1. Antony & Cleopatra Act 2 Scene 3
By : Nic and Mia

2. Significance

3. Relationship between characters
Shows the relationship between the characters
Octavia is the mediator between Antony and Caesar
Octavia’s marriage was to keep both triumvirate away from each other’s throat.
Diffuse tension with relation between Octavia (sister/wife)
Staging directions : “Antony, Caesar, Octavia between them”

4. Foreboding Foreboding eventual clash between Caesar and Antony
Who eventually will win (Caesar)
Could be a link to his own identity or his “angel” could even be Cleopatra herself (as shown when she flees twice in battle with Caesar and Antony follows “afraid to inspire)
Presence of fortuneteller in this scene
“Say to me whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine?”
“When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit is all afraid to govern thee near him, But, he away, ’tis noble.”

5. Opening and Closing of the scene

6. Before the Opening
Ending of the Act 2 Scene 2 was Enobarbus talking to Agrippa and Maecenas about Cleopatra and her “infinite variety” and charm.
Mentions how Antony now needs to leave Cleo for Octavia
Opening of Act 2 Scene 3 presents Antony and Octavia with Anthony and him saying “The world and my great office will sometimes divide me from your bosom.”
Perhaps shows how Antony and Octavia will not work out because of how they mentioned Cleopatra’s charms in the previous section

7. Ending “I’th’East my pleasure lies”
Just after telling his new bride not to judge him for his past mistakes (“Read not my blemishes in the world’s report.”) he decides on returning to Cleopatra in Egypt
Shows how Antony is still entangled in Cleopatra’s charms
Emphasises their political marriage and forebodes its failure

8. Key Themes

9. Public Duty vs Private Life
Suggests that Antony would be so involved in his public duty that he would dismiss himself from his marriage
However, “world” and “office” are treated as two different terms
Suggesting that this “public duty” actually has some form of private life in it
“The world and my great office will sometimes divide me from your bosom”
Public Duty vs Private Life

10. Public Duty vs Private Life
Developed by how Shakespeare utilizes a normally private affair (marriage) and mixes it with public duty (politics)
Within “private life” there is now conflict within that
Marriage with Octavia and his affair with Cleopatra
“And though I make this marriage for my peace, I’ th’ East my pleasure lies.”
Public Duty vs Private Life

11. “Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher: Caesar’s or mine?”
The tension between Caesar and Antony
Competing in everything
Dice, Quail, Cock fighting
Even in fortunes
“Say to me, Whose fortunes shall rise higher: Caesar’s or mine?”
Fight for political power

12. Character Development

13. Antony
Pleads to Octavia to not look at his mistakes and promises to change his ways towards his public duty
Moments later he claims that he must return to Egypt for Cleopatra
Could show how fickle minded Antony is (much like Cleopatra)
Or it could show how in love with her he is that he is willing to lie and deceive to eventually be with her

14. Octavia Mediator Devout/Pious Between Antony and Caesar
“And though I make this marriage for my peace”
Devout/Pious
“All which time, Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers to them for you”
Devoted to both her husband and the gods

15. Soothsayer Through the Soothsayer
Told that Caesar is a man that usually gets his way through luck or good fortune
Portrayed as Antony’s only weakness
“If thou dost play with him at any game, thou art sure to lose”
The use of a soothsayer again emphasizes the importance of fortune tellers during these Roman times and shows how much they believe in it
Once again used to hint to the audience of the conflict to come

16. END