The Soothsayer seems to suggest, next to Caesar, Antony will always feel inadequate. Also, there are many forces pulling him back to Egypt, such as his love for Cleopatra.
Antony then tells the Soothsayer to stop talking about this. Most likely because it was not in his favour and the Soothsayer tells him to get away from Caesar because he is in danger if he stays in Rome. Also, this news, that Antony won’t be safe with Caesar gives him an excuse to return to Egypt, to live with Cleopatra, so this may work in Antony’s favour after all.
Finally, although the Soothsayer does not bring good news to Antony, the Soothsayer adds a great deal of drama to the scene.
Another main character of the play is Caesar, who is the Roman Emperor. Caesar highlights both Antony’s strengths and weaknesses to the audience. He also draws attention to Antony’s failings to make himself look better; however, he does acknowledge Antony’s superiority in battle.
In Act 1, Scene 3, Caesar speaks to Lepidus about Antony’s drinking habits, and that he fishes and wastes his time by spending time drinking at night.
“…he fishes, drinks and wastes
The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike
Than Cleopatra…”
Caesar sneers that Antony is no more of a man than Cleopatra. Caesar seems to praise Antony when his actions benefit himself, but when his actions do not fit that of a Roman soldier, Caesar immediately draws attention to those actions. But, in this comment by Caesar, he draws upon the sexuality and Egyptian culture of Cleopatra, which is a very big contrast to that of the Roman culture, which sees itself as superior to all others.
This could also show Caesar as being jealous of Antony. The fact that Antony can have a good time with his friends and can still be an excellent soldier is a fact which Caesar does not seem to like. Caesar maybe jealous of this ability, and because Caesar has very little or no friends at all, the only things that Caesar is able to do is make Antony look bad in front of his fellow soldiers and friends.
At the very beginning of Act 3, Scene 6, Caesar draws attention to Antony and Cleopatra’s love for each other, and also how Antony’s attitude has changed towards Rome. Caesar says in front of his followers, who he knows will support him no matter what he says against Antony:
“Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more
In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ‘t:
I’th’ Market place, on a tribunal silvered,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned; at the feet sat
Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son,
And all the unlawful issue that their lust…”
Caesar is saying that Antony has treated Rome with scorn, now that his interests lie with Cleopatra in Egypt. He also says that Antony and Cleopatra were publicly enthroned as the rulers of Egypt. Caesar then goes on to say that their relationship is no more than lust and therefore can not be a real love. This is important because in Caesars eyes, Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship is not real and is only lust and therefore it will never last and it is destined to end, and as a result, Antony will return to Rome, where in Caesar’s opinion, he belongs.
Caesar then goes onto say in Act 3, Scene 12:
“For Antony,
I have no ears to his request…”
This means that Caesar will no longer listen to anything that Antony has to say or ask. But may also be that Caesar is pressing for a confrontation between the both of them, and if it does come to both of them arguing with each other, Caesar will tell Antony exactly what he thinks of his and Cleopatra’s love, and that he thinks it will not last. This highlights another negative feeling which Cesar has towards Antony. Also Caesar says to Thidias:
“Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
And that thou think’st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.”
This part of the play is suggesting that people who have anything to do with Antony should be wary of him; as everything he does causes his own downfall and he is the sole cause of his problems. Caesar says to watch for his actions and what they mean in every motion he makes. In my opinion, this means that Caesar thinks that Antony makes mistakes all the time and he is usually the cause of them, the only time he doesn’t make mistakes is when he is in battle.
Finally, at the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1, Caesar voices his opinions to Maecenas about the way Antony refers to him as “boy”, Caesar then say:
“He calls me boy, and chides as he has power
To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat,
Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die, meantime
Laugh at his challenge.”
This is meant to make Antony look stupid and inferior next to Caesar, but it manages to reflect badly on Caesar. It shows the audience that Caesar has no honour and
doesn’t take this old fashioned soldiership seriously, unlike Antony. However, Antony does accept a challenge at sea. This challenge between Antony and Caesar is not just a personal challenge, but a fight between Rome and Egypt, to see who the better of the two is.
Caesar’s problem is that Antony calls him “boy”; this suggests that Cesar has a big problem with his young age. Also, the fact that he is called “boy” and he is the Emperor of Rome shows that Caesar is pompous and wants to be shown respect by his people, especially his army. But it could also be Antony who has the problem with Caesar’s age. It maybe that Antony doesn’t like to be ruled by such a young “boy”, and Antony maybe jealous of the power Caesar has over the Roman people and the army, when in actual fact, Antony believes it should be him as Emperor.
Caesar tells us how Antony challenges him to a fight. Caesar refuses to accept the challenge offered by Antony, Caesar laughs at the challenge, but he does accept a challenge at sea. What maybe preventing him is that Antony is an experienced soldier and Caesar is an inexperienced “boy”. Because of this Antony would have no trouble fighting Caesar, and Caesar knows this, that is why he laughed at the proposal. So, to show Maecenas that he isn’t scared, he laughs at Antony’s challenge.
Also, the contrast between Antony and Caesar is great, Caesar knows this and that is why he called Antony a “ruffian”. This shows the audience that Caesar is nothing like Antony, in appearance and in battle.
In Antony and Cleopatra there are two other characters who contribute to our understanding of Antony, they are Pompey and Menas. Pompey respects Antony; he highlights Antony’s soldiership and his importance to the Roman army.
As already mentioned, Antony is viewed as the triumph irate; this becomes apparent at the beginning of Act 2, Scene 1, when Pompey says:
“If the great gods be just, they shall assist
The deeds of justest men.”
Pompey thinks very highly of himself on the battlefront, this becomes clear when he says:
“I shall do well.
The people love me, and the sea is mine…”
This shows that Pompey is very presumptuous when he thinks he will win the battle. He believes he will do well based on the notion that people “love” him, and also because he has won many battles at sea. Because of this, he takes full advantage of his status and popularity.
It is also clear that Pompey thinks highly of Antony, this is shown in Act 2, Scene 1, when Pompey says:
“…This armourous surfeiter would have donned his helm
For such a petty war. His soldiership
Is twice the other twain…”
This shows that is surprising to Pompey that Antony would have entered into such a petty war, which is not the standard he is used to, which are great, grand battles, and this battle does not compare. Pompey then goes on to say, that in his opinion,
Antony’s soldiership is twice as better as his opponents. This is significant in the play, because it shows the audience that even Pompey, who is Antony’s opponent, thinks highly of him. This shows just how popular Antony is as a Roman and a leader of the army.
Also, it maybe said that Pompey is a good soldier as is Antony; however, this could be argued. Antony is known throughout Rome and is a very courageous warrior and is well acquainted with Caesar and is in love with Cleopatra, who is the ruler of Egypt.
Scarus, who is one of Antony’s friends, gave his account of the battle of Actium. Scarus says:
“On our sidelike the tokened pestilence,
Where death is sure…”
This means that Scarus is assured that as soon as the final stages are completed, and the battle is underway, it is certain that people will be killed. He also says that when two of their ships appeared the “nag” fled the battle. Scarus also described Cleopatra as “a cow in June”, this is a similarity of a cow plagued with flees, except this is describing Cleopatra as the cow that is plagued with ships and she then flees the battle. After Cleopatra had fled the battle, Antony then goes after her ship.
“…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, honour, ne’er before
Did violate so itself.”
Scarus explains that Antony left in the height of the battle to chase after Cleopatra. Scarus’ opinion of Antony is now that of a coward, we know this because he calls him a “mallard”; this is a wild duck that chases after the female, who in this case is Antony is going after Cleopatra.
Scarus then goes on to say that he had never seen such shame, which surprises him because it came from Antony, who has been described as a “triple-pillar of the world.”
This is very significant because Antony shows how much love he has for Cleopatra. The fact that he would flea a battle at it most significant stage, to risk being called a coward, shows just how much he loves Cleopatra. And also, that he would leave a battle, and risk it being lost, just so he could go after Cleopatra, this shows how loyal he has become to both Cleopatra and Egypt.
Scarus says that the experience of great wars and battles, a man’s pride and honour and a man’s manhood, had never been violated in such a way before. The fact that he would leave a battle which Rome is fighting, a place that means so much to him, to chase after a woman, is so out of character, this shows his once great love for Rome is now a low priority compared to Cleopatra.
Octavia, who is Antony’s wife, is another main character of the play. She is associated with gentle, natural phenomena, which means crying in the play. It is also clear that Octavia highlights the nature and importance of the argument between Caesar. As Octavia is Antony’s wife and naturally sees her goodness.
Also, Agrippa has an opinion of Octavia; it is that because she is so beautiful and elegant, she has managed to attract the best possible man. Agrippa also says:
“Whose virtue and general graces speak.”
Agrippa is saying that Octavia has qualities and virtues which no other woman has. Enobarbus also has an opinion of Octavia, he says;
“Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.”
He is saying that Octavia is boring and religious, which Enobarbus sees as being a downside to her personality. He says that she has still conversations, which means that she is quiet and does not speak much to others.
Antony calls Octavia a “swansdown feather”, he is trying to imply that Octavia is like a feather on a river, and can not decide upon which way to go. Antony means that Octavia is weak against himself and she will agree or do anything that Antony says.
It is clear from Shakespeare’s play, that there are many opinions of Antony, some of which are good and in his favour and others that are bad and against him. However, there are characters in the play that have in one scene said nothing but good comments and later on in the play, say nothing but bad remarks about Antony, it may not always be clear what causes the characters to change their opinion, but it usually has something to do with Antony’s love for Cleopatra.
It is obvious that Antony is an excellent soldier and Roman, especially when it comes to wars and battles. But, when it comes to deciding upon Rome or his love life, he is not so certain, and is usually disliked for his decision by his fellow Roman soldiers.
