How does Shakespeare make the audience aware of Cleopatra's 'infinite variety' in the opening act and maintain this impression throughout the play?

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How does Shakespeare make the audience aware of Cleopatra’s ‘infinite variety’ in the opening act and maintain this impression throughout the play?


Cleopatra was a talented mistress who used her feminine charm for personal gain. She was seductive, lustful, flirtatious, and sarcastic, she had courage, and she was jealous, spiteful, very violent and impatient. She was a woman of many contrasts, facets and changing moods. Shakespeare shows these different aspects of her character in the first act then goes on to build on them throughout the play.

In the opening scene straight away we enter into Philo and Demetrius’ – friends of Antony - conversation, the subject of which is Cleopatra, Philo is not speaking very highly of her saying she has, ‘. . .a tawny front. . .’ suggesting she is dark-skinned but he is doing so in an uncomplimentary way. In the same conversation he calls Cleopatra a ‘gipsy’ meaning a loose woman; this straight away gives us the impression that Cleopatra isn’t very popular with the friends of Antony.

Cleopatra and Antony then enter, we see Cleopatra being flirtatious as soon as she appears on the stage, ‘If it be love indeed tell me how much you love me’ Antony replies, ‘There’s beggary in the love that can be reckon’d’. Here, Antony is saying that the love that can be exactly estimated must be a poor one. Cleopatra still replies with, ‘I’ll set a bourn how far to be belov’d’ and here she is teasing him, and saying he has to put some sort of boundary on how much he loves her.

An attendant enters with a message from Rome. Antony asks for a quick summary but Cleopatra says, ‘Nay, hear them, Antony:

Fuliva, perchance, is angry; or, who knows

if the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent

his powerful mandate to you, ‘do this, or this;

take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;

perform’t, or else we damn thee.’ Here Cleopatra is being sarcastic, she is telling Antony to listen because it may be that Fulvia – his wife – is angry or it might be a message from Caesar telling him to do some thing. Antony explains to her that he doesn’t care about Fuliva or Caesar but she still doesn’t believe it and shows scepticism by saying,’. . . Why did he marry Fuliva and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not; Antony will be himself.’

In scene two Antony says, ‘. . . these strong Egyptian feathers I must break, or lose my self in dotage.’ Here Antony is explaining that he needs to break the bond between him and Cleopatra because he knows she will ruin him. Later in that scene he says, ‘. . . I must from this enchanting queen break off. . .’ which shows that he feels strongly about leaving Cleopatra but he is determined to do it. Enobarbus has a strong and pleasant opinion of Cleopatra and shares it with Antony,’ . . . her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.’ Here Enobarbus is saying that Cleopatra is very passionate about the way she feels, she moves from one extreme to another but doesn’t settle in between. He is saying that it is a good thing and that they shouldn’t ridicule her because of this.

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Cleopatra is then shown as the typical female stereo-type, ‘See where he is, who’s with him, what he does; I did not send you: if you find him sad, say that I am dancing; if in mirth, report that I am sudden sick: quick and return.’ Cleopatra wants Charmian to go and find Antony, see who he is with, and what he is doing but Antony has not to know that Cleopatra sent her. If she finds him sad Cleopatra wants her to say that she is dancing, if she finds him happy she must say that Cleopatra has suddenly ...

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