Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra

To be a queen at her time, Cleopatra must be a very strong and smart woman; were those enough? No, because she was a woman, and women at that time were in the lower class than men. Cleopatra must have one other qualification to reach the top; it’s her sensuality. Historian concluded that Cleopatra was not beautiful, she was believed to have long nose and rather masculine face structure, but I guess she knew how to attract men; and that had become one of her weapons.

Cleopatra was ambitious, and unlike common women at her time, she was smart and a good politician. I think as a princess, she used to get what she wanted; she must have been a spoilt and stubborn princess. It became more obvious when she was a queen. I never believe that Cleopatra had really fallen passionately in love with Mark Antony; I think Cleopatra was much stronger than that. Love and lust must not have been her weakness, no, she needed to make an alliance with Antony after losing Julius Caesar. If she was portrayed as an obsessive lover to Antony, it was because she wanted to make sure Antony was still in her side, as was reflected from this scene:

Cleopatra: “If it be love indeed, tell me how much.”

Antony: “There’s beggary in the love that can be reckon’d.”

Cleopatra: I’ll set a bourn how far to be belov’d.”

Cleopatra had won Antony, and she demanded that his intention and interests would always be for her. When she tried to hold him in Egypt, it looked like a silly jealousy of a young girl, but I believe it’s more than that.

Although it was not clear whether Cleopatra had betrayed Antony to gain Caesar’s favor for her and her children’s safety—I have searched about this in the internet without any success—I still believe it was indeed the case. Of a woman of self possessed and brave such as Cleopatra, I could not imagine that she had never defended herself from Antony’s accusation. It’s rather strange too how the Egyptian suddenly left their master to join Octavius (in the second war near Alexandria) when it seemed that they would have won the war. Moreover, didn’t Octavius say that he could not fight before Antony attacked first? (Scene XI Act IV). I believe Cleopatra had done something in this, Mark Antony was not a stupid general, he must have known better than anybody else.

After Antony had died, I think Cleopatra did felt a bit depressed. As a woman I think, she must have felt alone without Antony. I wonder whether she’d ever thought that she would have been happier if she’d never pursued her ambition? Ah…but for an unordinary woman like Cleopatra, living an ordinary life would be much torturing than having to commit suicide to die in honor as she have chosen. Maybe….

Mark Antony in Antony and Cleopatra

I have read successively two Shakespeare with Mark Antony as one of the main characters: Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. From both plays I gathered that Mark Antony was one of the greatest generals at that time. His leadership was obvious—at least before he neglected his tasks in his madness to Cleopatra—among his soldiers. He respected them, treated them fairly, and—most importantly—he fought with them. I think it’s really important that a general or captain fought with their soldiers, not only giving orders from the comfort of his camp; this way the soldiers’ respect grew larger to their master. And Antony did this very well.

However, in personality, I think Mark Antony was a nobleman with high taste; he appreciated luxury and elegance; and although he might be a bit harsh and straight forward in his manners, he had a tender heart and very skillful in words. I imagine Antony to be a pleasant man; he must have had many friends, and they all—as also his men—loved him as he too had loved them. He must be honest and honorable, for if not, Julius Caesar must not have had confidence in him to take him in his inner circle.

I don’t consider Antony as a very ambitious man, for he was quite comfortable in his position as Caesar’s number two. If only Caesar had never been murdered, Antony might be quite satisfied with his career in the Senate without ever pursuing to conquer the world alone; by serving Caesar at his best. But circumstances changed, Caesar’s dead, and to this time Antony had always been faithful to his master and friend. His speech during Caesar’s funeral was brilliant, maybe it can even be leveled with Cicero’s.

After that circumstances brought him to share the world with Octavius and Lepidus in the Second Triumvirate. His meeting with Cleopatra was the worst thing that happened to him and brought him to a humiliation and falling down. To have an affair with Cleopatra was not a great matter, if he did not then neglect his tasks in Rome for almost two years. Cleopatra had not only seduced him with his sensuality, but also with Egyptian vulgar exotics, luxury and elegance. Roman despised him for that, his men disgusted at him, and the ambitious young Octavius made the best he could to make the Senate grudge him.

At that point—and after his wife’s death—Antony came to his senses, and he struggled to free himself from Cleopatra’s bound. If only he was as ambitious and determined as Octavius, he might be able to resist Cleopatra’s charm. But Antony was Antony, he’s not the opportunist Caesar or the dubious Octavius; he’s just a man who praised beauty and romance.

The dying Mark Antony was carried
through window

Antony’s nobleness was obvious when he was defeated by Octavius; he granted a ship full of treasures for his men, and advised them to join Caesar, as he was already beaten. Nevertheless, Antony was still encircled by loyal captains and friends who would fight with him although they knew he would be beaten at the end. Antony was also forgiving, he forgave Enobarbus for his betrayal, and he forgave Cleopatra too—but not after he heard that Cleopatra’s dead! :)

At the end, how could I not like a man like him? He had a weakness—but who didn’t?—but otherwise he was a true gentleman, an honest and loyal friend and leader.

Antony and Cleopatra – Final Review

This is my second Shakespearean tragedy after Julius Caesar, and while we are still entertained with wars—though not as flourish as Julius Caesar’s—we are also spoiled with stories of love and lust, loyalty and betrayal, nobleness and dirty politics; all bitters-and-sweets in human’s live.

I believe Antony was a great general, he fight with his soldiers; not just watched and gave orders from the camp (compare this with Octavius who pointed Agrippa to lead the army), and for that his soldiers loved and respected him—well at least before he was crazy. He was a gentleman of his time, always treated his soldiers fairly, and his friends loyally. However—as every man must have his weakness—Antony could not resist love charm; and in this case, the charm has a name: Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt.

From the beginning of the play we can see that Cleopatra was an obsessive woman, she kept asking Antony how much he loved her. If one does not know her reputation, one might think she was just like any other silly young girl who was in love. But I believe this was not the case of Cleopatra. I think she was an ambitious, self-possessed and even cunning woman—you could not become a queen at that time if you did not possess those qualifications—and for her, to keep her throne was more important than to win a man’s heart. I think, after Caesar’s death, Cleopatra needed an allegiance to protect her interests, and she had chosen Antony.

On the contrary, Mark Antony had really fallen in love and trapped into Cleopatra’s charm, that he neglected his duty as the ruler of one third of the world, leaving the young ambitious Octavius worked alone (with Lepidus) in Rome for his own interests. This was Antony’s biggest fault, to let his heart controlled his brain. However, with a woman so charming and determined like Cleopatra, it’s difficult for Antony to avoid his faith.

Cleopatra on the Terraces of Philae
by Frederick Arthur Bridgman, 1896

I loved this play a lot, it has all you can ask for an exciting reading; history, romances, politics, wars and witty dialogues now and then. I always love Roman history, so I don’t have any trouble of loving this one too, plus I think I’m a new fan of Mark Antony, although Cicero is still (for me) the best. One thing I don’t like from this play, is how Cleopatra was portrayed here by Shakespeare. I think, except for once or twice when she was really angry and in the last chapters, one will think Cleopatra was a spoiled teenager who was madly in love.

I am still wondering whether Cleopatra had betrayed Antony as Antony had accused her. If not, why had the Egyptian deserted their master twice, first in Actium battle, second near Alexandria? And Cleopatra never gave Antony any reason why she had instructed her army to abandon him in Actium, nor did she defend herself when Antony accused her after the last battle; she just left him and hid in the monument.

Assuming that Cleopatra was innocent and she hid herself merely afraid of Antony’s rage, why did she send her eunuch to tell Antony that she had died, but then sent another messenger to say that she was still actually alive? Did she send the first one because she knew how Antony would react if he heard about her death—thus keeping her promise to Caesar; then sent the second one because she was in fact still in love to him? Oh what a complicated woman!

The label of “hero of this play” I think must be granted to Eros, who—when was instructed by Antony to kill him—chose to end his own life because he could not kill his own master, but he did not want to disobey him either. Antony did not have the courage to kill himself and must ask his men’s help, but Eros stabbed himself without any doubt. Antony killed himself as a result of his own conducts, but Eros killed himself merely of his infinite loyalty to his master.

“My dear master,

My captain, and my emperor, let me say,

Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.

(stabs himself) Thus I do escape the sorrow

Of Antony’s death.”

I have enjoyed this play until Mark Antony died. After that, it’s like an anticlimax for me. I did not really want to know how Cleopatra will end her life (for I had already know the facts), and what Octavius would do. Act V was the most boring part of this play, and for that—and for absurdity in Cleopatra’s manner—I granted four stars for Antony and Cleopatra. Although this play was slightly interesting than Julius Caesar, but all in all, I liked Julius Caesar more.

You can read my post for each act: Act I - Act II - Act III - Act IV - Act V

Weekend Quote 12: Antony and Cleopatra

A not only beautiful but also meaningful quote from Mark Antony about how we must bear sorrows that come to our lives…

“Bid that welcome

Which comes to punish us, and we punish it,

Seeming to bear it lightly.”

Instead of taking sorrow as a severe punishment of what we had done wrong, we can opt to welcome the punishment and take it lightly. Rather that the sorrow punishes us, WE punish the sorrow (by taking it lightly). I think this is a great wisdom to be applied in our lives. We are not immune from making mistakes, all we must do is to accept the consequences, learn from it, and move on.

This Weekend Quote is hosted by Half-Filled Attic. Feel free to join. You can:

• Give the context of the quote
• Give your opinion whether you agree or disagree with it
• Share your experience related to the quote
• Share similar quotes you remember
• Or anything else. Just have fun with the quote.

What should I stay—: Antony and Cleopatra – Act V

After Antony died, this play suddenly became less interesting for me… Octavius felt both relieved for losing his biggest enemy, but also sad for losing a friend. His monologue was dry, I can’t imagine how he performed his oration at the Senate—oh but he was the single ruler at that time, so everyone must listen to him…

Octavius sent Proculeius to give sweet promises to Cleopatra only to prevent her from killing herself, so that Octavius could top his triumph procession to Rome by exhibiting her. Then Octavius sent also Gallus to Egypt to divert Cleopatra’s attention. Further on Octavius exhibited his former (gentle he said) letters to Antony to prove that he was actually reluctant to have a war with him. Oh such a hypocrite…

In Alexandria, Proculeius and Gallus arrived. While Proculeius persuaded Cleopatra to wait until Octavius came, Gallus suddenly captured her. Cleopatra dragged her dagger but the suicide attempt was stopped by Proculeius. Cleopatra spent her last times to memorize the greatness of Antony—I wonder if deep in her heart she ever had any remorse of what she had done to Antony? Did she really truly love Antony, as a woman, not a politician?

Her humiliating attitude when accusing her treasury of lying just showed how desperate Cleopatra was, when she knew that she had lost everything. And what a hypocrite Octavius was to say such: “..believe

Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you, Of things that merchants sold” while after Cleopatra died, he robbed her palace and moved all the exclusive things from it to Rome.

The Death of Cleopatra – Hans Makart ~1875

By the way, what Dolabella did was very risky, but we might already know, Cleopatra’s charm was difficult to deny… It’s really an irony to compare Antony’s and Cleopatra’s death. Antony, a great general, must ask Eros’ help to kill him, and must take his men example before he had the courage to stab himself—and still failed!—while Cleopatra prepared everything so calmly, effectively, and so bravely.

“Now to that name my courage prove my title!

I am fire and air, my other elements

I give to baser life”

Fortunately Octavius did generously by burying Antony and Cleopatra together.

“She shall be buried by her Antony.

No grave upon the earth shall clip in it

A pair so famous. High events as these

Strike those that make them, and their story is

No less in pity than his glory which

Brought them to be lamented.”

My final thoughts about this play? Please wait for my final review in a few days….

Antony’s Hath Triumphed On Itself: Antony and Cleopatra – Act IV

Scene I – IV : Before The Battle

The last battle would begin; Caesar was with firm confidence, while Antony became very melancholy. He called his servants and spoke passionately to them, as Enobarbus described it: “To make his followers weep.” Meanwhile the soldiers out in their camp heard soft music in the air that seemed to come from the earth; they were saying that it was a bad signs that Hercules had left Antony… (fortunately no ghost appearance this time!!)

Looking at Antony’s preparations for the final battle—from his melancholy speech to his servants to his approach to his soldiers—I believe Antony was actually hiding his desperation. He entered the battle field not as a great general as he used to be, but as a man who was trapped by his enemy, and this final battle would be his last hope—whether he’d win it or die in honor.

Scene V - VI: Enobarbus’ Betrayal

The high-minded of Antony showed when he heard about Enobarbus’ desert. Instead of being angry, he took the blame for making an honest man betrayed his master:

“I wish he never find more cause

To change a master. Oh, my fortunes have

Corrupted honest men!”

This was not the first; when he lost in Actium battle, Antony left a ship full of treasure for his soldiers before he left himself. He was actually a true great general who treasured his soldiers, once again…it’s a pity that he could not divide his career to his love life!

Enobarbus now lamented his wrong decision to join Caesar and left Antony. Caesar wanted to put Antony’s desertion soldiers in front of the troops to make Antony felt like fighting his own men—even Caesar knew Antony’s weakness of loving his men.

Scene VII - VIII : The Battle Begun…

At the end of first day battle Caesar’s troops were forced back to their camp. Here Antony shared his joy with Cleopatra:

“O thou day o’ the world,

Chain mine armed neck. Leap thou, attire and all,

Through proof of harness to my heart, and there

Ride on the pants triumphing!”

Scene IX – XI : Poor Enobarbus & The Battle continued on…

Last words of poor Enobarbus….

“O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,

The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,

That life, a very rebel to my will,

May hang no longer on me”

Meanwhile, there was an interesting strategy from both Caesar and Antony. Antony instructed his men from the sea to gather on the hills by the city because it was the best place to analyze the battle. On the other side Caesar instructed his men to take place in the valleys because Antony would be busy at the sea. He specifically said that he could not fight before Antony attacked. This would be interesting…

Scene XII – XIII : Who did really betray Antony?

Apparently Antony had been betrayed by the Egyptians—his army left him and joined Caesar’s, and Antony blamed Cleopatra for this and wished to kill her. Was this where Cleopatra did her promise to Caesar, to sacrifice Antony for her own safety? And was that why Caesar did not fight first?

Cleopatra was terrified at Antony’s rage, and she followed Charmian’s idea to hide in the monument while sending her messenger to tell Antony that she had killed herself after moaning her last word: “Antony…”. And Cleopatra clearly instructed her maid to “word it, prithee, piteously”. Hmm….

Scene XIV :  A tragedy indeed

…And who would not be touched after reading these…

“Here I am Antony,

Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.

I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen,

Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine—

Which whilst it was mine had annexed unto ’t

A million more, now lost—she, Eros, has

Packed cards with Caesar and false-played my glory

Unto an enemy’s triumph.

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us

Ourselves to end ourselves.”

Then while the eunuch Mardian came to tell the news of Cleopatra’s death, Antony gave everything up. He asked Eros, a young soldier, to unarm him from his armor which was the sign that he gave up the war.

Interesting it was to analyze Antony’s question to Eros: “Eros, thou yet behold’st me? “ Antony felt that his life was just like an illusion. How can everything he had endured be true? How absurd and how unreal they were, yet they were true. Yes, it was so tragic. At the moment when Antony should have won, he was defeated by the one he loved the most. T__T

How clever Cleopatra was, she should have known how Antony would react when he heard that she’s dead, he would kill himself. O Antony, a noble general and an affectionate lover; it’s pity you had loved the wrong woman!

Cleopatra and the Dying Mark Anthony by Pompeo Batoni, 1763

“So it must be, for now

All length is torture.

Since the torch is out,

Lie down and stray no farther.”

And won’t you weep by this?...

“I come, my Queen. Stay for me.

Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand,

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.

Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,

And all the haunt be ours.”

Diomedes came carrying Cleopatra’s words that she was still alive, hiding in the monument (what a perfect timing…). So Antony asked his soldiers to carry him to Cleopatra.

Scene XV : Antony’s last words

…were:

“…Please your thoughts

In feeding them with those my former fortunes,

Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,

The noblest, and do now not basely die,

Not cowardly put off my helmet to

My countryman—a Roman by a Roman

Valiantly vanquished.”

O thou noblest Antony! He finally died in Cleopatra’s embrace, then Cleopatra fainted upon this.

Men’s Judgments Are A Parcel Of Their Fortunes: Antony and Cleopatra – Act III

Scene I – A Plain in Syria

* Ventidius returned from Parthia with a win, he had revenged Crassus’ death by killing Pacorus—son of King of Parthia: Orodes. Though Ventidius could have achieved more in his war, he did not want to outrank his captain, Antony. Here is a clever soldier!

“Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can

Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,

The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss

Than gain which darkens him.”

Scene II – Rome. Caesar’s House

* Agrippa and Enobarbus mocked at Lepidus’ excessive love and praise for Caesar and Antony. Yeah…I realize it now. Was that Lepidus’ effort to maintain his position in the Triumvirs?

* Mark Antony and Octavia bid farewell to Caesar (they were going to Athens), and during the farewell Octavia said something secretly to her brother, what that was about, I wonder…

Scene III – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

* Once again Cleopatra looked like a foolish woman when she interrogated the messenger about Octavia; how she looked, how old she was, what kind of voice or color of hair she had, etc. Cleopatra might have done such things, but I can’t imagine her do that in the way Shakespeare wrote it. I miss the self-possessed  aura of Cleopatra. Was this the same queen of Egypt we are reading?

Scene IV – Athens. Antony’s House

* Separated from Antony, Caesar arranged hastily his way to the top. He waged a war against Pompey, and he seldom mentioned Antony’s services when reporting to the Senate. Octavia would depart to Rome to negotiate with her brother to prevent a civil war between two persons she loved the most. I’m glad Antony has acted very gentlemanly toward his wife:

“Gentle Octavia,

Let your best love draw to that point which seeks

Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honor,

I lose myself; better I were not yours

Than yours so branchless.”

Scene V – Athens. Antony’s House

* Octavius finally betrayed Lepidus. Soon after winning the war against Pompey, he excelled Lepidus from Triumvirate, and even accused him for treason with Lepidus’ letter to Pompey. I’m wondering why Antony called Lepidus ‘fool’ ?....

Scene VI – Rome. Caesar’s House

* From Caesar’s point of view, Antony and Cleopatra made in public their condemnation of Rome and their ruling Egypt and the conquered countries. Caesar said that Alexander Helios and Ptolemy each ruled several countries. I don’t know whether Shakespeare has purposely forgotten Cleopatra Selene, because in fact she too had become the ruler of Cyrenaica and Libya.

* Seemed that Antony and Caesar were each accusing the other for holding the other’s share from each acquisition. Here Caesar defended himself that he deposed Lepidus because the later had been abusing his position. Oh come on Octavius… =__=

* Octavia arrived at Rome and met her brother. And what did he said to greet his (so called) beloved sister?

“But you are come

A market-maid to Rome and have prevented

The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,

Is often left unloved.”

If he knew that Antony has renewed his relationship with Cleopatra, then at least he could offer to comfort for his poor sister, instead of replying coldly…

Octavia: “…I begged his (Antony’s) pardon for return.”

Caesar:  “Which soon he granted,

   Being an obstruct ’tween his lust and him.”

Caesar then made Octavia change to his side. But I don’t think it’s as easy as that. I believe that Octavia was deeply in love with Antony, despite of his betrayal. Octavia stayed beside Octavius because she had no one else who loved her, but I think she still cared much for Antony. And I can imagine how hurt it must have been for Octavia.

Actium battle

Scene VII – Antony’s Camp Near Actium

* Enobarbus criticized Cleopatra’s presence in the war which would distract Antony’s mind and merely created another burden. Cleopatra enraged by this, and this was how Cleopatra must have had her conducts as the highest ruler of Egypt.

“Sink Rome! And their tongues rot

That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ th’ war,

And as the president of my kingdom will

Appear there for a man. Speak not against it.

I will not stay behind.”

Go for it Cleopatra, and scowl that big mouth of Enobarbus!

* On the other hand, I don’t know what was happening with Antony—one of Rome’s greatest generals—has made an infamous decision of mobilizing his navy to fight Caesar, instead of battling on the land as his assistants recommended. So strong Cleopatra’s power was on him, Antony failed to listen to his men, he kept on saying stubbornly that he’ll fight by sea. So pity that such a great general should have been fallen because of lust…. :(

* While Antony was enjoying 'honeymoon' in Egypt, Caesar has been building his strong armies in disguise, that Antony’s spies failed to see it, that’s why he was suddenly so strong. Antony might be a more skillful general than Caesar, but Caesar was obviously a tougher and smarter politician. And at the end, the success/the fail were all it counted.

Scene VIII - X : The Actium battle

* Although Antony has prepared his armies on the land too, Caesar specifically instructed his men to not provoke any battle by land, because “our fortune lies upon this jump”. Caesar seemed to have held Antony’s weakness that he grew so confident. On the other hand it turned out that Antony did not know Caesar’s navy real strength before decided to fight be the sea! Egypt’s ships were attacked by Caesar’s but in critical moment, the Egyptian turned around then fled. And what Scarus had described about Antony’s conduct was really embarrassing. And so were several of his men who finally decided to desert. :( Well, not for Enobarbus. Big mouth he was—well, sometimes—but at least loyal (hopefully) to the end.

“She once being loofed,

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,

Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard

Leaving the fight in height, flies after her.

I never saw an action of such shame.

Experience, manhood, honor, ne’er before

Did violate so itself.”

Scene XI – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

* This is some of Antony’s words when he bid farewell to his men. Antony was always good with words, wasn’t he?

“…I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards

To run and show their shoulders. Friends, begone.

…You shall have letters from me to some friends that will

Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,

Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint

Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left

Which leaves itself.”

Antony’s reflection was the most tragic piece in this play:

“Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept

His sword e’en like a dancer, while I struck

The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and ’twas I

That the mad Brutus ended. He alone

Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had

In the brave squares of war, yet now—no matter.”

Yet he did all of that all out of love…

“…O’er my spirit thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that

Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods

Command me….

…You did know

How much you were my conqueror, and that

My sword, made weak by my affection, would

Obey it on all cause.”

O Antony, how can I really blame you?

Scene XII – Caesar’s Camp In Egypt

* Antony and Cleopatra sent a messenger to make a plea to Caesar; to live in Egypt or Athens for Antony, and to let pass Egypt’s throne to Cleopatra’s heirs for the defeated queen. Caesar sent an official ambassador to Antony, but also sent Thyreus secretly to Cleopatra to make a false offer that she would be safe if she left Antony, and joining Caesar.

Scene XIII – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

* Antony challenged Caesar for sword-to-sword battle, and after the official ambassador leave with this reply, came Thyreus with the secret offer to Cleopatra. Enobarbus was proved to be the only loyal friend of Antony, that when he saw that Cleopatra seemed to welcome the offer, he went to warn Antony immediately. And Thyreus’ plan worked—although he must suffered several whips—for Antony was raged and scowled Cleopatra in very harsh words… “You were half blasted ere I knew you. Ha!” Oops… =__=. But wait.., what he was raged on? Was he jealous because he thought Cleopatra had flirted with Thyreus?

* Antony then—still in rage—decided to have a do-or-die battle against Caesar, a suicide move according to Enobarbus who began to seek way to leave his master.

“When valor preys on reason,

It eats the sword it fights with.”

Antony and Cleopatra - Act II

“If the great gods be just, they shall assist

The deeds of justest men.” ~Pompey

The problem was, which one of them were the ‘justest’?

Scene I – Messina. Pompey’s House

Pompey was discussing with Menecrates and Menas his chance in the coming battle against the Triumvirs. Pompey tended to underestimate the Triumvirs at first. He—just as Caesar—doubted that Antony would really leave Egypt for the war. Moreover, they hoped to use the internal dispute among the Triumvirs as one of their weapons.

Scene II – Rome. The House of Lepidus

* Lepidus was between the dispute of Caesar and Antony. Here we met again the harsh comments of Enobarbus:

“Or, if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.”

Don’t you just want to slap him in the face? :|

* In this scene Mark Antony obviously overshadowed Caesar in their quarrel. Instead of Caesar demanding Antony’s conduct in Egypt, it seemed more like Antony pointed how absurd it was to relate his brother and Fulvia’s war to him (Antony), and how more unreasonable it was to fuss over a woman’s offense. Caesar here looked like a crying child, while Antony a noble gentleman. Bravo Antony!

“Truth is that Fulvia,

To have me out of Egypt, made wars here,

For which myself, the ignorant motive, do

So far ask pardon as befits mine honor

To stoop in such a case.”

And on top of their dispute, Agrippa came with a perfect idea, which is to marry Mark Antony with Octavia—Caesar’s beloved sister; which Antony agreed it. A brilliant idea from Agrippa it seemed at the moment perhaps, but we know that it was useless, because one ship cannot have two captains. Moreover, it’s a great risk—considering how Caesar loved Octavia dearly, and how Antony had passionately fallen in love with Cleopatra, that if someday he left Octavia for Cleopatra, his relationship with Caesar would be in a much greater danger than at that present time.

* Enobarbus’ description of Cleopatra and her luxurious barge at the moment of her first meeting with Antony was amazing, it portrayed Egyptian exoticness quite perfectly.

* I don’t quite agree with Enobarbus here:

“And for his ordinary pays his heart, for what his eyes eat only.” I still believe Antony was really falling in love with Cleopatra, and not the other way round.

Scene III – Rome. Caesar’s House

* Right after his marriage with Octavia, Antony planned to return to Egypt. Partly because I think his heart remained there, and partly after he considered what the soothsayer told him about how he would have been destroyed whenever he was near Caesar.

* I believe that Parthian war would become Antony’s first expansion campaign to the East, which in the future will be the cause of his separation with Octavius (if I remember it quite well).

Scene IV – Rome. A Street

* Lepidus would take a different path to Messina. And though he was the weakest among the triumvirs, Lepidus was the one who depart earliest. I often pity him, crushed between Octavius and Antony, a good statesman with less ambition. Just like Brutus, you’re not supposed to plunge into politics at all, o poor Lepidus! 

Scene V – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

* I don’t know why Shakespeare made Cleopatra looked like a teenager who was madly in love. Even if her love to Antony was real —which I doubt—Cleopatra looked really ridiculous with how she did not know what she wanted to do (from listening to music, playing billiard, to fishing) and all other madness (seriously…playing billiard? Cleopatra??). Could you imagine the mighty queen of Egypt actually did that? What she did to the messenger from Rome who brought news about Antony’s marriage did show her ruthlessness, but the way she carried it on was rather comical than wicked.

Scene VI – Near Misenum

* This was where bargains were made, if it was accepted, war could be avoided. And I was surprised that Pompey accepted the treaty very quickly—even Menas criticized it—and then followed by four feast with each leader hosted his own feast. Was it only a strategy? Let’s see what happen next…

Scene VII – On Board Pompey’s Galley, Off Misenium

On the feast Lepidus was drunk, and the servants commented on him of being the weakest in the Triumvirs, and prophesied Lepidus’ future’s fall in the hand of the two others. And they were so true by saying: “To be call’d into a huge sphere, and not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks”

* I don’t like how Caesar and Antony talked about Lepidus:

Caesar : (aside to Antony) Will this description satisfy him?

Antony: (aside to Caesar) With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

But then, I believe they have taken advantage from poor Lepidus from the beginning. Both Caesar and Antony were ambitious guys who—despite of agreeing on building a Triumvirate—always wanted to be the sole leader of Rome.

* Menas suggested Pompey to kill the Triumvirs while they were feasting on their boat, but Pompey declined the idea as dishonorable—although he added if Menas have done it without Pompey knowing it, he would have agreed to it. Can you call it honorable?... :|

If It Be Love Indeed, Tell Me How Much: Antony and Cleopatra - Act I

Scene I – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

Demetrius and Philo—two of Mark Antony’s friends—opened this play by remarking how Mark Antony has completely changed from a great general of Rome to be the love slave of Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Mark Antony, who was poised by his love to Cleopatra, even dared to reject a messenger from Rome—whom Cleopatra took as a beckoning from either Fulvia (Antony’s wife) or Octavius the Caesar. All the same, Antony rejected to hear the message, which astonished Demetrius and Philo who thought that as a sign of Antony’s disrespect towards Caesar.

Notes:

* Well, after listening to Mark Antony’s great speech at Julius Caesar’s funeral, now I must admit that Antony has never lost his skill when he was falling in love. Look at his smart replies when Cleopatra asked him to measure his love.

Cleopatra: “If it be love indeed, tell me how much.”

Antony:     “There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.”

Cleopatra: “I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.”

Antony:     “Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.”

He’s still that clever man with the skill of pouring the right words in the right situation, eh?

* I think it’s Mark Antony who was crazy in love with Cleopatra, while Cleopatra was just using Antony.

“Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?

I’ll seem the fool I am not. Antony

Will be himself.”

Scene II – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

This was a funny dialog between Cleopatra’s servants, who were listening to prophecies from a soothsayer. The soothsayer prophesied that a husband would be cheated by his wife, but when Charmian asked the soothsayer to tell about her fortune, came these witty dialog:

Soothsayer: “You shall be yet far fairer than you are.”

Charmian:    (to the others) “He means in flesh.”

Iras:             “No, you shall paint when you are old.”

Charmian:    “Wrinkles forbid!”

Antony finally listened to the messengers (three of them) anyway, who sent bad messages about a Labienus had conquered Asia, and the worst one was the news of Fulvia’s death. Antony realized that he had wasting his time in his lust towards Cleopatra while everything has gone worse. He then decided to leave for Rome. Moreover, Pompey’s son Sextus Pompeius had received more attention from citizens, and Antony knew that they must handle it before Sextus gain more power.

Notes:

* Funnier pieces in this scene:

“Good now, some excellent fortune!

Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow them all.

Let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage.”

A witty-smart piece from the Bard! :) But was ‘Herod of Jewry’ here represented the event of King Herod ordering slaughter of infants in Betlehem to kill the prophesied child who would become the King of Israel? But then, Jesus Christ was born on Tiberius’ reign who was Octavius’ successor; and thus Charmian would not have known about it at that time, right? Oh, whatever it was, that was still funny :)

* Another witty piece of dialog was the one between Enobarbus and Antony. Enobarbus suggested that Antony should be thankful to the god that Fulvia was dead so that he could replace her with Cleopatra. The way Enobarbus using metaphor of cloth was really funny, not to mention what he said about shedding tears!

“Your old smock brings forth a new petticoat;

and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.”

Well, that was very funny! :))

Scene III – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

Cleopatra, who was afraid that Antony would leave him, used old trick of ‘just-go-if-you-don’t-love-me-anymore’ as suggested by Charmian to make Antony stay. Antony determined to leave Egypt, and Cleopatra determined to make Antony stay. At the end, Antony had a better idea, why wouldn’t both of them—for their loves were inseparable—go together to Rome?

Notes:

* This is an interesting ‘battle’ between Antony and Cleopatra, and the winner was… Cleopatra! :) Thanks to Charmian’s advice, Cleopatra played her part very well; she let Antony thought that she did not want to dissuade his leaving, but she was tortured by the thought that Antony would soon forget her. Antony grew impatient at first, but he soon melted on Cleopatra’s ‘heroic sacrifice’, that he ended this act beautifully:

“Our separation so abides and flies

That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,

And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.”

The stage performance of Scene I and II, Timothy Dalton played as Mark Antony

Scene IV – Rome. Caesar’s House

Octavius was furious at Antony’s lustful business at Egypt and his indifference of his tasks in Rome, while Lepidus was more mildly forgave Antony. In the meantime people started to gather around Sextus Pompeius.

Octavius described people’s behavior so well:

“That he which is was wished until he were,

And the ebb’d man, ne’er lov’d till ne’er worth love,

Comes dear’d by being lack’d. This common body,

Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,

Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide

To rot itself with motion.”

But then, it represented all politicians and senators in Rome, right? Won’t you act the same had you weren’t the present Caesar, Octavius?

Two famous pirates, Menecrates and Menas, who were approaching Rome just added the Triumvirs’ headaches; they were preparing for a war.

Scene V – Alexandria. Cleopatra’s Palace

I just knew from this play that Cleopatra was also Pompey’s son's lover! (besides Julius Caesar and Mark Antony). Was that really historical?

When Cleopatra said:

“By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth

If thou with Caesar paragon again

My man of men.”

I just wonder whom she regarded as “my man of men”. Of course, it supposed to be Antony, for this play was about him and Cleopatra, but I’m just curious, which one of her two lovers whom she really loved the most. Or both of them were merely her political tools?