Director's Key Moments (RSC)

act 1 sc3

• Ant learns Fulvia is dead and that Sextus Pompeius is plotting against the triumvirate

• Ant tells Cleo he must return to Rome

1.4

• In Rome, Octavius and Lepidus discuss Ant’s ‘unmanly’ behaviour when in Cleo’s company

2.2

• to prevent a quarrel and to more closely ally himself with Octavius Caesar Ant agrees to marry Octavia

• Enobarbus delivers his famous speech in praise of Cleo

2.6

• As peace is celebrated between the members of the triumvirate and Pompey, Enobarbus predicts that Ant will soon abandon Octavia for Cleo, and thus create dissension between himself and Octavius

3.5

• Octavia returns to Rome to negotiate a truce between her husband and her brother, but there learns that Ant and Cleo have been reunited in Alexandria and have crowned themselves and their children

3.10

• Ant, having ignored advice, fights Octavius at sea. The Egyptian navy flees and he and his forces are defeated

3.13

• Octavius sues for peace with Cleo.

• Ant and Cleo quarrel and Octavius’ messenger is beaten

• Enobarbus decides he must leave Ant’s service

4.12

• Having previously defeated Octavius in a land battle, Ant is again defeated at sea. He blames Cleo

4.14

• in grief over Cleo’s supposed death, Ant plans a noble Roman suicide but fails, leaving himself severely wounded

4.15

• the injured Ant is taken to Cleo’s monument and dies there

• Cleo mourns for what her deception has brought about and plans her own suicide

5.2

• wearing her finest robes and crown, Cleo commits suicide

• Octavius arranges that she and Ant will be buried together