Contrasting Regions in Antony and Cleopatra

Although Shakespeare can often be confusing with the constant switching of setting, but I believe that there is a deeper meaning to it. I picked up on the fact that the changing of scenery only occurred when a character switched emotions and Alexandria and Rome mirror each other which is a convenient device to interpret the meaning of the characters’ actions. In Shakespeare’s pastoral plays, some place is defined as the "other" to set off the traditions of the characters who are transported there. In this case when Antony is feeling lonely, aroused, or in need of misguided advice, he runs to Cleopatra's bosom in Egypt but when he has real responsibilities and sticks to the task he is a member of the triumvirate in Rome. Values, morals, and meanings change with each setting in the play, helping us understand the struggles that Antony has to go through and the way Cleopatra acts and makes judgments. Shakespeare presents Roman ideals as superior to Egyptian ideals in Antony and Cleopatra, which I can understand. I believe that Alexandria is lesser than Rome, considering that it is Antony weakness and it is ruled by the manipulative Cleopatra. Egypt isn’t just presented as a convenient place to take a holiday from Rome, but it stands as the evil contrast to the good of Rome. Although, I can also understand the argument of Rome being the lesser of the two because one of it's three leaders is easily influenced and it has a weaker naval force than Alexandria. These differences correspond with each other making either locations 'parallel' to each other or basically equals.

I believe that Antony's love for Cleopatra is real but it is definitely unrequited because Cleopatra definitely does not feel the same way which can be proven solely by the amount of times that Cleopatra sent a messenger to lie about her appearance, emotions, or well-being (which ultimately led to his demise). Cleopatra definitely uses her femininity to her advantage to satisfy her influential male desires, which fully encompasses Egyptian ideals which is pretty badass, she is the master manipulator.

"ANTONY
But stirred by Cleopatra.
Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harsh.
There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?" Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 50-54

Antony's dreamy and desirable life in Egypt has transformed him into a man that wants pleasure all the time, which is indulgent, but also completely contrary to the Roman way, so he is definitely not a character that stands for Roman ideals.

"CAESAR
You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
Our great competitor. From Alexandria
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes
The lamps of night in revel, is not more manlike
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he;" Act 1 Scene 4 Lines 1-7

Here Caesar is degrading Antony by associating his 'fun-times' in Egypt with femininity, which is linked to an Eastern way of life, and a polar opposite to the Roman ideal of masculinity.

I believe that Enobarbus encompasses Roman ideals due to the fact that a very cultured view allows him to look at the scenario from both sides and address it in a very noble manner. For example:

"ENOBARBUS
I will tell you.
The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were
silver,
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beat to follow faster,
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
It beggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion—cloth-of-gold, of tissued—
O'erpicturing that Venus where we see
The fancy out-work nature. On each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
With divers-colored fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
And what they undid did." Act 2 Scene 2 Lines 226-242

Enobarbus’s description betrays the fact that the winds and waters, even the creatures of heavenly thoughts attend to the Queen. He touches on the heart of Orientalism’s duality. It might seem contrary to man’s living that he be so decked with material goods but actually the Orientalist view is that nature is lush and when people revel in that lushness, they worship nature, not man. Unlike the Roman view, celebrating the good and rich world around you doesn’t detract from your goodness, but is a necessary part of it. This proves that Enobarbus is not only cultured but he is also nobly persuades the right decisions amongst the most influential.

In Antony and Cleopatra, a man without a place has no place in the world. Antony is lost and does not have a place in either Rome or Alexandria.