Antony and Cleopatra Character Analysis

Mark Antony

One of the title characters of the play, Antony is a powerful Roman who is a member of the so-called second triumvirate, the group of three men who controlled Rome in the late first century… read analysis of Mark Antony

Cleopatra

The queen of Egypt, Cleopatra is a powerful woman who wears her sexuality on her sleeve. She can be impetuous and capricious, jumping from one emotion to another (especially early in the play), and often… read analysis of Cleopatra

Octavius Caesar

The adoptive son of Julius Caesar, who would later go on to be called Augustus and establish the Roman Empire. In the play, he is a strong, powerful, self-restrained man. After dealing with Pompey and… read analysis of Octavius Caesar

Lepidus

The third member of the triumvirate, Lepidus is noticeably weaker than both Antony and Octavius. On Pompey’s boat, he gets so drunk that he has to be carried off by servants. After the defeat… read analysis of Lepidus

Sextus Pompey

The son of Pompey the Great, and an enemy of Lepidus, Octavius, and Antony. As a common enemy of all three members of the triumvirate, he ensures the continuing alliance between Antony… read analysis of Sextus Pompey

Octavia

The sister of Octavius. After the death of his wife Fulvia, Antony marries Octavia. She does not seem to realize, though, that he has no intentions of leaving Cleopatra, and is only… read analysis of Octavia

Enobarbus

One of Antony’s advisors and followers, who, over the course of the play, begins to doubt Antony. He finally decides that his own survival is more important than loyalty to Antony, and deserts him for… read analysis of Enobarbus

Minor Characters

Menas

One of Pompey’s followers. When Octavius, Lepidus, and Antony are all drinking on Pompey’s boat, Menas tries to persuade Pompey to kill all of them, thereby seizing power of Rome. Pompey refuses, and Menas is so frustrated by his master’s lack of ambition that he decides to leave Pompey.

Menecrates

One of Pompey’s followers.

Varrius

One of Pompey’s men, who informs him that Antony has left Egypt for Rome in act two.

Fulvia

Antony’s wife, who never appears in the play, but is mentioned as waging battle against Octavius. After her death, Antony marries Octavius’ sister Octavia.

Ventidius

One of Antony’s commanders, who defeats the Parthians in battle. He decides not to pursue the fleeing Parthians, as he doesn’t want to achieve too much and risk rivaling Antony’s power.

Eros

One of Antony’s loyal men, who attends on Cleopatra and him. Antony asks for Eros to stab him, but Eros can’t do this, and instead stabs himself, earning Antony's respect.

Canidius

One of Antony’s commanders, who leads his land forces at Actium.

Silius

One of Antony’s soldiers, who talks with Ventidius in act three.

Scarus

One of Antony’s soldiers, who is present both at Actium and at Antony’s later victory in Act 4.

Dercetas

One of Antony’s soldiers, who goes to Octavius to tell him of Antony’s death and pledges his allegiance to Octavius.

Demetrius

One of Antony’s soldiers.

Philo

One of Antony’s soldiers, who worries about Antony’s excessive love for Cleopatra early in the play.

Ambassador

An ambassador sent by Antony to Octavius, to ask him to let Antony live either in Egypt or Athens if he should surrender.

Charmian

One of Cleopatra’s servants, who kills herself with an asp after Cleopatra does so.

Iras

One of Cleopatra’s servants, who stays with her until she dies just before Cleopatra commits suicide.

Alexas

One of Cleopatra’s servants.

Mardian

A eunuch in Cleopatra’s court.

Seleucus

Cleopatra’s treasurer, who appears in the final scene of the play.

Diomedes

One of Cleopatra’s servants, who comes to Antony after he has stabbed himself, and tells him that Cleopatra is not dead, as Antony thought, but actually alive.

Maecenas

One of Octavius’ advisors.

Agrippa

One of Octavius’ commanders.

Taurus

One of Octavius’ commanders, who leads his forces at the battle of Actium.

Thidias

A messenger that Octavius sends to try to persuade Cleopatra to betray Antony and join him.

Dolabella

One of Octavius’ followers, who takes pity on Cleopatra in Act 5 and admits to her that Octavius actually plans to parade her in his triumph.

Gallus

A commander under Octavius.

Proculeius

One of Octavius’ soldiers, who tries to persuade Cleopatra not to commit suicide, by lying and saying that Octavius has no plans to humiliate her as a prisoner in his triumph.

Messengers

Throughout the play, numerous messengers appear and deliver news to Antony, Cleopatra, and others.

Soothsayer

A fortune-teller, who predicts early in the play that Antony will have a lesser fortune than Octavius, and warns Antony to stay away from Octavius.