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Act 3, Scene 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Antony and Cleopatra, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Love, Pleasure, and Decadence
Honor, Loyalty, and Betrayal
Strategy, Manipulation, and Power
Messages, Warnings, and Omens
Gender Roles
Summary
Analysis
In another room of Antony’s house, one of his followers named Eros tells Enobarbus that Octavius and Lepidus have defeated Pompey, but that then Octavius did not let Lepidus “partake in the glory of the action,” and has effectively pushed Lepidus out of power. Enobarbus reflects that the world is now up for grabs between Antony and Octavius, with both Pompey and Lepidus out of the picture. Enobarbus goes to find Antony.
Eros delivers the important message that Octavius has gotten rid of both Lepidus and Pompey. In order to gain power, Octavius has had to essentially betray Lepidus. He now has only Antony as a rival, creating a highly symbolic conflict between Egypt and Rome, east and west.
Themes
