Act 3, Scene 11 Summary

In Alexandria, Antony is devastated with shame at his loss. He tells his comrades to take his ship and treasure and leave him to his own plans. Cleopatra apologizes for retreating, saying that she did not expect Antony to follow. He regrets his loss of honor.

Act 3, Scene 11 Analysis

The imagery in this scene returns to the theme of Antony's symbolic emasculation. In his speech to the comrades, he uses the metaphor of age overcoming his youth and strength to demonstrate his fall from the masculine ideal.

"My very hairs do mutiny; for the white

Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them

For fear and doting (lines 13-15)."

This metaphor denotes Antony's inner struggle, between the traditional values, which urge him towards valor but encourage him to recklessness, and the weaker elements of his character, his obsession for Cleopatra and...