Ant + Cleo quotes

Ant + Cleo quotes

1. Choices

   • "I will to Egypt. And though I make this marriage for my peace, I' th' East my pleasure lies"
     • It’s a rare case where reason coincides with passion
   • "Canidius, we will fight With him by sea"
     • Antony’s passion overpowers his reason and good sense

2. Contrasting Regions

   • "There's not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now"
     • His life in Egypt has transformed him into a man that wants pleasure all the time contrary to the Roman way
   • "Be a child o' th' time." - Ant "But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one." - Caesar
     • Their differences are highlighted here—Antony earnestly celebrates like an Egyptian, while Caesar keeps his Roman wits about him
   • "Let's do 't after the high Roman fashion And make death proud to take us"
     • Cleo describes her suicide as a Roman death, characterised by honour, nobility, and sacrifice. It’s important that this is contrary to the relaxed Egyptian view

3. Gender

   • "Not more manlike Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy more womanly than he"
     • Caesar suggests that Antony is no better than his woman, and that Cleopatra is perhaps a little more manly than she should be. The gender ideals of Rome are all turned upside-down in Egypt
   • "And we are women's men"
     • To be led by another’s power is a weakness, let alone a woman's power

4. Betrayal

   • "O, never was there queen So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first I saw the treasons planted"
     • Cleo feels betrayed by Ant's marriage to Octavia but isn't surprised considering his betrayal to Fulvia
   • "I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness"
     • Lepidus is too loyal to suspect betrayal of any sort
   • 'Tis thou Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart Makes only wars on thee
     • Antony believes Cleopatra has betrayed him, causing him to lose the battle

5. Love

   • "Hast thou affections?"
     • Cleopatra quizzes her eunuch about whether he has sexual desires. She can’t imagine that a person could feel love without sex
   • "Egypt, thou knew'st too well My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' strings"
     • Love and power are inextricably tied

6. Power

   • "Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space"
     • Antony hasn’t forsaken his concern about power by taking up with Cleopatra. Instead, he’s found the centre of his power is with her
   • "Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome"
     • As a man of power, though, he needs to hear the truth about himself in order to be a better ruler. Interesting as later on when advised he goes against it
   • "Comes feared by being lacked"
     • "Men in power are never missed or appreciated until they’ve left it"
   • "Thou art The armourer of my heart"
     • Antony refutes the claims that his devotion to Cleopatra compromises his power and says, she is the armour. Love and power are entwined again

7. Transformation

   • "Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, He comes too short of that great property"
     • Antony in Egypt is not himself, at least not the Roman Antony
   • "I must from this enchanting queen break off."
     • Antony often wished Fulvia dead, but getting what he wants transforms his wishes. Thus changes his priorities. Duty replaces love
   • "If you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick"
     • Cleopatra is again tempestuous. Judges how Antony should see her and transforms herself accordingly

8. Guilt

   • "O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men!"
     • Antony berates himself, feeling guilty that his bad fortune has made honest men do what they otherwise would not
   • "There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it."
     • Only by getting what he wanted could he see how it wasn’t a good event to wish for at all

9. Duty

   • "To join our kingdoms and our hearts"
     • Marries Octavia out of duty to unite with Caesar