Summary While Antony and Octavia, in Athens, discuss matters in one part of the house, Enobarbus and Eros (a friend of Antony) talk about recent events. Eros tells Enobarbus that as soon as Caesar and Lepidus defeated Pompey, Caesar turned on Lepidus and accused him of treachery. Lepidus now awaits […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 5Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4
Summary The scene opens in Athens, in the middle of a conversation between Antony and Octavia. Apparently they have been discussing the recent activities of Caesar, and Octavia defends Caesar; she urges Antony not to take offense at what Caesar might have said about him. Caesar is preparing for war, […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 3
Summary This scene returns us to Alexandria and provides us with some light comic relief as Cleopatra questions a messenger about Octavia. This is the same messenger whom she terrorized earlier when he told her about Antony’s marriage. Now she is pleasant and ingratiating as she tries to find out […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 3Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 2
Summary As this scene opens, in Rome, Agrippa and Enobarbus enter and discuss recent events. Octavia is to leave Rome with her new husband, Antony. Caesar is sad to see her go, and, for the moment, Lepidus is the butt of everyone’s joking. For example, they discuss Lepidus’s excessive devotion […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 2Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 1
Summary The act opens on a plain in Syria. Ventidius, a Roman officer, was sent to fight the Parthians by Antony at the end of Act II, Scene 3. It is not clear how much time has passed, but in this scene, Ventidius has returned to Rome, and he describes […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 1Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 7
Summary As the scene opens on Pompey’s galley, the servants are getting ready for the feast; and they gossip among themselves, joking that the three Romans are already well on the way to becoming drunk. They have been taking turns pouring part of their wine into Lepidus’s glass, and he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 7Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 6
Summary The focus of this scene, set near Misenum, centers on the meeting of Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Pompey; earlier, the triumvirs sent a letter to Pompey: in it, they said that they were prepared to allow Pompey to rule Sicily and Sardinia if he would agree to “rid all […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 6Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 5
Summary Cleopatra is bored and pensive as this scene opens in Alexandria. She turns to her servants and asks them to amuse her. She wants Charmian to play billiards with her, but Charmian begs off and suggests that Cleopatra play billiards instead with Mardian, the eunuch. The idea of thrusting […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 5Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 4
Summary As the scene opens in Rome, Lepidus is being escorted by two officers, Maecenas and Agrippa, and after they have walked with him a while, he tells them that they may return to their business, which at this point is to prepare for possible battle with Pompey. Analysis This […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 4Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 3
Summary As the scene opens, still in Rome, Antony and Octavia, the betrothed couple, bid each other good night, and Antony admonishes Octavia not to believe all that she hears of him. Seemingly, he hopes to reassure his future wife that he will be a good husband, in spite of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 3