Antony’s character is rooted in his sense of himself, principally in his heroism and virtus. Antony prides himself in his honor, remarking that “if I lose mine honour/I lose myself” (4.3.22-23), thus virtus represents what Antony wants to stand for and what he wants his character to reflect. This is even more apparent in his desire to be a true Roman, comparing himself to Octavius, a leader and cunning fighter. However Antony was once “The triple pillar of the world transformed” but has turned “Into a strumpet’s fool” (1.1.12-13). Antony struggles between these two sides of Rome and Egypt. On one hand, Antony fears his loss of virtus and power from his Roman side but on the other he is trapped by an obsession with Cleopatra on the Egyptian side. Antony’s downfall coincides with his loss of virtus. The contrasting obsessions work against each other so that Antony fails in his attempts to regain his virtus and ultimately defeats himself.
The opposing sides Antony is faced with, Cleopatra and Caesar, representing the west and the east, passion versus power and reason is a main contribution to Antony’s weakening. This theme of opposing sides can be seen distinctly as having effects on Antony’s sense of self since he has responsibilities to each side. These sides are made distinct even at the beginning of the play and continue as important theme to effect Antony’s actions. For example, at the beginning Antony is so wrapped up with Cleopatra that he basically denounces Roman politics saying “Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch/Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space” (1.1.54-55). Antony has abandoned Rome in favor of his desire, Cleopatra, or as Octavius bluntly states Antony “hath given his empire/Up to a whore” (3.6.67-68). This choice catalyzes his downfall since it is wholly connected to his relationships between the triumvirs, mainly Octavius, therefore his position in Rome.
Antony is obsessed with Cleopatra leading Antony further away from his virtus. Though Cleopatra is still renowned for her beauty and wit, she is aging and highly conscious of this; she nevertheless has managed to seduce Antony as she did Julius Caesar. Maecenas comments that “if beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle/The heart of Antony, Octavia is/A blessèd lottery to him” (2.3.246-48). Since Octavia does not, in fact, settle Antony’s heart, it is ascertained that Antony requires something further to do so: Cleopatra. What Cleopatra offers Antony is the feeling of a desire met not beauty, wisdom, or modesty. “I will to Egypt;” Antony remarks, “And though I make this marriage to Octavia for my peace, /I’th’East my pleasure lies” (2.3.39-41). Antony is searching simply for a life of pleasure, to fill his need to feel desired. This presents a rather pathetic character inclined to be controlled by these feelings.
Enobarbus’s description of Cleopatra reflects an account of her behavior that they “cannot call/her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater/storms and tempests than almanacs can report” (1.2.148-50), implying that Cleopatra’s behavior is exaggerated and artificial. Cleopatra’s unrestrained emotions that trap Antony in, reflected by Enobarbus’s continuing comment that “Other women cloy/The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry/Where she most satisfies;” (2.3.241-2). Cleopatra is not like any other woman. This not only an image of a powerful seductress who can control whom she pleases, but that Cleopatra’s power comes from the fact that Antony must feed his obsession. Antony is trapped by Cleopatra and loses all control as he is satisfied only briefly and is left longing for more.
An important moment in Antony’s downfall can be seen as Antony fails to take power back from Cleopatra. At first he unmistakably decides that he should leave Cleopatra to attend to his duties in Rome saying, “I must from this enchanting queen break off. /Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know, /My idleness doth hatch” (1.2.129-31). This statement implies that he realizes Cleopatra is dangerous and that his relationship with her will only end up causing harm. Even with this realization, he is unable to break free from her hold on him, declaring himself her “soldier-servant, making peace or war/As thou affects” (1.3.70-71). Antony is concerned with his virtus and the effect of Cleopatra on him yet he is trapped by his obsession with her. Cleopatra taunts Antony about his love for him and is able to do so effectively so that she gets the reassurance she wants that he loves her. Antony, however, is unsuccessful with that which Cleopatra is. He attempts to taunt her the same way, striving for reassurances that she loves him. He exclaims “Let Cleopatra know’t—/To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head, /And he will fill thy wishes to the brim/With principalities” suggesting that Antony is offering her his own head (3.13.18-21). Antony he wants her to respond with an assertion of her love for him however she responds “That head, my lord? (3.13.22). This leaves Antony in a weak position since he is unable to assert power over Cleopatra or is able to receive reassurances that her love is still discernible. Now that he is not receiving positive feedback from her, Antony is left with an obsession that is slipping away. Antony bases most of his actions on his relationship with Cleopatra. His running after Cleopatra and fleeing the battlefield against Octavius marks a specific decline in his virtus. Scarus comments that he “never saw an action of such shame. /Experience, manhood, honour, ner’er before/Did violate so itself” (3.10.21-23). This exemplifies Antony’s captivity by Cleopatra, that his honor and experience, characteristics that Antony prides have been abandoned and replaced by shameful manners. Antony thus loses his virtue as he loses power over his circumstances and actions, since his actions are now controlled by his desire for Cleopatra. Though Antony pursues his obsession, the fact that he does not receive the reassurances that his actions are rewarding puts him in an unfavorable position. Antony does not know how to deal with this loss of security and attempts to make up for it by asserting his authority.
Antony fears his lose of power and authority “Authority melts from me” (3.13.90). By deciding to fight Octavius by sea, a strategy strongly advised against by Enobarbus, and declaring that he will go against Caesar one on one, Antony overcompensates for his loss of authority, attempting to assert his heroism. Antony struggles to reestablish a pride he has lost to regain his virtus. Instead of acting nobly as a Roman strategist, Antony attempts everything in his power to win and be heroic. He wants to think that what used to be his virtus is always with him and that he will regain it if he just fights Octavius. However, with these actions and subsequent failure his virtus does not, in fact, return to him rather is further taken away.
Antony’s relationship with Octavius is based on Antony’s obsession to prove equally honorable to him. Such a feeling is clearly important to Antony since his character wants to embody virtus. Antony asks the Soothsayer “whose fortunes shall rise higher,/Caesar’s, or mine?” to which the Soothsayer replies “Caesar’s./Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side./Thy daemon – that thy spirit which keep thee – is/Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,/Where Caesar’s is not. But near him they angel/Becomes afeared, as being o’erpowered.” (2.3.16-23). Antony’s pathetic and desperate attempt to prove equal to Caesar is also shown in Caesar’s remark that “He calls me boy, and chides he had the power/To beat me out of Egypt” (4.1.1-2). Antony insists on fighting Octavius by sea even though Enobarbus explains logically why it would be unwise. Enobarbus says that Antony will “throw away/The absolute soldiership he has by land” if he fights by sea (3.7.41-42). The fact that Antony is not trying for the “soldiership” he has by land, but to match the power Octavius has gained by succeeding on sea. Enobarbus furthermore observes that Antony will now “outstare the lightning. To be furious/Is to be frighted out of fear, /…/and I see still/A diminution in our captain’s brain/Restores his heart.” (3.13.194-198). This demonstrates the connection between Antony’s actions and restoring “his heart,” or rather his feeling of power. Antony even takes the idea of honor to the death. Eros and supposedly Cleopatra have killed themselves to which Antony responds “My queen and Eros/Have by their brave instruction got upon me/A nobleness in record” (4.14.98-99). Antony therefore attempts, and fails, to kill himself to achieve the nobleness he perceives has been reached by the others, however he is yet again unsuccessful at regaining his virtus.
Antony spirals downward from power and virtus. Though Antony fears this downfall, he is conflicted with an obsession that contrasts and overpowers his attempts to maintain his virtus. With this loss Antony ultimately defeats himself: “So it should be, that none but Antony/Should conquer Antony, but woe ‘tis so!” (4.15.16-17). Antony is represented by an obsession to prove powerful, reflected in his relationship between Cleopatra and Octavius. Therefore, with these obsessions, Antony is caught up with and loses his virtus.