Study Questions
1. Why did Mark Antony return to Rome from Egypt?

2. What reasons did he give Octavius for not returning sooner?

3. Name two major accusations Octavius brought against Antony.

4. Why was Lepidus anxious to prevent any antagonism between Octavius and Antony from developing?

5. From which character(s), other than Enobarbus, did Lepidus receive the most help in allaying the controversy between the two men?

6. For what comment was Enobarbus severely rebuked by Antony, and why?

7. Why did Agrippa want Octavia to marry Antony?

8. What was Antony’s comment about Fulvia when Octavius commented derogatorily on her actions?

9. In the opening Scene of Act II, Menas says: “Know, worthy Pompey/That what they [the great gods] do delay they do not deny.” What does Menas mean and what argument does he use to explain why the great gods act as they do?

10. Referring to Silvius, Pompey says, “He dreams.” Why does Pompey think Silvius is dreaming instead of accurately reporting the situation?

Answers
1. Octavius and Lepidus, faced with warfare against Sextus Pompeius (Pompey), thought their chances of victory would be greatly increased if Antony were there to command the troops.

2. Antony said that his presence in Rome was not really required earlier than when he actually returned, that Cleo¬patra’s love and charms had intoxicated him, and that he did return to Rome as soon as he thought he really was needed there.

3. Octavius charged Antony with not preventing the rebellion of his wife and his brother against Rome and not fulfilling his vow to come to the aid of the other triumvirs when they needed his aid.

4. Lepidus knew that victory over the rebel Pompey would be much more difficult if Antony and Octavius could not resolve their differences and put up a united front against the common enemy, Pompey.

5. Mecenas politely asked the triumvirs to put aside their differences, and Agrippa proposed marriage between Antony and Octavius’ daughter Octavia.

6. Enobarbus told the triumvirs that “You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.” Antony considered it wholly inappropriate for a mere soldier to so address his betters (the triumvirs).

7. Agrippa wanted Octavia to marry Antony because he thought such a marriage would solidify the triumvirate and deepen the relationship between Antony and Octavius. The marriage had exactly the opposite effect.

8. Antony said that no man could control Fulvia’s actions, not even her husband.

9. Menas reminds his superior, Pompey, that a delay in the gods’ answering prayer does not mean their refusal to answer it, and, furthermore, often we ask the gods for things that would harm rather than help us. In such a case, the gods’ refusal to answer would be for our own good.

10. Silvius apparently said that Octavius (Caesar) and Lepidus are “in the field,” that is, leading an army to attack Pompey. Pompey, however, cannot believe that Antony would leave Cleopatra and Egypt to fight against his forces; he believes without Antony’s help, Octavius and Lepidus would be afraid to attack him.