Breakdown of Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra

In these pages, I have summarized the essence of each scene in

Shakespeares original play. The lines that are bolded are the ones we have
kept in our version of the script. This material should provide a clearer
picture of what storylines have been omitted from our script.
The script was trimmed with the intention to focus on Cleopatras story. We
wanted to showcase her romance with Antony, her theatrical personality, her
abundant wealth, her charisma, and her skill as a leader. Her conflict stems
from the political happenings of Rome, so the schemes and sentiments of
Caesar, Lepidus, and Pompey have been kept as well.
Other moments, such as the party on Pompeys boat, were kept because they
were hospitable to supplementary material that supported our productions
themes of black feminism and appropriation of African American culture.
Its also important to remember that when Shakespeare was writing the play,
his audience probably knew way more about the drama surrounding ancient
Roman politics. A lot of his subplots are nuanced by political knowledge that
we dont have or need, so they were cut.

Act I- 1
Antony and Cleopatra are in love
A messenger brings news from Rome
Antony doesnt want to hear it
Cleopatra says he should listen to the news and return to
Rome
Antony refuses and wants to stay with Cleopatra

I-2
Cleopatras attendants see a soothsayer.
A messenger tells Antony that Fulvia and Antonys brother
made an army against Caesar but lost the battle.
Another messenger tells him that Fulvia got sick and died.
Antony is worried now about having neglected Rome and
decides to go home in anticipation of the battle against
Pompey.

I-3
Cleopatra is being dramatic about Antony and Fulvia
Antony tells Cleopatra that Fulvia is dead.
Antony tells Cleopatra that he is going to Rome but will be
faithful to her.

I-4

Caesar is complaining to Lepidus about Antony being in Egypt

Lepidus defends Antony, saying that his laziness is genetic.
A messenger tells them that Pompey is gaining strength from
people who used to support Caesar. They decide to build an
army against him.

I-5
Cleopatra misses Antony.
Alexas gives her a pearl that Antony gave him to give to her
She asks for 20 messengers to send for him every day.

Act II- 1
Pompey is feeling confident about fighting because he has a
good army and Antony is distracted in Egypt.
Varrius tells them Antony has returned to Rome.
He is aware of the fact that Caesar and Antony are not
getting along, but still thinks they could be a threat to
him.

II-2
Caesar is pissed about the uprising from Fulvia and Antonys
brother that happened before the play started.
He asks Antony why he neglected Rome and didnt give them
military support.
Antony defends himself.
Maecenas reminds them that they need to work together
against Pompey.
Agrippa says Antony should marry Octavia so theyll be
forced to be aliies.

II-3
Antony promises Octavia that he will be faithful to her.
He sees a soothsayer who tells him that Caesar will be
better off than Antony in the end and advises him to keep
his distance.
Antony tells Ventidius to make a war against Parthia.

II-4
Lepidus orders Maecenas and Agrippa to gather their
soldiers and meet at Mount Misenum, where they will
confront Pompeys army.
II-5
Cleopatra is talking with her squad about Antony.
A messenger enters and Cleopatra is jumping to conclusions
about Antony being dead.

The messenger tells her that he is married to Octavia.

II-6
Pompey tells Caesar, Lepidus, and Antony that he is fighting
to avenge his father, whose defeat by Julius Caesar led him
into Egypt, where he was killed.
Antony thinks they will win even though Pompey is stronger
at sea
Triumvirs offer Pompey Sicily and Sardinia if he gets rid of
pirates and send wheat to Rome.
Pompey was going to accept until Antony didnt acknowledge
how nice Pompeys mom was to him during the Civil War
(before the play started)
They apologize for the oversight and Pompey accepts the
offer.
They shake hands and he invites them to his ship to party.
Enobarbus and Menas chat about everything outside.

II-7
Everyone gets drunk on the boat and talks about crocodiles.
Menas tells Pompey he was going to kill the Triumvirs while
they were drunk on the boat.
Pompey gets mad. He tells Menas he shouldnt have told him
about it and just done it.
Everyone continues to rage.

Act III- 1
Ventidius defeats the Parthians and kills Herods son. A
soldier encourages Ventidius to keep fighting in Parthia but
he doesnt want to because Antony he wouldnt be able to
advance in Antonys forces.

III-2
Agrippa and Enobarbus talk about the state of the action.
Caesar stays in Rome, Antony and Octavia go to Athens.

III-3
Antonys messenger tells Cleopatra that she is way better
than Octavia.
III-4
Antony is mad because Caesar is talking badly about Antony
and waging war on Pompey.
Octavia says she feels torn between the two.
He sends her to Rome to fix things with Caesar for him.

III-5
Eros and Enobarbus talk about Pomey being murdered.
Lepidus helped Caesar win but doesnt allow him to share in
the celebration.
Caesar accuses Lepidus of plotting against him and puts him
in prison.
Antonys army is ready to go to Italy for Caesar.
III- 6
Caesar is still mad about Antony because hes gone to Egypt
again.
Antony gave a lot of land to Cleopatra.
Caesar got a lot of land from Parthia and will share it with
Antony if he shares Armenia and the other land hes
conquered.
Caesar thinks Antony should treat Octavia better.
He tells her that Antony is in Egypt and is creating an
alliance against Rome.
III- 7
Cleopatra is going to battle alongside Antony.
Antony wants to fight on sea, even though he would be
stronger than Caesar on land.
Antony maintains faith in Cleopatras fleet.

III-8
Caesar tells his army not to attack until the battle on the
water ends.

III- 9
Antony tells Enobarbus to put their squadrons on the
hillside so they can see the battle.

III- 10
Enobarbus describes the battle
Antony was winning and then Cleopatra fled the action and
Antony followed her.
Some of Antonys soldiers go to Caesars side.

III- 11
Antony is ashamed of his performance.
Cleopatra tries to comfort him and asks his forgiveness.
He feels bad for her.

III- 12

Antonys tells his ambassador to ask Caesar if he can live

in Egypt, Cleopatra demands that Egypt continue to go to her
heirs.
Caesar dismisses these requests, but will give Cleopatra a
fair hearing if she kicks Antony out of Egypt or kill him.
He sends Thidias to convince her.

III- 13
Enobarbus tells Cleopatra not to blame herself for Antonys
loss.
Antony decides to challenge Caesar to a one-on-one fight.
Enobarbus thinks about a course of action. If he stays on
Antonys side he can attack Caesar if Caesar kills Antony.
Thidias tells Cleopatra that Caesar will be fair if she gets
rid of Antony.
She says she was just with Antony out of fear and will do
what Caesar wants.
Antony walks in and has Thidias whipped and yells at
Cleopatra for her betrayal.
She says she would never betray him.
Antonys fleet is reassembled and he is ready to attack
Caesar again.
Enobarbus abandons Antony.

Act IV- 1
Caesar is getting hype to crush Antony

IV-2
Caesar wont fight Antony one-on-one

IV- 3
Soldiers hear the music of Hercules.

IV-4
Antony and Cleopatra say goodbye.
The soldiers are outside ready to fight.

IV-5
Antony wishes he fought Caesar on land.
Enobarbus went to Caesars side.
Antony has a soldier take Enobarbuss treasure that he left
back to him.

IV- 6
Caesar puts all of the men who used to be on Antonys side
in the frontlines.

Alexas went to Judea (Isreal) to get Herod (the king) to

support Caesar Caesar hanged Alexas for this?
The soldier brings the treasure for Enobarbus.
Enobarbus feels like an asshole and leaves to go kill
himself.

IV- 7
Agrippa freaks out because Antonys forces are
bigger/stronger than he thought.
His troops retreat.

IV-8
Antony is celebrating victory and vows to destroy Caesar the
next day.

IV-9
Enobarbus kills himself.

IV- 10
Antony realizes theyre going to be attacked by sea again.

IV- 11
Caesar is going to attack them by sea.

IV- 12
Cleopatra had the fleet surrender to Caesar. He tells the
troops to leave the battleground.
Cleopatra enters and Antony reams her.

IV-13
Cleopatra comes back to her squad and asks them to help her.
(fake her death)
Charmian tells her to go to her tomb and pretend to be dead
to get Antonys attention.

IV- 14
Antony is getting ready to kill Cleopatra.
Maridian enters (Alexas) and tells him that she already
killed herself.
He changes his mind and Antony decides to die with her.
He asks Eros to kill him.
Eros says yes but then kills himself instead.

Antony follows his example and Antony falls on his sword,

but it doesnt kill him.
Diomedes (Charmian) enters and tells him that Cleopatra is
alright.
Antony is still dying.

IV- 15
Cleopatra doesnt want to leave her tomb because shes going
to be a prisoner of war and taken through the streets.
Antony wants to see her one last time.
Antony dies.
Cleopatra faints and swears to kill herself.

Act V- 1
Caesar tells a messenger to deliver a command to Antony.
Decretas enters and gives Caesar his allegiance, giving him
the news that Antony is dead.

V-2
Proculeus asks Cleopatras terms for giving herself up to
Caesar
Cleopatra tells him she wants her son to have Egypt
Proculeus says Caesar might be nice.
She tries to stab herself before he gets there, but
Proculeus has the soldiers stop her.
She talks about her dreams of Antony.
Caesar comes and says he will be fair if she doesnt kill
herself.
She gives him right to all of her fortunes, Seleucus says
she is lying. Caesar doesnt want it anyway.
Dolabella confirms that Caesar is going to take Cleopatra
and her family to Rome as war trophies.
Cleopatra decides to kill herself
A farmer enters with a poisonous snake.
He tries to convince her not to touch the snake until
Cleopatra kicks him out.
Iras, Cleopatra, and Charmian let the snake bite them.
The soldiers enter and freak out because theyre all dead.
Caesar comes and understands why she killed herself.