Anthony and Cleo Quotes by Themes
Love, Pleasure, Passion, Hate, and Decadence
Anthony and Cleo’s love
Enobarbus’ love for Antony
The once allies and now conflict between Antony and Caesar
The lack of love in Octavia and Anthony’s marriage
Charmian and Iras undevoted love to Cleo
Let Rome and Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space! –
1.1.34
- Antony makes his priorities clear he doesn’t care if the city melts or empire falls, he
just wants to be by his queen showed in the metaphor.
- Antony is known as a great Roman patriot who constantly prioritises the needs of
state over his own. He has devoted his life to expanding and protecting the empire and
is now one of the three supreme leaders.
- This confession of him saying he doesn’t care is shocking to all the characters around
him.
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety: other women cloy the appetites
they feed: but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. – 2.2.244
- Enobarbus’ use of hyperbole here implies Cleopatra has paradoxical power. Unlike
‘other woman’ who make men become sick of them.
- Cleo has also entranced Enobarbus, by ensuring that she appears unpredictable and
passionate, she has ensured men will always be fascinated by her. She has created a
system in which men constantly seek to possess her.
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, and in our name, what she requires; add more, from
thine invention, offers: women are not in their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure The
ne’er touch’d vestal: try thy cunning, Thidias; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
will answer as a law. – 3.12.27
- Caesar seeks to drive a wedge between Antony and Cleopatra. Caesar goes on to
display his contempt for women, asserting that even the most virtuous woman will
betray if she is truly desperate.
- Caesar’s orders make clear his cunning nature.
- His statement about women also makes clear his underestimation of Cleopatra. His
constant arrogance and sexism make him believe he has the upper hand. The gravity
of his mistake will become apparent at the end of the play, even when he is
technically ‘victorious’ over her.
I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breathed, and fight maliciously: for when mine hours Were
nice and lucky, men did ransom lives of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth, and send to
darkness all that stop me. Come, Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me All my sad
captains; fill our bowls once more; Let's mock the midnight bell. – 3.13.183
- Although this speech seems foolish and misguided it also suggests that on some level
Antony knows how doomed he is. He wants another ‘gaudy night’ because he knows
it will be his last.
- The urging to ‘mock the midnight bell’ means he will stay up late but can also be
interpreted that Antony wishes to ‘mock’ his oncoming death.
I am alone the villain of the earth, and feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, …
No: I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits My latter part of life 4.6.31.
, - In agony Enobarbus calls himself ‘the villain of the earth’ remembering Antony as the
most generous and loyal master who ever lives. Enobarbus is so anguished that he
wishes for his heart to literally break through use of hyperbole.
- Enobarbus is now unable to live with himself, having lost his own identity as a loyal
soldier and a faithful friend. He has gone from a rational and detached figure to
someone unbale to deal with the dishonourable action he has taken.
- Enorbarbus’ love for Antony has destroyed him.
Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation. - 2.6.120
- Shows that Octavia is completely opposite to Cleopatra through an analogy.
Cleopatra is more intense and fierier and more enticing.
- It is bound that Antony will leave Octavia for Cleopatra as Octavia’s disposition
doesn’t suit Antony. He will be loyal to Cleopatra as they share a passion that Octavia
lacks.
No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire up
to a whore, who now are levying the kings o’ the earth for war. - 3.6.66
- Reveals the hypocrisy of Caesar. In the past, he has condemned both Antony and
Cleopatra for mixing personal feelings with politics, saying that it makes them
untrustworthy and immoral. In this scene, however, he is all too happy to use his
sister's feelings of pain and dishonour to excuse his making war on his supposed ally
and brother-in-law.
- The calculating Octavius wants to stop sharing power with Antony, and has
manipulated the situation such that he can justifiably go to war against his former
friend.
I am dying, Egypt, dying; only I here importune death awhile, until of many thousand kisses
the poor last I lay up thy lips. - 4.15.19
- Antony has "conquer[ed]" himself, since he has killed himself with his own sword.
Metaphorically, however, the statement remains true: Antony has defeated himself
with his own pride, ill-judgment, and passion.
- He has been honest instead of cunning, and emotional rather than logical. Now, he is
paying the price.
Honour, Loyalty, Friendship, Tragedy, and Betrayal
Enobarbus’ loyalty and betrayal to Antony
Antony’s loyalty to Cleopatra and vice versa
Caesar’s betrayal of Antony (politics comes first always)
Antony’s betrayal of Rome
What o'er the files and musters of the war have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
the office and devotion of their view upon a tawny front – 1.1.02
- Two soldiers gossiping about how Antony has turned away from war and honour and
now only seeks to satisfy his queen.
- They also demean Cleopatra in racial and sexual terms; ‘tawny’ ‘gipsy’.
- Because of Antony and Cleopatra they think they are a disgrace, disdaining Antony
for having turned his back on Rome.
Let Rome and Tiber melt and the wide arch of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space! –
1.1.34
- Antony makes his priorities clear he doesn’t care if the city melts or empire falls, he
just wants to be by his queen showed in the metaphor.
