BODY PARAGRAPHS:

The tragic hero of this play, Anthony, is indirectly introduced by Philo, in Shakespearean fashion.
Without even mentioning his name, the audience is made to paint a vivid picture of our
protagonist. Philo, along with another Roman soldier, Demetrius, discusses how their general
has turned from a valiant and fierce warrior into a lovesick man. “His captain’s heart, / Which …
hath burst / The buckles on his breast, / [has] become the bellows and the fan / To cool a
gypsy’s lust,” wonderfully depicts Anthony’s aforementioned transformation. The exaggeration
used to describe Anthony – who used to be so vicious in battle that the utter dominance, that
only a leader possesses, causes his armor to “burst,” – carefully portrays the contrasting image
that Anthony possessed in the present time – an infatuated man whose mind is fixated on only
Cleopatra. This initial portrayal encapsulates Antony's internal conflict between his military duty
and his passionate affection for Cleopatra. Speaking of our female lead, the audience gets the
sense that Anthony’s court doesn’t appreciate Cleopatra: with one single phrase, “a gypsy’s
lust,” Cleopatra is seemingly reduced to a gypsy in this context, an uncivilized woman and also
is seen being the reason for Anthony’s reduction to a ‘fool’. Historically, it’s widely accepted that
Cleopatra is a self-righteous and powerful queen, but interestingly enough, the very first word
spoken of her is a direct portrayal of the sexist mindset of the Roman court. This view of
Cleopatra as a cunning seductress eventually peels back to show her intelligent and formidable
self. Henceforth, the audience gets a glimpse into the very heart of what the play’s tragic
characters will bring forth in the very first few lines only.

Shakespeare also provides a captivating glimpse into the setting through the first lines of the
play. The allusion to Mars, the Roman god of war, to describe Anthony, sets up several things:
Anthony, the daunting general, is a symbol for Rome – a land of honor, duty, and masculinity –
where he, as this symbol, is somehow an exposition for Rome as well. As Anthony’s character
goes on to become besotted with Cleopatra, we see Cleopatra as a symbol for Egypt, the world
juxtaposed with Rome – a land of abundance, desire, luxury, and femininity. The word ‘dotage,’
suggests an environment of opulence – conveying the very things that Egypt embodies. In this
way, Shakespeare has cleverly presented two settings in a way that symbolizes not only the
lands of Rome and Egypt but the characters who represent it as well.

Woven through the first scene is a brilliant initiation to the play’s core theme of love and war.
‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ is at its simplest a story of a battle against one’s desires, a struggle
hinted at as Anthony’s past glory and current desires are considered. “His captain’s heart,” can
be dissected to show the juxtaposition of the word ‘captain’ with ‘heart’ highlights the tension
between Anthony’s duties as a king and his emotional desires. At this early point in the play,
Anthony seems to be losing the war to love, which is perhaps a foreshadowing to his tragic fate.
Cleopatra, In just ten lines, Shakespeare has excellently portrayed the theme of love and war in
this play.