Enobarbus's famous speech clearly shows an admiring opinion of Cleopatra from a Roman perspective. He begins by intensely describing 'the barge she sat in' had 'burned on the water

Enobarbus creates a brilliant image of the barge, he explains ‘purple the sails’ connoting royalty and luxury, as the colour purple was alleged to be very rare and only extremely wealthy people, such as royalty would be able to afford it. This emphasizes the portrayal of Egypt and its luxurious environment, and that the amazing queen would expect nothing less. This cosmic imagery of luxury in Egypt is also suggested at the start of the passage when Maecenas asks ‘eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast… is this true?’ Enobarbus’s embellished response is ‘this was but as a fly by an eagle.’ Boasting that eight wild boars is a pathetic amount compared to the usual servings at the Egyptian court.

Shakespeare’s excessive use of hyperbolic imagery creates an excited tone throughout the passage. Also, the use of language from Enobarbus is extremely hyperbolic causing the audience to intensely imagine the magnificence of the barge and Cleopatra. ‘The silken tackle swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands.’ Not only is this an exaggerated image of Cleopatra it connotes an erotic one too. Shakespeare often uses subtle sexual metaphors throughout this play, suggesting the characters have erotic thoughts when talking about such a thing as Cleopatra’s hands for example; this portrays her as a very sexually aware and incredibly flirtatious woman who knows how to use her greatest assets to her favour. Shakespeare also uses a liet motif of food relating to sex, ‘other women cloy the appetites they feed, but she makes hungry where most she satisfies.’ Enobarbus’s never ceases his overwrought description of Cleopatra right till the closing of the scene, and also exclaims that ‘age cannot wither her’ these comments suggests that no one can compare to Cleopatra and that you can never get bored of her because she is so infinitely exciting.    

Shakespeare’s use of hyperbolic and cosmic imagery, embellished and admiring language, and the eager and excited tone throughout this passage creates a vivid and intense image of Cleopatra; it contributes greatly to my view of her because the influential opinion is from a Roman perspective, and the Roman view towards Cleopatra hasn’t usually been flattering, ‘tawny front’ ‘gipsy’ ‘strumpet.’