Archive: Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra is a dramatic tragedy by William Shakespeare in which we follow the two main characters, Antony and Cleopatra, throughout their love affair. The two come from different worlds, Egypt and Rome, but their peoples have crossed before, as Cleopatra plainly states when speaking with her servants about her past lover, Julius Caesar. The two will do anything to be together and not even thier inevitable demise could tear them apart.



Plot Summary
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragic play about two lovers from different worlds; one is a Roman General and partial ruler of the Roman empire, the other a queen of Egypt. Their downfall comes about when each neglect their duties to enjoy the pleasures of their passion.

Antony is ripped from his lover's arms by the unfortunate news of his wife's demise; his sense of duty then overpowers his enjoyment of Cleopatra's bed and he returns to Rome. While there Antony and Octavius Caesar fight and settle matters by ways of an arranged marriage between Antony and Octavia, Caesar's sister.

In Egypt, Cleopatra receives word of Antony's marriage and is greatly angered. With a word from the messenger she gains confidence that Antony will return to her luxurious bed in favor of that of his plain wife Octavia's.

Meanwhile in Rome, the opposing sides of Caesar and Pompey meet to discuss terms and conditions for war and what they can do to avoid total destruction. An agreement is made for Pompey to take Sicily and Sardinia in exchange for peace. While they drink to celebrate their truce, one of Pompey's men tries to persuade Pompey to murder the three drunken rulers of Rome aboard his ship so as to gain complete power. Pompey refuses as it would tarnish his honor.

When Antony leaves for Athens with his new bride, Caesar breaks his promise and attacks Pompey with Lepidus' army; he wins the battle and then accuses Lepidus of treason and has him arrested and stripped of all his land and titles. When Antony learns this he is furious. Octavia begs Antony not to attack her brother because her love would be divided between the two. Antony sends her back to Rome and departs for Egypt.

Caesar then attacks Egypt because of Antony's treason and mistreatment of his sister. They meet in several battles and Caesar calls for Cleopatra to betray Antony in return for her heirs to rule Egypt as is their right. She does not and is accused of betrayal anyway. She then sends word that she has committed suicide. This leaves Antony in a bind and he attempts to kill himself as well, which goes wrong and he lives long enough to be brought to Cleopatra. When Antony is dead Caesar takes Cleopatra prisoner intending to parade her around to show his empire's might. She learns of his plan and commits suicide herself.

Characters

 * Marc Antony
 * A Roman general who goes on a trip to Egypt and ends up falling in love with the queen. He gets used to the good life and doesn't want to return but must for his wife's funeral. Throughout the play Antony is subject to betrayal and suducton from a beautiful mistress.
 * Octavius Caesar
 * Antony's fellow triumvir along with Lepidus. Octavius betrays his friends Antony, Lepidus, and the young Pompey. He is responsible for the death of Antony and Cleopara.
 * Lepidus
 * The third Triumvir of Rome and Antony's friend. He tries to make peace between Antony and Caesar when they are fighting over pety issues as Pompey comes for battle. Lepidus is the first person to suggest Antony and Octavia wed.
 * Pompey
 * In the beginning he was the opponent of Rome but he made a deal with Caesar which Octavius broke. Young Pompey wanted revenge for his father's murder and he is popular with the people of Rome.
 * Soothsayer
 * Works for Cleopatra and tells the limited future that he can; he speaks in riddles and is very vague so that almost anything can be made out of his prophesies.
 * Alexas, Mardian, Seleucus, Charmain, Iras, and Diomedes
 * Servants of Cleopatra who comfort her when she is having doubts about Antony.
 * Cleopatra
 * The Queen of Egypt and Antony's lover. She is the reason for Antony's distracted and lax attitude toward his duties as a Roman general. She is seductive and sly, playing for her own gain.
 * Octavia
 * Octavius Caesar's sister and the second wife to Antony. She was used as a bargaining chip in arguments and the victim of deception. She tries to prevent the battle between Antony and Caesar but is not successful.

Themes
Don't cheat, it leads to downfall

Love and War don't mix, but they are very similar

Duty before pleasure as is the way of life

Betrayal from friends is more common than from enemies

Decisions should be based on facts and duty, not passion and pleasure

Motifs
snakes are mentioned many times throughout the play.

Symbols
	In Act four, scene fifteen Antony compares his fluctuating sense of identity to the cloud that shifts in it's shape.

	Cleopatra's affections are like her ships; they are not constant and they run when they are needed the most whether for battle or a strong hand needed to guide the ideas and people of her life.

	Snakes are another symbol; the asps are Cleopatra's children as she raises them to her bosom like a nurse and there are several examples when snakes are used as a metaphor for the Queen of Egypt and the treachery therein.

	Figs- said to be a sexually oriented fruit; figs are said to look like a woman's personal area.

Significant Quotes

 * Act 1, Scene 1- "There's beggary in the love that can be reckoned..."
 * This is where Antony tells Cleopatra that his love is unable to be measured and if it could it would not be enough.
 * Act 1, Scene 3- "In time we hate that which we often fear..."
 * One of Cloepatra's servants is telling her to be patient and wait; eventually we will hate what controls us, as she is controlling Antony.
 * Act 1, Scene 5- "My salad days, when I was green in judgment, cold in blood. To say as I said then!"
 * Cleopatra explains to the audience and her maids why she fell in love with Caesar, saying she was young and inexperienced, without the slightest clue of what passion really was. She is looking for an excuse to say she did not love Caesar as much as she does Antony, even though she says the same things.
 * Act 4, Scene 13- "The soul and body rive not more in parting than greatness going off."
 * Cleopatra has broken off with Antony and wants him back desperately, thankfully Charmian is there to advise her. Charmian explains how when great people leave they cause more pain than when a person meets their demise.
 * Act 5, Scene 2- "My resolution's placed, and I have nothing of woman in me. I am marble-constant."
 * Cleopatra makes one of her final decisions and intends to stick to it; she will remain as firm as marble, not budging in her resolution. She informs the audience that nothing remains of the woman she once was, she is stronger now and has finally come to terms with herself.