Dec 4, 2008

Antony and Cleopatra | Act III, Scene 1: Summary and Analysis

New Character:
Silius: friend of Antony and soldier in Antony’s army commanded by Ventidius

Summary
Scene 1 takes place in Syria, probably on a plain near the battlefield. Ventidius, commanding Mark Antony’s army, has won a significant battle against Orodes, king of Parthia. His troops bear the body of Pacorus, Orodes’ son, as a symbol of victory. (The battle constituted revenge against the Parthians for the treacherous murder of Marcus Crassus, a member of the first triumvirate of Rome.) Ventidius is urged to pursue his triumph to conquer adjacent regions, but he...