http://www.novelguide.

com/antony-and-cleopatra/novel-summary

https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Antony-and-Cleopatra/plot-summary/
https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Antony-and-Cleopatra/
https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Antony-and-Cleopatra/act-1-scene-1-summary/
https://www.coursehero.com/lit/Antony-and-Cleopatra/character-analysis/
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/a/antony-and-cleopatra/play-summary
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/antony-and-cleopatra
https://www.litcharts.com/lit/antony-and-cleopatra/summary
https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/antony/
https://www.enotes.com/topics/antony-and-cleopatra/in-depth
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https://www.shmoop.com/antony-cleopatra/
https://studymoose.com/antony-and-cleopatra
http://shakespearestudyguide.com/Antony.html
https://englishsummary.com/all-for-love-dryden-summary/
https://cummingsstudyguides.net/xAntonyCleo.html
http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/ac/rcameron.html

SUPER SUMMARY,

Antony and Cleopatra Summary

Antony and Cleopatra is a tragic play by William Shakespeare first performed around 1607. It was inspired
by the real-life relationship between Mark Antony of Rome and Cleopatra, the famed queen of Egypt. Since
one of Shakespeareâs previous plays, Julius Caesar, includes some of the same characters, Antony and
Cleopatra is sometimes seen as a sequel despite having a standalone story.

The play begins by introducing the political situation in Rome. The Roman Empire is ruled by a
triumvirate, a political regime led by three prominent figures: Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, and
Lepidus. This is the regime that followed the assassination of Julius Caesar; Octavius is his great-
nephew. At the start of the play, Antony is neglecting his duties as a ruler by spending too much time in
Egypt as a consort and lover to Queen Cleopatra.

Antony receives news of his wife's death after she tried to rebel against Octavius to assert her
husbandâs power. This, combined with brewing revolt back home by a young man called Pompey, forces
Antony to return home. Cleopatra wishes him to stay and is unhappy with his disobedience.

Upon his return, Antony has a meeting with his fellow rulers where they all assert their commitment to
the triumvirate and the importance of sticking together. In order to prove his loyalty, Antony agrees to
marry Octaviusâs recently widowed sister, Octavia. In a famous speech, Antonyâs general explains how
Antony will never be satisfied with Octavia, having had the beautiful and passionate Cleopatra as a
lover. Cleopatra, receiving this news in Egypt, is furious. Her jealousy is soothed by her courtiers, who
explain that Octavia is a plain, unappealing woman.

The Roman rulers manage to broker peace with Pompey, and everyone celebrates with a large feast. Soon
after, Antony and his new wife leave Rome for Athens. Octavius and Lepidus turn against Pompey and
declare war against him. Antony, who was not consulted, feels angry and betrayed.

He sends Octavia back to Rome to attempt reconciliation, while he meanwhile returns to his love in Egypt.
He declares himself and Cleopatra as joint rulers of Egypt and of the Eastern third of the Roman Empire.
Meanwhile, Octavius has imprisoned Lepidus for conspiracy, positioning himself as the sole source of
power in Rome. The conflict between Antony and Octavius has now escalated past boiling point, and they
prepare for battle with each other.

Octavius challenges Antony to battle at sea, and Antony accepts despite his friend Enobarbusâs plea
that he fight on land, where he has the advantage. At the Battle of Actium, Octaviusâs forces overwhelm
Antony and Cleopatraâs ships. Cleopatraâs navy turns around, and Antony is forced to follow suit. He
reproaches her for making him a coward and for manipulating him, but his love for her is greater than his
pride, and they reconcile.

Octavius sends a messenger to ask Cleopatra to join his side. She wavers and flirts with the messenger,
which causes Antony to have him whipped and sent back to Rome. He is once again angry at Cleopatra, but
quickly forgives her and pledges to fight with her on land next time.

Incensed at his friend and generalâs irrational behavior, Enobarbus abandons Antony to join Octavius on
the eve of battle. He leaves behind his money and possessions, which Antony chooses to have sent to him
rather than confiscated. This act of generosity and friendship makes Enobarbus feel immense guilt at his
betrayal, and he dies of grief.

Antonyâs army does well on land, but once again Cleopatraâs navy retreats at sea, causing them to
lose. Antony accuses Cleopatra of betraying him and threatens to kill her. She decides to win back his
love by taking herself and her maids to her burial monument and sending word that she has killed herself,
his name the dying word on her lips. Antony is consumed with grief and asks his servant to kill him, but
the latter prefers to kill himself rather than do this.

Antony attempts to commit suicide but succeeds only in gravely injuring himself. He learns that Cleopatra
is alive and is then carried to her monument, where he dies in her arms. Octavius is informed of
Antonyâs death and sends for Cleopatra to be brought to Rome in defeat. She refuses, imagining nothing
worse than being paraded through Rome as a prisoner and villain. She does not wish for her and Antony to
become a joke for the Roman masses, and tries to kill herself, but sheâs caught and stopped.

Cleopatra pretends to submit to Octavius and hand over her entire wealth. However, her deceit is
discovered when her treasurer reveals the money she has hidden. Octavius starts drawing up plans to bring
her to Rome and parade her through the streets, as she feared.

Cleopatra succeeds in smuggling a basket of figs hiding poisonous asps (a type of snake) into her palace.
She dies of an asp bite, longing to meet Antony in the afterlife. Her handmaidens also die, one of grief
and the other from a bite. Upon discovering the scene, Octavius is triumphant that his enemies have been
defeatedâleaving him free to rule Rome on his ownâbut expresses sympathy for the tragic couple. He
orders a full military funeral for Antony.

Like many of Shakespeareâs plays, Antony and Cleopatra blends several dramatic conventions. It is most
often considered a tragedy, although it does not fit the Greek guidelines for one, and there are also
elements of romance, comedy, and the history play. It is among Shakespeareâs most popular plays and has
been performed in many celebrated stage adaptations. It also influenced many other depictions of Antony
and Cleopatraâs romance, including Hollywood productions.

PLOT STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

The play is structured like a classical tragedy. The opening scenes are largely introductory, presenting
the setting, the Themes, the major characters, the conflict, and the fatal flaw (hamartia) of Antony -
his passion for Cleopatra. The rising action really begins at the end of the third scene of the first act
when Antony decides he must temporarily return to Rome, but pledges his love and faithfulness to
Cleopatra before his departure. The rising action builds through Antony's marriage and desertion of
Octavia and his return to Cleopatra, who convinces him to fight Caesar in a naval engagement.

The climax occurs with Antony's loss to Caesar at Actium and his subsequent total loss of self-respect.
From this point forward, he succumbs to his passion, acting like a fool for the quixotic queen, who toys
with Antony and his emotions. The falling action centers round Antony's complete defeat by Caesar and his
departure from Cleopatra. The resolution comes when Antony falls on his own sword and later dies before
Cleopatra. She follows him into death by committing suicide herself, completing the tragedy.

The play can really be divided into two main parts. In the first half of the play, Antony remains
rational and strives to achieve a balance between the conflicting demands of his Roman military position
and his weakness for Cleopatra and things Egyptian. When he deserts Octavia and returns to Cleopatra,
however, he falls totally under her control. Throughout the second half of the play, Shakespeare charts
Antony's futile attempts to do anything outside of Cleopatra's spell.

Although the play defies the unifying traits of time and place, having several settings over several
weeks, the play is closely held together by the central characters of Antony and Cleopatra. Even when
they do not appear on stage during the scene, they are usually openly discussed by the characters on
stage or their presence is felt. The constant theme of Antony's destructive passion, which is developed
throughout the play, also serves to unify the drama into a tightly woven structure that holds the
attention of the audience.

THEMES - THEME ANALYSIS

The dominant theme of the play is the destructive nature of Antony's passion for Cleopatra. Because of
the Egyptian queen's hold on him, Antony disintegrates from "the triple pillar of the world" into "a
strumpet 's fool."

The entire action of the play chronicles the various stages of his decline at the hand of Cleopatra as he
allows his passion to override his judgment and his public and military duties. Caesar realizes the
foolishness of Antony's love for Cleopatra and takes advantage of it. Enobarbus is critical of Antony's
passion and deserts him because of it. In the end, Antony's passion for Cleopatra causes him to commit
suicide, completing his tragedy.

Another theme of the play, which also shapes the play's construction both in terms of action and
characters, is the opposition between the worlds of Egypt and Rome. Egypt is portrayed as feminine and
passionate (which, according to the play's values, means weak), as symbolized by Cleopatra.
In contrast, Rome is portrayed as masculine, rational, and political, (which according to the play's
values, means strong), as symbolized by Caesar. The action of the play chronicles Antony's desperate and
unsuccessful attempts to strike a balance between the two worlds. His folly is that he gives himself
wholly to Cleopatra, which leads to his demise.

Here is a short plot summary of Antony and Cleopatra:

After defeating Brutus and Cassius, following the assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony becomes one
of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, together with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, and is responsible
for the eastern part of the empire. He falls in love with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and settles in
Alexandria. However, he is compelled to return to Rome when the empire is threatened by the rebellion of
Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey, who had been defeated by Julius Caesar.

As his wife has just died Antony marries Octaviusâ sister, Octavia, in an attempt to heal the rift
between the two emperors. They make peace with Pompey. When Cleopatra hears about Antonyâs marriage she
flies into a jealous rage but knows that Antony does not love Octavia. Antony goes to Athens but when war
breaks out between Caesar and Pompey, Antony sends Octavia back to Rome and returns to Egypt.

Caesar is incensed with Antonyâs behaviour and he declares war on both Antony and Cleapatra. When the
Romans arrive Antony is offered a choice of how to fight and, despite being renowned as the worldâs
greatest soldier, he chooses to fight on sea. The Egyptian navy is inadequate and when Cleopatraâs navy
turns and flees, Antony follows them and Caesar defeats him.

Cleopatra goes to her tomb and sends a message to Antony that she is dead. Antony is devastated and
decides to kill himself. He botches the suicide and wounds himself without dying. His followers take him
to Cleopatraâs tomb, where he dies in her arms.

Cleopatraâs life is in tatters. Having lost Antony and being at the mercy of Caesar, she resolves to
commit suicide. She has someone bring her some poisonous snakes and incites them to bite her. Caesar
arrives just after her death and orders that the two lovers be buried together.

Synopsis (just read it)

"Antony and Cleopatra" is a tragedy by William Shakespeare revolves around the incidents in the Roman
empire after the defeat and death of Julius Caesar by the trio Mark Antony, Octavius and Lepidus. Falling
in love with Cleopatra,the queen of Egypt, Mark Antony fails to deliver his political duties. Octavius
seeks support of Antony to face the challenge from Rebels, however his efforts are ruined and leading to
war between the triumvirates. Antony denounces Cleopatra when she flees along with her ships leading to
defeat of his forces. Eventually the pair dies in a tragic manner to prove their love to each other.

SYNOPSIS
A summary of Shakespeare's Antony & Cleopatra - a tragedy of love and duty.

Antony & Cleopatra written around 1606 is one of Shakespeareâs great historical love stories. Antony is
captivated by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. Gossip and scandal leads to plots of murder and battles.

Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, having defeated Julius Caesar's assassins at Philippi, now rule
the Roman Empire as a triumvirate.

While in Alexandria however, the ageing Antony has become captivated by Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (and
mother to Julius Caesar's illegitimate son, Caesarion). The gossip and scandal this is creating both
amongst Romans in Alexandria and at home in Rome gives rise to dissention between Octavius and Antony,
whose behaviour is felt to be debauched and 'un-Roman'.

At the same time as the power of the triumvirate is being challenged by a dissatisfied senator, Pompey,
Antony hears news from Rome that his wife, Fulvia, is dead. These two issues together force Antony to
return to Rome and take up his responsibilities as a triumvir again.

Once back in Rome, Antony seems less controlled by his fascination for Cleopatra and, in an attempt to
strengthen the triumvirate and cement his political alliance with Octavius following a quarrel, he agrees
to marry Octavius's sister, Octavia. This news drives Cleopatra into a jealous rage.

BROKEN ALLIANCES

On the brink of another bloody civil war against Pompey's forces, Antony and Octavius manage to negotiate
a peace and they, along with Lepidus, feast with Pompey in celebration.

Antony and Octavia then leave for Athens, where Antony has been summoned to quell a rebellion by the
Scythians. No sooner have they arrived there than Antony learns that Octavius has ignored the agreed
peace treaty, has taken arms against Pompey once more, is plotting against Lepidus, the third member of
the triumvirate, and has also spoken critically of Mark Antony. Enraged, Antony sends Octavia back to
Rome to act as a go-between but also prepares for war against Octavius.

WAR
Octavius learns that Antony has returned to Alexandria and, with Cleopatra, has appeared enthroned in the
market place, crowning themselves and their children as kings and queens. Octavius declares war on Egypt
and, despite warnings not to fight at sea, Antony agrees that the two navies will meet for a sea battle
at Actium.

The Egyptians, under Antony's command, lose when he deserts the battle to follow Cleopatra's fleeing
ships. Antony is ashamed and in despair at his own unsoldierly behaviour. But when he hears that Octavius
is planning a secret peace with Cleopatra at the expense of Antony's own life, he has Caesar's messenger
whipped and rouses himself for a second battle in which he is victorious.

Before the third and decisive battle, many of Antony's soldiers desert him fearing bad omens, including
his most loyal friend Enobarbus. A disappointed Antony sends after Enobarbus all the treasures he had
left behind on his desertion, and Enobarbus is so stricken with shame that he dies.

Having won the initial battle by land, Antony prepares to face Octavius's forces again at sea.

THE ENDING
If you don't want to know how it ends, stop reading now!

The Egyptian navy deserts, leading the defeated Antony to believe that Cleopatra has betrayed him to
Octavius. She is so angry that she retreats to her monument and sends false word to Antony that she has
committed suicide.

Appalled, and echoing the suicide of the conspirator Brutus at Philippi, Antony begs a faithful servant
to hold his sword while he falls upon it. Unwilling to do so, the servant, Eros, kills himself. Antony
then attempts suicide but fails, leaving himself badly wounded.

A messenger arrives from Cleopatra, telling Antony of her deception. Antony instructs his guards to take
him to Cleopatra's monument where he is raised up to the top of the monument to die in her arms.

Having persuaded Octavius that she will surrender, but fearful of capture and the shame of being
exhibited as a defeated enemy through the streets of Rome, Cleopatra holds a poisonous snake to her
breast and dies, along with her faithful maids.
Antony and Cleopatra
By: William Shakespeare
About the Author:
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare is widely considered the worldâs greatest dramatist. He was born on April 26, 1564 at
Warwickshire, England. He wrote 38 plays and 154 sonnets. He was an English poet, playwright and actor,
widely regarded as both the greatest writer in the English language. He is often called England's
national poet.
Full title - The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra
Author - William Shakespeare
Genre â Romance, Tragedy
Language - English
Time and Place written - 1606â1607, London, England
Date of first publication - Published in the First Folio of 1623

Characters

Mark Antony
- Main protagonist of the story.
- Fierce soldier who is one of the Triumvirs that rule the Roman empire.
- He has a love affair with Cleopatra.

Cleopatra
- The Queen of Egypt.
- Lover to Antony, formerly lover to Caesar and Pompey
- Highly attractive woman

Octavius Caesar
- One of the Triumvirs of Rome.
- He is very ambitious and extremely practical.
- He disapproves of everything Antony stands for

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus

- He is the third member of the Triumvirate.
- He is the weakest among the three.
- Always trying to make friends instead of war.

Sextus Pompey
- He seeks to avenge his father's death to the new triumvirate and
- He leads a popular rebellion against the triumvirate that it forces Caesar and Antony to make a truce.

Octavia
- Caesar's sister
- Cool quiet woman, opposite of Cleopatra
- Marries Antony to try to fix the friendship between Antony and Caesar

Plot
Setting (Time) - 40â30 b.c.
Setting (Place) - The Roman Empire and Egypt
Exposition - Antony is torn between his duties as a Roman ruler and soldier and his desire to live in
Egypt with his lover, Cleopatra. This inner conflict leads him to become embroiled in a war with Caesar,
one of his fellow triumvirs.
Rising Action - Caesar lures Antony out of Egypt and back to Rome, and marries Antony to his sister,
Octavia. Antony eventually returns to Egypt and Cleopatra, and Caesar prepares to lead an army against
Antony.
Climax - Antony disgraces himself by fleeing the battle of Actium to follow Cleopatra, betraying his own
image of himself as a noble Roman.
Falling action - Cleopatra fakes her death and a messenger told it to Antony.
Resolution â Antony took his sword and ended his own life. After that, Cleopatra also commits suicide
because she doesnât want to fall under the hands of Caesar.

Summary
After defeating Brutus and Cassius, following the assassination of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony becomes one
of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, together with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, and is responsible
for the eastern part of the empire. He falls in love with Cleopatra, the Queen of Egypt, and settles in
Alexandria. However, he is compelled to return to Rome when the empire is threatened by the rebellion of
Sextus Pompey, the son of Pompey, who had been defeated by Julius Caesar.
As his wife has just died Antony marries Octaviusâ sister, Octavia, in an attempt to heal the rift
between the two emperors. They make peace with Pompey. When Cleopatra hears about Antonyâs marriage she
flies into a jealous rage but knows that Antony does not love Octavia. Antony goes to Athens but when war
breaks out between Caesar and Pompey, Antony sends Octavia back to Rome and returns to Egypt.
Caesar is incensed with Antonyâs behavior and he declares war on both Antony and Cleopatra. When the
Romans arrive Antony is offered a choice of how to fight and, despite being renowned as the worldâs
greatest soldier, he chooses to fight on sea. The Egyptian navy is inadequate and when Cleopatraâs navy
turns and flees, Antony follows them and Caesar defeats him.
Convinced that his lover has betrayed him, Antony vows to kill Cleopatra. In order to protect herself,
she quarters herself in her monument and sends word that she has committed suicide. Antony, racked with
grief, determines to join his queen in the
afterlife. He commands one of his attendants to fulfill his promise of unquestioned service and kill him.
The attendant kills himself instead. Antony then falls on his own sword, but the wound is not immediately
fatal. He is carried to Cleopatraâs monument, where the lovers are reunited briefly before Antonyâs
death.
Caesar takes the queen as prisoner, planning to display her in Rome as a testament to the might of his
empire, but she learns of his plan and kills herself with the help of several poisonous snakes. Caesar
arrives just after her death and orders that the two lovers be buried together.

https://www.examrace.com/Study-Material/English-Literature/Antony-and-Cleopatra-William-Shakespeare-
Summary.html

Mark Antony, one of the three rulers of the Roman Empire, spends his time in Egypt, living a life of
decadence and conducting an affair with the country's beautiful queen, Cleopatra. When a message arrives
informing him that his wife, Fulvia, is dead and that Pompey is raising an army to rebel against the
triumvirate, Antony decides to return to Rome.

In Antony's absence, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, his fellow triumvirs, worry about Pompey's increasing
strength.
Caesar condemns Antony for neglecting his duties as a statesman and military officer in order to live a
decadent life by Cleopatra's side.
The news of his wife's death and imminent battle pricks Antony's sense of duty, and he feels compelled to
return to Rome.
Upon his arrival, he and Caesar quarrel, while Lepidus ineffectually tries to make peace.

Realizing that an alliance is necessary to defeat Pompey, Antony and Caesar agree that Antony will marry
Caesar's sister, Octavia, who will solidify their loyalty to one another. Enobarbus, Antony's closest
friend, predicts to Caesar's men that, despite the marriage, Antony will surely return to Cleopatra.

In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage and flies into a jealous rage. However, when a messenger
delivers word that Octavia is plain and unimpressive, Cleopatra becomes confident that she will win
Antony back.
The triumvirs meet Pompey and settle their differences without going to battle. Pompey agrees to keep
peace in exchange for rule over Sicily and Sardinia. That evening, the four men drink to celebrate their
truce.

One of Pompey's soldiers discloses to him a plan to assassinate the triumvirs, thereby delivering world
power into Pompey's hands, but Pompey dismisses the scheme as an affront to his honor. Meanwhile, one of
Antony's-generals wins a victory over the kingdom of Parthia.

Antony and Octavia depart for Athens. Once they are gone, Caesar breaks his truce, wages war against
Pompey, and defeats him. After using Lepidus's army to secure a victory, he accuses Lepidus of treason,
imprisons him, and confiscates his land and possessions. This news angers Antony, as do the rumors that
Caesar has been speaking out against him in public.

Octavia pleads with Antony to maintain a peaceful relationship with her brother. Should Antony and Caesar
fight, she says, her affections would be painfully divided. Antony dispatches her to Rome on a peace
mission, and quickly returns to Egypt and Cleopatra. There, he raises a large army to fight Caesar, and
Caesar, incensed over Antony's treatment of his sister, responds in kind. Caesar commands his army and
navy to Egypt. Ignoring all advice to the contrary, Antony elects to fight him at sea, allowing Cleopatra
to command a ship despite Enobarbus's strong objections.

Antony's forces lose the battle when Cleopatra's ship flees and Antony's follows, leaving the rest of the
fleet vulnerable. Antony despairs, condemning Cleopatra for leading him into infamy but quickly forgiving
her. He and Cleopatra send requests to their conqueror: Antony asks to be allowed to live in Egypt, while
Cleopatra asks that her kingdom be passed down to her rightful heirs. Caesar dismisses Antony's request,
but he promises Cleopatra a fair hearing if she betrays her lover.

Cleopatra seems to be giving thought to Caesar's message when Antony barges in, curses her for her
treachery, and orders the innocent messenger whipped. When, moments later, Antony forgives Cleopatra,
Enobarbus decides that his master is finished and defects to Caesar's camp. Antony meets Caesar's troops
in battle and scores an unexpected victory. When he learns of Enobarbus's desertion, Antony laments his
own bad fortune, which he believes has corrupted an honorable man. He sends his friend's possessions to
Caesar's camp and returns to Cleopatra to celebrate his victory. Enobarbus, undone by shame at his own
disloyalty, bows under the weight of his guilt and dies.

Another day brings another battle, and once again Antony meets Caesar at sea. As before, the Egyptian
fleet proves treacherous; it abandons the fight and leaves Antony to suffer defeat. Convinced that his
lover has betrayed him, Antony vows to kill Cleopatra. In order to protect herself, she quarters herself
in her monument and sends word that she has committed suicide.

Antony, racked with grief, determines to join his queen in the afterlife. He commands one of his
attendants to fulfill his promise of unquestioned service and kill him. The attendant kills himself
instead. Antony then falls on his own sword, but the wound is not immediately fatal. He is carried to
Cleopatra's monument, where the lovers are reunited briefly before Antony's death.

Caesar takes the queen prisoner, planning to display her in Rome as a testament to the might of his
empire, but she learns of his plan and kills herself with the help of several poisonous snakes. Caesar
has her buried beside Antony.