Act 1 Scene 3 – Antony and Cleopatra

1) Cleopatra- immature, wants to have whichever action that will hurt Antony the most – manipulative ‘If you find him sad, say I am dancing; if in mirth, report that I am sudden sick’ It shows her relationship with her maids is very one-sided, she wants to use them to be her eyes and deliver false news. Showing no regard for the consequences they may have for lying to Antony, but only herself.

 2) Chairmian states Cleopatra shouldn’t tempt him so much that her power may drive Antony away ‘in time we hate that which we often fear’ She tells Cleopatra not to cross him or betray his trust (irony), and let him do as he pleases- submissive view allowing man the power. Cleopatra disagrees saying that acting in such a way will drive him away ‘thou teachest like a fool: the way to lose him’.

 3) In Antony + Cleopatra’s exchange, Cleopatra is in control. Emotional blackmail, cutting him off, not allowing him to speak, pretending to back down merely to try and make him disagree to stay- cunning, manipulative ‘I have no power upon you; hers you are’ –lie. ‘Oh, never was there a queen so mightily betrayed!’ Telling him to go even though she wants him to say.

 4) Antony’s language in his speech to Cleopatra are very passion-less. No love in what he’s going away to do but it is a necessity- words such as ‘strong necessity’, ‘services’, ‘threaten’, ‘purge’ and ‘desperate’. He frequently tries to assure her that his passions still lie with her and mentions only being gone for ‘awhile’. ‘My full heart remains in use with you’

 5) Upon hearing Antony’s speech and the news of Fulvia’s death, Cleopatra seems to feel that if she were to die she now knows how it would be received by Antony- the same as he had received Fulvia’s death; ‘Now I see, I see in Fulvia’s death how mine received would be’ She could be responding in this way to be blackmailing Antony to make him feel the only way to prove his love is true is to stay with her in Egypt.

 6) By the end of the scene their relationship seems to have reached a cold standstill. Cleopatra calling him ‘Sir’ reflects a sudden coldness towards him. ‘Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it; Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it…’ , ‘And I am all forgotten!’ Cleopatra seems to be calling the shots at this point, unable to control whether he goes or not after trying, but still able to control his emotions and where their relationship stands. She is now using that last part of power over him before he leaves.