Antony and Cleopatra
• In Egypt Antony has fallen in love with Cleopatra and neglected his duties in Rome
• Messenger from Rome arrives – Antony does not want to listen to the messenger, but
Cleopatra urges him to pay attention to what he has to say
• Antony says that the message means nothing to him, his duty requires that he stays in
Egypt and loves Cleopatra – Cleopatra is skeptical of his love for her
• Philo and Demetrius express despair at Antony’s disregard for Rome and the Triumvirate
• Soothsayer predicts Cleopatras death – Her maids will live a longer more prosperous life
than her
• Cleopatra complains that Anthony has shifted his focus to Rome
• Messenger arrives with news – Fulvia and Lucius have mounted an army against Caesar
but they have lost the battle (This would not have happened if Antony were in Rome)
• Another messenger arrives to report Fulvia’s death – Antony had long desired it but now
regrets the fact that she is dead – Enorbabus tries to comfort Antony about Fulvia’s
death saying it should be welcomed news
• Worried that his idleness and devotion to Cleopatra have caused this, as well as
pompey’s threat of war on Rome – Antony decides to break away from Cleopatra and
return to Rome
• Cleopatra is angered by his return to Rome – She also notes his lack of mourning for his
wife’s death and believes it would be the same for her
• Cleopatra and Antony argue about the depth of their love until Antony departs –
Distance will not threaten their love
• In Rome, Caesar complains to Lepidus that Antony has neglected his duties and
abandoned the better part of his nobleness
• Lepidus attempts to defend Antony saying that his actions are inherited and not his
choice
• A messenger arrives with news of Pompey’s nearing army – Caesar is angered at the fact
that they do not have Antony with them
, • Cleopatra expresses sadness at Antony’s absence but promises to write to him regularly
• Pompey is confident of his victory against the triumvir – especially because Antony is
away
• A messenger arrives with the news that Antony has returned – Pompey hopes the feud
between Antony and Caesar will cause turmoil
• Enorbabus tells Antony that he must speak softly and gently with Caesar as not to cause
tension
• Caesar and Anotny sit down – Caesar complains of Fulvia’s rebellion and questions
Antony’s loyalty to the triumvirs
• Mecenas suggests that they put aside their bickering in order to defeat Pompey –
Agrippa suggests that Antony marry Octavia Caesar – The marriage will cement the bond
between the two men and renew the loyalty
• Enorbabus suggests that Antony will not be able to leave Cleopatra despite his marriage
to Octavia
• Antony promises Octavia that his sexual deeds of the past will not happen again and
promises to be loyal
• Soothsayer tells Antony that his fortunes will be low if he remains in Rome and Caesar
will overpower him – He advises Antony to leave plenty space between him and Caesar
• Antony resigns himself to returning to the East and to Cleopatra where his “pleasures”
lie
• Antony orders Ventidius to make war against the kingdom of Parthia
• In Egypt a messenger arrives to bring news to Cleopatra – Antony has married Octavia –
Cleopatra becomes enraged and acts out of passion and treats the servant viciously –
She orders the messenger to go and get details about Octavia and return with answers
• The triumvirs and Pompey meet and discuss the war – They reach agreement, the
Triumvirs will give Pompey the territory of Sicily and Sardinia
• The men then climb aboard Pompey’s ship and hold a party -The men get drunk and part
all night long
• Menas pulls Pompey aside to suggest that they sail off into the sea and kill the Trumvir –
Pompey says that Menas should have done the deed without telling him because he will
now feel too guilty if they were to kill them (It would violate his honor)
• In Egypt Antony has fallen in love with Cleopatra and neglected his duties in Rome
• Messenger from Rome arrives – Antony does not want to listen to the messenger, but
Cleopatra urges him to pay attention to what he has to say
• Antony says that the message means nothing to him, his duty requires that he stays in
Egypt and loves Cleopatra – Cleopatra is skeptical of his love for her
• Philo and Demetrius express despair at Antony’s disregard for Rome and the Triumvirate
• Soothsayer predicts Cleopatras death – Her maids will live a longer more prosperous life
than her
• Cleopatra complains that Anthony has shifted his focus to Rome
• Messenger arrives with news – Fulvia and Lucius have mounted an army against Caesar
but they have lost the battle (This would not have happened if Antony were in Rome)
• Another messenger arrives to report Fulvia’s death – Antony had long desired it but now
regrets the fact that she is dead – Enorbabus tries to comfort Antony about Fulvia’s
death saying it should be welcomed news
• Worried that his idleness and devotion to Cleopatra have caused this, as well as
pompey’s threat of war on Rome – Antony decides to break away from Cleopatra and
return to Rome
• Cleopatra is angered by his return to Rome – She also notes his lack of mourning for his
wife’s death and believes it would be the same for her
• Cleopatra and Antony argue about the depth of their love until Antony departs –
Distance will not threaten their love
• In Rome, Caesar complains to Lepidus that Antony has neglected his duties and
abandoned the better part of his nobleness
• Lepidus attempts to defend Antony saying that his actions are inherited and not his
choice
• A messenger arrives with news of Pompey’s nearing army – Caesar is angered at the fact
that they do not have Antony with them
, • Cleopatra expresses sadness at Antony’s absence but promises to write to him regularly
• Pompey is confident of his victory against the triumvir – especially because Antony is
away
• A messenger arrives with the news that Antony has returned – Pompey hopes the feud
between Antony and Caesar will cause turmoil
• Enorbabus tells Antony that he must speak softly and gently with Caesar as not to cause
tension
• Caesar and Anotny sit down – Caesar complains of Fulvia’s rebellion and questions
Antony’s loyalty to the triumvirs
• Mecenas suggests that they put aside their bickering in order to defeat Pompey –
Agrippa suggests that Antony marry Octavia Caesar – The marriage will cement the bond
between the two men and renew the loyalty
• Enorbabus suggests that Antony will not be able to leave Cleopatra despite his marriage
to Octavia
• Antony promises Octavia that his sexual deeds of the past will not happen again and
promises to be loyal
• Soothsayer tells Antony that his fortunes will be low if he remains in Rome and Caesar
will overpower him – He advises Antony to leave plenty space between him and Caesar
• Antony resigns himself to returning to the East and to Cleopatra where his “pleasures”
lie
• Antony orders Ventidius to make war against the kingdom of Parthia
• In Egypt a messenger arrives to bring news to Cleopatra – Antony has married Octavia –
Cleopatra becomes enraged and acts out of passion and treats the servant viciously –
She orders the messenger to go and get details about Octavia and return with answers
• The triumvirs and Pompey meet and discuss the war – They reach agreement, the
Triumvirs will give Pompey the territory of Sicily and Sardinia
• The men then climb aboard Pompey’s ship and hold a party -The men get drunk and part
all night long
• Menas pulls Pompey aside to suggest that they sail off into the sea and kill the Trumvir –
Pompey says that Menas should have done the deed without telling him because he will
now feel too guilty if they were to kill them (It would violate his honor)
