Setting: Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria
Characters in the Scene: Philo, Demetrius, Cleopatra, Anthony
The play opens with Roman soldiers Philo and Demetrius, who express disgust at how Antony, once a legendary general, has become what Philo calls a "strumpet's fool," fanned by eunuchs while attending to Cleopatra. This opening scene immediately establishes the theme of reason versus passion, showing how Antony appears to the Romans as a man transformed—no longer guided by logic and duty, but ruled by a woman’s whims. Cleopatra then asks Antony to quantify his love, to which he responds that "there's beggary in the love that can be reckoned," suggesting that his love is too vast to measure. This interaction highlights their indulgence in luxury and excess, while Antony’s hyperbolic language underscores how far he has drifted from Roman rationality. The tension escalates when a messenger arrives from Rome with news of Octavius Caesar and Antony’s wife, Fulvia. Antony, however, refuses to listen, famously declaring, "Let Rome in Tiber melt." This refusal represents a political betrayal, as he prioritises personal pleasure over national duty, signalling the first signs of his inevitable downfall.
Setting: Another room in Cleopatra’s palace, Alexandria
Characters in the Scene: Charmian, Alexas, Iras, Soothsayer, Enobarbus, Antony, Messenger, Second Messenger, Third Messenger
In Cleopatra’s palace, Charmian, Iras and Alexas consult a Soothsayer, who predicts that Charmian and Alexas will outlive their queen but that their lives will be worse than before. The maids mock the prophecy and pray for misfortune to befall the Soothsayer, demonstrating the Egyptian theme of carelessness and foreshadowing the tragic ending, as they briefly survive Cleopatra only to die soon after. Cleopatra enters, seeking Antony, but leaves irritated when he arrives in a serious mood. Antony meets a messenger who informs him of his wife Fulvia’s death and warns of Sextus Pompey’s rising power. Insisting on hearing the "blunt truth," Antony begins to reclaim his Roman sense of duty, confronting the political chaos his indulgence in Egypt has caused. Reflecting on Fulvia’s death, he experiences not romantic grief but political and moral regret, realising his idleness in Egypt allowed Rome’s affairs to deteriorate.
When he tells Enobarbus that they must leave Egypt immediately, Enobarbus responds with dark humour; he emphasises traditional Roman views on women as trivial distractions compared to the "great causes" of war and politics. Antony, however, dismisses these jokes and recognises the threat posed by Sextus Pompey. He decides he must momentarily place loyalty to Rome above his passion for Cleopatra. This scene explores the themes of reason versus passion, gender roles and loyalty, while also deepening Antony’s characterisation as a man torn between love and duty.
Setting: The same
Characters in the Scene: Cleopatra, Alexas, Charmian, Iras, Antony
In this scene, Cleopatra searches for Antony and instructs Alexas to manipulate reports of her mood. She tells her to appear sad if Antony is happy and vice versa. Charmian warns that this constant “crossing” may drive him away, but Cleopatra ignores her advice. This reveals her role as a manipulator who rejects submissive female expectations and wields her emotions as a tool of power. When Antony arrives, Cleopatra feigns illness, accuses him of lying, and mocks his loyalty, arguing that if he could betray Fulvia by remaining in Egypt, he might betray her as well. She paradoxically labels him the “greatest soldier” turned “greatest liar”, thus creating a no-win situation that traps Antony between love and duty. Antony responds by explaining the civil strife in Rome and Fulvia’s death, insisting that while his body must return to fight Pompey, his heart remains “in her service”. Cleopatra, shocked by his calm reaction, exaggerates her criticism. She mocks his Roman stoicism and portrays his lack of emotion as a falsehood. When Antony remains resolute, Cleopatra shifts her tone and offers wishes for his “laurel victory” and success, and Antony departs, affirming their unity in spirit. This scene underscores the themes of power, love versus duty, and the divided self, while deepening Cleopatra’s characterisation as a commanding and emotionally strategic figure and Antony’s struggle between personal desire and political obligation.
Setting: Caesar’s Palace, Rome
Characters in the Scene: Octavius Caesar, Ledipus, Messenger, Second Messenger
In this scene, Octavius Caesar complains to Lepidus about Antony’s conduct in Alexandria, describing him as “womanly” and “revelling,” accusing him of wasting time “tippling with a slave” and staggering through the streets at noon. Caesar’s gendered insults suggest that Antony’s submission to Cleopatra has compromised his Roman discipline and logic. Lepidus attempts to defend Antony by comparing his faults to “the spots of heaven,” natural flaws that do not diminish his overall greatness. This portrays Lepidus as the weak link of the Triumvirate, whose passive and forgiving nature undermines his political survival. The tension escalates with urgent news that Sextus Pompey is “strong at sea” and gaining support from those fearful of Caesar, while pirates attack the coast, introducing external conflict that makes Antony’s absence appear as a betrayal of his military duty. Caesar reminisces about the Antony of the past, a soldier capable of surviving on “the barks of trees” and “stale puddles” during the retreat from Modena, using rugged imagery to juxtapose the legendary Roman general with the indulgent Antony in Alexandria. The scene concludes with Caesar and Lepidus agreeing to finalise their strategy against Pompey. This frames Caesar as the disciplined heir of Rome, while Antony is portrayed as an outsider whose passions threaten the stability of the state.
Setting: Cleopatra’s Palace, Alexandria
Characters in the Scene: Cleopatra, Mardian, Charmian, Iras, Alexas
Overwhelmed by Antony’s absence, Cleopatra asks her maid Charmian for mandragora, a sedative, as she wishes to sleep through the entire period he is away in Rome. She describes this time as a “gap in time” while her “man of men” is gone. Cleopatra’s emotional excess contrasts sharply with the Roman use of time for strategy. Engaging in erotic banter with her eunuch Mardian, she envies Antony’s horse for “bearing the weight” of him and reminisces about her past conquests of powerful Romans, including Julius Caesar and Pompey. When Alexas arrives with a pearl from Antony and delivers his message that he has kissed it and promises to “piece” all the kingdoms of the East to Cleopatra’s crown, she rejoices. Antony’s message demonstrates love as a political force. Ecstatic, Cleopatra vows to send him daily letters, even threatening to “unpeople Egypt” to secure enough messengers. When Charmian compares Antony to the “brave Caesar,” Cleopatra angrily insists he is incomparable. This reveals her loyalty and hyperbolic prioritisation of her heart over the welfare of her kingdom.
