A counterpoint (a contrasting but parallel
theme or motif) to Scene 4 occurs in the sixth scene. In the earlier scene, Antony is angry at Octavius. In this scene, Octavius is angry at Antony. This scene takes place in Rome, and again much time has elapsed since the time of the previous scene.
Octavius Caesar is angry at Antony for several reasons as well: (1) Antony has named Cleopatra as Queen of several African and Asian nations; (2) he has declared his and Cleopatra’s sons (Alexander and Ptolemy) as kings of several lands; and (3) Antony has publicly accused Octavius of not treating him fairly in regards to money and newly conquered land. Octavius tells his soldier that he will gladly give land and money to Antony, but in return Antony must give him some of the Asian kingdoms that he has conquered. The solider Maecenas responds that “he’ll never yield to that” (37). Antony will never give any of his lands to Octavius. So, in return, Octavius declares that he will never give any money or land to Antony. They are deadlocked (a disagreement that cannot be settled). They never will agree. And, so, war is inevitable.
The second part of the scene involves
Octavia’s return to Rome. She comes to her brother, unknown to Antony, in an attempt to bring peace between the two leaders of Rome. Octavius Caesar’s anger carries over into this scene. He also blames Antony for allowing Octavia to come without many troops and servants, as would be proper for a wife of a ruler of the Roman Empire. But Octavia explains that coming to Rome was her decision, not Antony’s.
However, Octavia mistakenly believes that
Antony is still in Greece. Octavius informs her that not only has Antony returned to Egypt and to Cleopatra, but he has also gathered together a vast number of kings (and their armies) throughout Asia and Africa to join him in the coming war against Octavius (lines 66-76). Octavia grieves over hearing this sad news, but Octavius tells her that such an event was inevitable: “But let determined things to destiny hold unbewailed their way” (84-85). He is telling Octavia not to cry or wail over events that are determined by fate. He is telling her that she cannot change fate or destiny and that crying about it will not do her any good. Octavius is telling Octavia to accept whatever fate brings them, including the loss of a husband and the coming of a war.
The war between Octavius and Antony is about to begin. Scene 7 is set in Greece, where Antony has his camp. Octavius is approaching. The scene begins with a conversation between Enobarbus (Antony’s man) and Cleopatra. Cleopatra, as the queen and leader of the Egyptian army, plans to fight alongside Antony in the coming battle. Enobarbus attempts to dissuade her. The reader should recall that Antony loses his reason whenever he is around Cleopatra. He becomes a man of pure passion. And when that happens, he becomes a terrible soldier and captain. So, Enobarbus is correct. Cleopatra should not accompany Antony. In an aside, Enobarbus uses a horse metaphor:
If we should serve with horse and mares together,
The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear
A soldier and his horse. (7-9)
Enobarbus means that male horses and female horses (mares) should not be brought together during a battle. The word merely is a pun since it would be pronounced as “mare-ly.” The male horses become distracted by the females. The word bear is also a pun: (1) it suggests carrying or holding – and so the horse carries the soldier who rides upon her back, and (2) it also suggests sexual activity – and so the mare carries the male horse. Of course, the metaphor specifically means Antony (as the male horse) and Cleopatra (as the mare). Like animals wild in heat (sexual desire), Antony and Cleopatra will not be able to think rationally.
Out loud Enobarbus explains his reason to Cleopatra without the use of metaphor: “Your presence needs must puzzle Antony” (10). The verb puzzle here means to distract or to lose focus. He is saying that Antony will not be able to think clearly with Cleopatra by his side.
Cleopatra, however, ignores Enobarbus’ wise advice. This is a fatal flaw on her part. The reader should remember that a fatal flaw is not a flaw in the personality of a protagonist. Rather, it is a flaw in judgment; it is a wrong decision that affects the protagonist in a negative manner. Cleopatra, as a protagonist, thus makes a fatal flaw at this point in the play.
Antony, however, is actually the central protagonist of the play. And he makes two fatal flaws in this scene. First, he allows Cleopatra to join him. Second, and perhaps an even bigger mistake, is that he decides to fight against Octavius at sea in ships (line 26). Antony and his men are primarily land soldiers. They are a great army, not a great navy. His men are experienced in fighting on land. The men who serve Octavius Caesar, however, do have experience in fighting at sea. Enobarbus tries to dissuade Antony. He tells his general that Octavius Caesar’s men have recently been fighting against the forces of Pompey at sea (lines 36-38). Thus, they are experienced sailors. Antony, though, listens to Cleopatra. She claims that her ships are just as good as those belonging to Octavius (line 49). Antony listens to Cleopatra and ignores Enobarbus. Antony is already allowing his emotion or passion to rule over his reason. That is not good. That will certainly lead to his downfall.
Octavius Caesar provides a contrast here. Antony challenges Octavius to a “single fight” (30). This would be just a battle of two men, of two champions. This would be a fight to the death, and the survivor would win everything. Octavius is reasonable here. He believes that he can easily defeat Antony at sea, but he also knows that he is a weaker and less experienced fighter than Antony. A single fight would not be a good idea for him, and so he refuses. He also refuses Antony’s challenge to meet him at a battleground in Pharsalia (line 31). Octavius knows he has an advantage at sea but a definite disadvantage on land. Octavius thus makes reasonable choices.
Antony could have refused Octavius’ own challenge to fight at sea. If Antony had refused, Octavius would then have been forced to come on land to fight or go back to Rome. But Antony is stubborn and passionate and completely irrational.
The sea battle is about to start. In Scene 8 Octavius gives the order for his men to remain in their ships until he gives an order for them to go to land. In Scene 9 Antony gets ready to fight at sea.