[Adapted from All Shakespeare]

Mark Antony is supposed to be ruling the eastern Roman Empire. Cleopatra, however, has all of his attention as the two carry on a torrid affair in Egypt. The death of his wife, Fulvia, and the threat of a war by Pompey bring him back to Rome. There is tension between Octavius and Antony; Octavius feels that Antony has left Rome vulnerable while dallying with Cleopatra. As a gesture of goodwill, Antony agrees to marry Octavia, the sister of Octavius, but this only postpones what is to be a growing rift.
As events transpire, Octavius (now Caesar) and Antony begin to clash with their armies. Octavia tries to repair the damage and get Octavius and Antony back together. To everyone's chagrin, however, Antony seizes the opportunity during Octavia's absence to flee back to Egypt—and Cleopatra. Octavius is now doubly enraged, vowing to punish Antony for dishonoring his sister as well as Caesar. In the battle to come, Cleopatra sways Antony's mind into accepting a challenge from Caesar to a battle at sea; his aids try to tell him that his army has a better chance on land, but Antony will not listen. He will rue the decision.
At the height of the naval battle, Cleopatra orders her personal ship to leave the scene. Unfortunately, a lovestruck Antony orders his ship to follow her, and the battle at Actium becomes a Roman victory. Caesar rejects Antony's suit for peace, and instead attempts to split Antony and Cleopatra; Cleopatra, he decrees, will remain Queen of Egypt unmolested if she but kills Antony. Cleopatra refuses, and Caesar's army meets Antony's on land—resulting in a victory for Antony. The two armies withdraw to resume the fight the next day.
When another Egyptian retreat decides the day for Caesar, Antony accuses Cleopatra of treachery and threatens her life. To save herself, she flees to her tomb and has her servants bring word that she has killed herself. This pushes Antony over the edge, and he falls on his own sword, mortally wounding himself. He lives long enough, however, for the servants to bring him to Cleopatra, and the two once again profess their love before Antony breathes his last. Caesar, upon hearing the news of Antony's death, grieves for the loss of his rival and onetime friend. To Cleopatra he promises mercy, although he intends on humiliating her as a war captive. Cleopatra, recognizing his aims, secures an asp hidden in a fruit basket and uses its venomous bite to kill herself. Caesar decrees that Antony and Cleopatra be buried together as a posthumous act of kindness.

[Quoted from Shakespeare Resource Center]

1. Who is the protagonist of the play and why?
2. What is Antony's fatal flaw? Give four specific examples of how it leads to his downfall.
3. Fully describe Cleopatra's character and her relationship to Antony.
4. Why does Antony marry Octavia? Why is the marriage doomed from the beginning?
5. Compare and contrast the characters of Antony and Caesar?
6. What is Caesar's main goal in the play? What excuse does he use to move against Antony?
7. How and why does Caesar rid himself of Lepidus? What is the irony of Caesar's criticism of the weak Triumvir?
8. Why does Enobarbus grow disillusioned with Antony and eventually desert him? Why does he kill himself? What does his death foreshadow?  
9. When does the climax of the play occur? Why is it the climax?
10. Why is the play a tragedy?
11. Compare and contrast the worlds of Rome and Egypt?
12. How is the play unified in spite of its many settings and fast action?
13. What is the main theme of the play and how is it developed?
14. List the major historical truths presented in the play.

[Quoted from Monkey Notes]

Anthony and Cleopatra Chat & Discussion