Dichotomy: The Battle Between Antony And Cleopatra

Enobarbus watches the battle on a hillside and recounts that Antony and his forces were narrowly turning the tide of battle when Cleopatra’s ships suddenly decided to retreat. Antony and his forces chase after Cleopatra and the battle is won for Caesar. This example is the most direct instance of Antony exchanging glory though victory for a sacrificial love of Cleopatra. Antony forfeits his pride and glory when he humbly chases Cleopatra instead of fighting Caesar. Due to his retreat and display of shame, his generals and soldiers begin to defect as the very social fabric that held them together disintegrates in the name of love. Acting beyond the Roman virtues held so dearly by his soldier, Antony forgoes his brothers in arms as his love undermines

Whether it be through his actions, the sharing of a final meal with his trusted allies, or the supernatural leaving of the god Hercules, Antony’s deification in this act is highlighted. As Antony realizes all will ultimately be lost in his fight against Caesar, he relegates himself to enjoy a last dinner with his allies who have remained. Jesus, similarly, knew his end was near as the Roman order drew closer and his forces were not adequately prepared to fight them when he called his final meal. The dichotomy between the traditional Roman order and the sacrificial death of Christ seem never more at odds than in this time. The traditional noble ends of the Roman way are opposed with the generosity and sacrifice of Antony as he prepares to lay down his life for his beloved. Furthering this symbolism, Enobarbus’ defection from camp for material gain and protection end with his guilt-ridden suicide in a field by himself, qua Judas. Finally, the night before the battle, soldiers claimed that the supernatural power that had so long accompanied Antony can be felt leaving just as Jesus was left by spirit of God on the

This realignment to Cleopatra is perfectly fitting with the symbolism of Jesus shown throughout this act. Upon hearing that his love has met her ultimate end, Antony is thrashed back into his old ways, aimed at the ends beyond the political community. His paradigm of glory and victory and eradicated in favor of sacrifice and generosity. Antony resolves to kill himself, so Cleopatra might not have to travel through the afterlife alone. Despite the on-going conflict still impacting all those around him, Antony abandons the community’s aim of conquest. Antony’s ascension to Cleopatra as his time on Earth comes to an end, replicates the model of Christ upon his rolling away of the stone blocking his tomb. This contrast of Christianity and the Roman way is unstable and destructive as the mutually exclusive principles