MB UNIUD

Act I Scene 1

Shakespeare introduces the dialogue between Antony and Cleopatra with Philo, a Antony's friend.

He have a negative opinion of the relation ship between Antony and Cleopatra. He uses the word "dotage" to define Antony's feelings. He says Antony is not a good captain because he puts his attention on Cleopatra. Besides he has a bad reputation of she because he uses this words "gipsy" and "temper". He wants underline the different culture she belongs and she has a negative effect on Antony and their relation ship is in excess. Besides he underlines the different country she lives, he uses the word "tawny" to say her different colour of the skin and he make a reference to her mind.

The first to speak is Cleopatra because she is more important than Antony in their relation ship.

She apparently poses a question to him but really it is an order. She wants to know how much he loves her. The answer of Antony  seems more intelligent and his reaction is negative. He says to make a quantity of  a love is like to question charity. Cleopatra is domineering in the relation ship because she wants to decide how much to be loved. Antony says his loves can not to be quantify.

Cleopatra mockeries Antony because he makes what Caesar says him to do, although Caesar is younger than Antony and because he is married and hears Fulvia's whimpers. Cleopatra wants to say him he is not responsible of himself. Antony is surprised. Cleopatra continues to mocker Antony saying to go to Rom to make her jobs. She says he puts his attention on feelings ( the relation ship) and not to his jobs of captain so he becomes red. Antony says he wants to remain in Egypt, he demonstrates to Cleopatra he is not submit to Caesar's orders. Besides he underlines the power of their relation ship "we stand up peerless". Antony has made what Cleopatra wants, but he has nor understood her message: to be responsible of himself. Cleopatra seems the victim of Antony because he has a double life, in Egypt and in Rom, and she seems to be mockeried, but really she mockers him. Antony do not understand the play of Cleopatra and he suggests to placate words. Besides Antony believes Cleopatra is jealous "to chide, to laugh, to weep".

Philo speaks again about the relation ship and he says Antony is not proper which should go with him and people of Rom have a bad reputation about Antony because he is not a good captain "the common liar".

Act II Scene 2

Enobarbus, another of Antony friends, speaks about Cleopatra describing that is around her. That is the one thing with Cleopatra. "Barge" is a kind of boat and it seems a bed. "Burnish'd throne" is not possible because water douses fire so it burnishes of passion. But it is not healthy "the winds were love-sick with them" and "the oars were as amorous of their strokes", this is a simile, because winds and oars are compared to Cleopatra is in love with herself. Besides the throne is surrounded by a light (fire and preciouses metals, silver and gold), like sun Cleopatra lights up that surrounds her and she is vital to the other. Preciouses metal are symbol of her power. Besides the narrator appeals to senses (colours, fire, winds, water...), this is because he wants magnify Cleopatra. Again she is surrounded by Cupids that are tied to her as is the world around her.

Besides her gentlewomen are beautiful too "like the Nereides and Flower soft hands". He underlines the power of Cleopatra "her people out upon her". Antony there is not to see his love because he is  in the market place to represent the power of Rom on Egypt, but the place is vacant because everybody is to see Cleopatra. She has got the power, but Antony not.

Besides during their first met Cleopatra invites Antony to her and Antony do not demand to invite her. This is because he is not decide but fascinated by Cleopatra that is more power. Cleopatra fascinated Caesar too, but Enobarbus defends them because the beauty of Cleopatra is more power "that she did make defect perfection, and, breathless, power breathe forth". Enobarbus says Antony can not forget Cleopatra because her beauty can not die, so the solution of this relation ship is to marry him with another woman that is beauty, wisdom and modesty, Octavia.