Category: Antony and Cleopatra

OK, I had never read Antony and Cleopatra before this month. And I’ve only seen it once before, last year in Ashland. I thought that production felt disjointed (fast in the first half, frenetic in the second), but ultimately saved by the leads. I wasn’t sure if this disjointedness was the direction or the play itself.

The play is often referred to as a “mature tragedy.” Well, what the heck does that mean? That the protagonists are “of a certain age”? Or that the writing’s mature?

So needless to say, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

And now after a first read?

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra: initial thoughts”

Previously on Antony and Cleopatra: Act One of the play begins with a doting Antony and a manipulative Cleopatra. Newly widowed, Antony decides to return to Rome and reconcile with Octavian Caesar and assist in the war against Pompey. In Act Two, the obvious tension and conflict between Octavian and Antony is only soothed by Antony’s marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia, news of which brings much consternation to Cleopatra. Pompey accepts the truce offered, and the generals feast and all seems peaceful…for the moment. In Act Three, however, that peace is quickly destroyed: Octavian and Lepidus attack, defeat and kill Pompey. In turn, Antony returns to Cleopatra, marries her, and decides to meet Octavian’s superior navy with the Egyptian fleet. Antony is faced not only with defeat, but the defection of some of his troops. In Act Four, we see the lead-up to the battle of Actium, as well as its disastrous fallout, including the death of Enobarbus, Eros, and Antony. And with Octavian waiting in the wings, Cleopatra is ready to meet her maker as well.

After acts of five, seven, thirteen, and fifteen scenes, Act Five has a measly two scenes. But that last one, the culmination of the Antony and Cleopatra, is the longest in the play by far. So let’s dive in, shall we?

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act Five: Snakes, why’d it have to be snakes?”

Previously on Antony and Cleopatra: Act One of the play begins with a doting Antony and a manipulative Cleopatra. Newly widowed, Antony decides to return to Rome and reconcile with Octavian Caesar and assist in the war against Pompey. In Act Two, the obvious tension and conflict between Octavian and Antony is only soothed by Antony’s marriage to Octavian’s sister Octavia, news of which brings much consternation to Cleopatra. Pompey accepts the truce offered, and the generals feast and all seems peaceful…for the moment. In Act Three, however, that peace is quickly destroyed: Octavian and Lepidus attack, defeat and kill Pompey; Octavian arrests Lepidus, and disrespects Antony. In turn, Antony returns to Cleopatra, marries her, and decides to meet Octavian’s superior navy with the Egyptian fleet. The Egyptians flee, and Antony is faced not only with defeat in this battle, but the defection of some of his troops. Octavian offers to hear Cleopatra’s requests if she kills or captures (and hands over) Antony. They refuse and prepare to fight Octavian once again.

Act Four, Scene One is a short one that finds Octavian fuming over the whipping his messenger had at the hands of Antony. He prepares his army to fight Antony again.

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act Four: Deserting and death”

OK, yesterday, as a part of my Antony and Cleopatra Act Three plot synopsis, I bemoaned the length of the act, 13 scenes long. I know, I know. It’s not the longest Act Three in the Canon (that honor goes to that Danish show-off, Hamlet). And yes, I’m being lazy. But don’t judge or begrudge: I’m on vacation, so excuse me if I spend some time poolside, raising a glass, and not writing for a while.

Jeez.

Anywho… Where was I? Ah, yes.

Ignoring the advice of his lieutenants, Antony, backed by 60 of Cleopatra’s ships, was about to take on Octavian in a sea battle. Let’s see how that works out for him.

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act Three, Part 2: Defeat and despair”

Previously on Antony and Cleopatra: Act One of the play begins with a doting Antony and a manipulative Cleopatra. Following news of his wife’s death, Antony decides to return to Rome and reconcile with Octavian Caesar and assist in the war against Pompey. In Rome, there little respect for the absent Antony, and in Alexandria, we see the effects of a now absent Antony on Cleopatra. In Act Two, we find Pompey concerned about further war with the Triumvirs, who reunite in Rome. There is obvious tension and conflict between Octavian and Antony, and to reconcile them, Antony agrees to marry Caesar’s sister Octavia. This news, when received in Alexandria, brings much consternation to Cleopatra. When the two armies meet to parlay, Pompey accepts the truce offered, and the generals feast (despite the desire of Pompey’s lieutenant to assassinate the Triumvirs). And all seems peaceful…for now.

Act Three of Antony and Cleopatra begins in Syria, where Antony’s war goes well: his generals are capturing land and prisoners. But it may be going too well: the victorious lieutenant Ventidius fears that his success, if it continues, might “los[e] his favor” (III.i.20) with an envious Antony, citing a recent example. He “could do more to do Antonius good, // But ‘twould offend him” (III.i.25-6). Instead of attempting to capture more land, Ventidius will take his prisoners to Antony who now moves toward Athens.

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act Three, Part 1: No happy moment…”

Previously on Antony and Cleopatra: Act One of the play begins with a doting Antony and a manipulative Cleopatra. News arrives that Fulvia, Antony’s wife has died. Against the wishes of his lieutenant Enobarbus, Antony decides to return to Rome and reconcile with Octavian Caesar and assist in the war against Pompey. Cleopatra tries to get Antony to stay, but to no avail. In Rome, we see little respect for the absent Antony, and when we return to Alexandria, we see the effects of a now absent Antony on Cleopatra.

Act Two of Antony and Cleopatra opens neither in Alexandria nor Rome, but instead in Messina on the island of Sicily. And we’re not with Cleopatra or Antony (or Octavian, for that matter), either. No, we’re in the army camp of Pompey.

What are we doing here?

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act Two: Making Peace (for now)”

The play Antony and Cleopatra opens in Alexandria, where one of the three Roman Triumvirs, Mark Antony, is ostensibly ruling over the Egyptian portion of the Roman Empire.

However…

Continue reading “Antony and Cleopatra — Act One: dotage and manipulation”