48 pages 1 hour read

William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1607

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Act IV

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Act IV, Scenes 1-2 Summary

Caesar refuses Antony’s challenge of single-combat. Caesar’s advisor believes that Antony will fight to the bitter end due to his rage, and so Caesar should take advantage of his irrational and distracted state. Caesar orders his army to prepare for battle tomorrow and to find men who previously served Antony.

Back at Antony’s camp, Antony rewards his followers and prepares for a night of rich feasting. He graciously thanks the men who have followed him, but says that they will likely serve another master soon. This causes his followers to weep, even the disloyal Enobarbus. Antony tells the soldiers not to shed tears and assures them that he intends to lead them to victory tomorrow.

Act IV, Scenes 3-5 Summary

Antony’s soldiers discuss the coming battle the next morning when they hear strange music mysteriously emanating from under the earth. One soldier speculates that it is a favorable sign, while another soldier interprets it as a bad sign that Antony’s favorite god Hercules is abandoning him.

The next morning, Antony wakes up and puts on his armor. Cleopatra asks him to sleep later, but he refuses, and so she helps to put on his armor. As Antony leaves for battle, Cleopatra wishes Caesar had accepted the deal to fight one-on-one.

Related Titles

By William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

All's Well That Ends Well

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

As You Like It

William Shakespeare

As You Like It

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Cymbeline

William Shakespeare

Cymbeline

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Henry IV, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry IV, Part 2

William Shakespeare

Henry IV, Part 2

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VIII

William Shakespeare

Henry VIII

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VI, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 1

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

Henry VI, Part 3

William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 3

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare

Plot Summary
logo

King John

William Shakespeare

King John

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

King Lear

William Shakespeare

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

Love's Labour's Lost

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Measure For Measure

William Shakespeare

Measure For Measure

William Shakespeare

STUDY + TEACHING GUIDE
logo

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare

Study Guide
logo

Othello

William Shakespeare

Othello

William Shakespeare