Textuality » 4A Interacting
The first scene of Act I takes place in Cleopatra's palace, in Alexandria. It shows Cleopatra and Antony's characters. Their relationship and how it's seen by two of Antony's friends is described as well.
The scene is short, and framed by the comments of Philo and Demetrius, two of Antony's men. The Roman soldiers disapprove Antony's affair with the queen, and describe her as a gipsy, a strumpet. Their view is simple and straightforward.
Antony is having a good time, too good to be bothered by news from Rome, and escapes from his duties: "Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch / Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space, / Kingdoms are clay . . ."
Cleopatra, though, encourages her lover to hear the messages.
Antony is bewitched by Cleopatra: during the whole scene, Antony is told what to do by his intelligent woman.
She is the chief between the two even if she needs confirmations; she needs to hear from Antony how much she is loved (If it be love indeed, tell me how much).
The request doesn't reduce her strength and power though. She is in love with Antony but not subdued by him as he is by her.