he is heavy, but they are able to get him up, and she kisses him. He wants to speak, but she does as well, and curses Fortune (luck) for bringing this tragedy. He tells her that she must trust no one except Proculeius, and she agrees. Antony begs her not to be sad, but to think of him as he was at his most powerful, and to believe that his death was honorable. She asks him how she could possibly live without him, and he dies in her arms. Now that he is gone, she tells her women, everything is out of order and there is no sense to the world:

"The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon."
Act 4, Scene 15, ll. 68-70

Topic Tracking: East/West 7

Cleopatra faints, and upon stirring, tells Charmian and Iras that she could blame the gods for this, and tell them that the earth was as good as heaven before they took away Antony from her; now, what they must do, is follow one noble act with more, and join Antony in death.

Act 5, Scene 1

In Caesar's camp in Alexandria, Caesar, Agrippa, Dolabella, Maecenas, Gallus, and Proculeius enter. Caesar sends Dolabella to go tell Antony to yield to him, and Dolabella exits. Dercetus enters, carrying Antony's sword. He introduces himself as Antony's loyal follower, and tells Caesar that as he served Antony when he was alive, he will now serve Caesar if it please him, and if not, he is ready to offer his life. Caesar asks if Antony is dead, and, when confirmed, says,

"The death of Antony
Is not a single doom; in the name lay
A
moiety of the world." Act 5, Scene 1, ll. 17-19

Dercetus tells Caesar that he died by his own hand. Agrippa and Maecenas comment on Antony's death, saying that it is strange that the thing they have been pursuing should be such a source of sadness for them and for Caesar. They all praise him as noble. Caesar expresses his regret that this has happened, calling Antony a brother and a partner. An Egyptian enters, asking Caesar to send word of what he wants from Cleopatra. Caesar tells him that his people will soon go to Cleopatra, and not to worry, for he will be gentle. The Egyptian thanks him and leaves. Caesar sends Proculeius and Gallus to Cleopatra, to take care of her in her grief and to tell her that they mean her no shame. He calls for Dolabella, remembers that he had sent him to Antony, and exits to his tent.

Act 5, Scene 2

Cleopatra tells Charmian, Iras, and Mardian that she is beginning to feel better; her impending suicide is better than to be alive. She can take Fate in her hands and subdue it, by ending all things and not living the earthy life anymore that will keep on torturing Caesar.

Proculeius enters with greetings from Caesar, asking what Cleopatra would like from him. Upon hearing his name, Cleopatra tells him that Antony said she could trust him, but she prefers not to trust anyone. She will only beg the biggest things of Caesar, and therefore asks him only for the kingdom of Egypt to be in her son's control. He tells her not to worry, and that Caesar is going to be very kind to her. Several Roman soldiers enter and take her captive, and he quips that she is easily surprised. She draws a dagger to kill herself, but a guard disarms her and Proculeius warns her not to do so, since Caesar would much rather she be alive, so the world will think him noble. Cleopatra vows to starve herself, to ruin her mortal body any way she can, so as not to be Caesar's prisoner. She would much rather die in Egypt.

Dolabella enters, tells Proculeius that Caesar has sent for him, and says he will take charge of Cleopatra. Proculeius exits. Cleopatra tells Dolabella she has heard that he listens to dreams, and she tells him hers: she speaks of Antony, in all his valor and nobility, as if he were a dream that had never existed:

"I dreamt there was an emperor Antony,
O, such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!"
Act 5, Scene 2, ll. 75-77

She continues speaking of his power, beauty, and love. Dolabella tells her that he truly feels and sympathizes with her grief. She thanks him for his sincerity and asks him what Caesar intends to do with her; he cannot tell her, but leads her to guess that Caesar will display her as a token of triumph.

Topic Tracking: Messengers 7

Proculeius, Caesar, Gallus, Maecenas, and others enter. Caesar tells Cleopatra that if she cooperates, then she will find he treats her most fairly, acknowledging that the crimes she committed against him were not her fault, as she is a woman. However, if she decides to end her life as Antony has, then her children will suffer for that decision. She agrees to give him what he wants, and calls in her treasurer, Seleucus, to tell Caesar that the scroll she gives him contains everything she owns. Seleucus, however, tells Caesar that she has kept things for herself, and she threatens him and curses him for his disloyalty. She admits to Caesar that she kept some things, mostly women's trinkets. She tells Seleucus that if he had been a man, he would have taken pity on her. He exits. Caesar tells Cleopatra that she may keep these things, that he is not concerned with petty trinkets, and leaves her, telling her that he greatly pities and cares for her.

Left alone with Charmian and Iras, Cleopatra whispers to Charmian, and she exits, reappearing shortly with Dolabella. Dolabella tells her that in three days Caesar will send for her and her children, and tells her that he promises to fulfill her request. She thanks him, and he exits.

Cleopatra asks Iras what she thinks. Caesar is to make a laughingstock of them; they are to be displayed in the city for anyone to watch, and Cleopatra thinks that there will be a play made of her story and some boy will play her. Iras says that she would rather scratch out her own eyes than see that happen. Cleopatra calls in Charmian and tells her that she wants to be dressed in her Queen's robes, for she is to meet Antony soon. Charmian and Iras leave, and a guardsman enters, announcing a Clown who brings her a basket of figs. In the basket is an asp, a very poisonous snake which kills painlessly. Cleopatra asks if this is true, and if the Clown has known anyone to die from it. He says he has known many to die, and that she should not trust the worm, nor give it anything. He leaves, and Cleopatra calls in her women. They dress her, and she imagines she sees Antony:

"Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act. I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their
after wrath. Husband, I come!" Act 5, Scene 2, ll. 283-287

Topic Tracking: Honor 7

She kisses Iras goodbye, at which point Iras falls and dies (her death is most likely from heartbreak). Charmian weeps, and Cleopatra calls the asp to bite her breast, then her arm, and she dies. Charmian laments that there was never such a queen as Cleopatra.

A guard enters to announce that Caesar has sent a messenger, but Charmian says he is too late, as she applies the asp to her own arm, and dies. Dolabella enters, and then Caesar, to see all three women dead. Caesar says it was fitting for such a brave and royal woman to take her own life. They try to figure out the method of death, thinking at first it was poison, but then see the bite marks of the asps. Caesar tells Dolabella that she must have done research about the best way to kill herself. He says that she is to be buried next to Antony, not wanting to split up this noble pair in death. After the funeral, which will be solemnly attended by the army, Caesar will go back to Rome.