"The bellows and the fan / to cool a gypsy’s lust”
This reflects their view of the world being divided into two entities. And that Egypt is ruled by a “gypsy”, or in other worlds a whore.
The reason why they refer to Cleopatra as a whore is because a whore’s job is to sleep with many men without any feelings for them. This is what Cleopatra does and has done and both Philo and Demetrius believe Antony is just wasting his time with her and wasting his time in Egypt as the people of Egypt, mostly the women are like that.
When in Rome Antony is part of the triumvir with Octavious Caesar and Lepidus and together they rule the Roman Empire. In Rome, Antony possesses qualities of a leader and is an important figure in the triumvir. However, when in Egypt Antony finds himself in a place where his mind it set away from duty in Rome, and finds a place where he indulges in love and romance. This shows that Rome is a “world” where by military duty and leadership is top priority. This also shows Egypt is a place where romance and love comes first and military duty and leadership comes second.
Antony finds himself undecided about where he really belongs and as to where is loyalties lie, Rome or Egypt. He is tempted to stay in Egypt because of his love for Cleopatra and also because he is free from his political duties and being soldier. At the beginning of the play he says to Cleopatra
“Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man”,
This shows his yearning to stay with Cleopatra and to stay in Egypt. However later he says
“ I must from this enchanting queen break off”.
He realises that his obsession with Cleopatra is not strong enough to overcome his responsibilities in Rome.
Cleopatra’s character is a true representative of the state of Egypt. The Egyptian principles of love and romance are symbolised in the figure of Cleopatra. We see this by the way she rules Egypt and her affair with Antony illustrates a “world” ruled with passion, pleasure and love.
Similarly Caesars character represents the “world” of Rome. He represents Rome to be a “world” of discipline, conquest and a “world” that is politically stable. Caesar is full of ambition and will, and thinks highly of his honour, pride and dignity as well as the other rulers and soldiers of Rome. He gets rid of Lepidus due to him betraying him and also later in the play turns against Antony and Sextus Pompey. All of which lead him to gaining more power and honour.
Honour and pride is the main difference between Caesar and Cleopatra and similarly between Egypt and Rome. Cleopatra has no understanding of the Roman idea of honour. She personally believes honour is about her being the centre of everything, and honour being her own glamour and individuality. This is the same idea that the people of Egypt possess.
For this reason the “world” of Rome is more powerful than Egypt. The people of Egypt are gripped with their own selves, and the Romans are gripped with power and honour and they strive to gain it.
Another point that Shakespeare discusses in the play is the masculine power and the feminine power. Egypt is lead by a queen (Cleopatra), and her court is woman centred. However Rome is ruled by three men and is a very masculine world.
Shakespeare addresses the point and raises the question as to which side is the more dominant and more powerful, the masculine “world” or the feminine “world”. He shows us that the masculine side is more dominant as in the play the masculine side (Caesar) gains the power and Caesar overcomes Cleopatra.
However the women also gain power over men, which was the case in Antony’s affair. Cleopatra gains power over Antony through love and passion and she continually deceives Antony.
When Antony leaves Egypt to go back to Rome, Cleopatra sends a messenger to him, and she tell the messenger,
“Well, go to, I will. But there’s no goodness in thy face if Antony be free and healthful- so tart a favour, to trumpet such good tidings. If not well, thou shouldst come like a fury crowned with snakes, not like a formal man”
Cleopatra sends the messenger and tells him that if he sees Antony with a miserable face, be “healthful” i.e. happy, and if he sees him with a glad face, then “come like a fury crowned with snakes”. Cleopatra deliberately deceives Antony with the power of love and passion.
Shakespeare presents ideas of conflict and differences between Rome and Egypt very clearly. He continuously raises the question to the audience as to which “world” is more superior and more powerful. Shakespeare leaves it to the audience to come to their own judgment
