Antony and Cleopatra - Act one scene one in structure and imagery is a microcosm of the play - Examine this scene in detail assessing what clues there are about the future.

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Chloë Morris Antony and Cleopatra English Literature

Act one scene one in structure and imagery is a microcosm of the play. Examine this scene in detail assessing what clues there are about the future.

Act one scene one of 'Antony and Cleopatra' is a microcosm of the whole play, it miniaturises the fundamental themes from the play and sets the atmosphere and tone for the rest of the play. It gives a general idea of the characters personalities, their relationship with each other and possible future plots.

The first scene is opened by Philo, a fellow Roman soldier and colleague of Antony's, the fact that he begins the whole play criticising Cleopatra and her country creates a bias view of her before she has even entered the scene. This is true of the whole play and even the scenes set in Egypt are greatly influenced by Roman perspective, as is the way Cleopatra is portrayed to the audience casting aspersions about the relationship which is being represented as doomed from the start. Antony's dilemma is constantly nagging in the back of his mind and he is continually reminded of his predicament by the invariable intrusion from his