Act 3 of Antony and Cleopatra is the turning point of the play, because it contains the breakdown of the peace, the battle of Actium and the first great fall in Antony’s fortune. Caesar turns on his partners, Antony leaves Octavia for Cleopatra, and the lovers lose the sea battle after Cleopatra’s ships flee. This page gives a scene-by-scene summary of Act 3, an analysis of its main ideas and the key quotes to remember. To see how the story reached this point, read the Act 2 summary.

Act 3 Summary by Scene

Scenes 1 to 3: Syria, Rome and Alexandria

The act opens in Syria, where Antony’s general Ventidius has defeated the Parthians. His officer urges him to chase the enemy, but Ventidius refuses. He fears that a general who wins too much will lose favour if he earns too much glory while his master is away, so he stops the chase. Therefore, the scene shows how dangerous it is to outshine Antony or Caesar.

In Rome, Caesar says goodbye to his sister Octavia as she leaves for Athens with Antony. Next, he warns Antony not to harm the bond between them, and Antony promises to give him no cause for fear. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, Cleopatra questions the messenger about Octavia again and feels calmer once he describes her as plain.

Scenes 4 to 6: Athens and Rome

In Athens, Antony complains that Caesar has waged war on Pompey and spoken against him in public. After that, Octavia pleads with him and asks to act as a go-between for her husband and her brother, and Antony lets her go. Then Eros tells Enobarbus that Caesar has used Lepidus in the war and then imprisoned him, and that Pompey is dead. Enobarbus replies bitterly that the world now has two great jaws, Antony and Caesar, who will grind each other. Soon, in Rome, Caesar tells his friends that Antony has returned to Cleopatra and has publicly given her and her children kingdoms. Octavia arrives, and Caesar scolds her for coming home without a proper show of state. She says that she came of her own will, but he tells her that Antony has abandoned her for Cleopatra, and he comforts her.

Scenes 7 to 10: The Battle of Actium

Antony and Caesar prepare for war. Then, Cleopatra insists on taking part in the fight, and Enobarbus argues that a woman should not be there. Antony ignores his friend and decides to fight at sea, although his officers say that his strength lies on land. Antony’s ships are heavy and crewed by untrained men, while Caesar’s ships are lighter and better handled.

During the battle, Cleopatra’s ships suddenly turn and flee. Next, Antony follows her and leaves his own fleet and army behind. Scarus and Enobarbus describe the disaster, and they are shocked that a great soldier ran from the fight. After that, Canidius, one of Antony’s commanders, goes over to Caesar. Enobarbus considers leaving too, but he decides to follow Antony’s wounded fortune, even though his reason tells him to go.

Scenes 11 to 13: Shame and Anger

In Alexandria, Antony is sunk in shame. Soon, he tells his followers to take his treasure and leave him. When Cleopatra comes, he reproaches her for leading him into the disaster, but he forgives her at once and tells her that one of her tears is worth everything he has won and lost. Later, he sends a message to Caesar asking for a quiet life.

At Caesar’s camp, Antony’s old schoolmaster, now his ambassador, presents Antony’s request. Caesar refuses it. Then, he sends a different reply to Cleopatra, promising to hear her if she drives Antony out of Egypt. Caesar sends Thidias to carry the message.

Back in Alexandria, Cleopatra seems willing to listen to Caesar’s offer. Next, Thidias kisses her hand, and Antony enters and sees it. He orders Thidias to be whipped and turns on Cleopatra with a furious speech, accusing her of treachery. After that, she defends herself, and Antony slowly calms down. He decides to fight again and challenges Caesar. Soon, Enobarbus, watching all this, decides that Antony’s judgment is failing and says he will look for a way to leave him.

Analysis of Act 3

The turning point of the play

Act 3 is where the story changes direction. Before this act, Antony still holds a position of great power. After Actium, he is a man in retreat. His mistake is a combination of stubborn pride and passion: he rejects good advice, fights on the sea where he is weakest and chases Cleopatra’s ships instead of staying with his men. The cause of his fall lies in his own choices, which is typical of tragedy.

Caesar’s rise

Caesar grows stronger at every step. He defeats Pompey, removes Lepidus and uses Antony’s treatment of Octavia as a reason for war. He does not lose his temper, and he never fights without a plan. The contrast between his control and Antony’s emotion is one of the main ideas of the act. For more on this, see the characters page.

Octavia and the failure of the marriage

Octavia is a victim of the politics around her. She loves both her husband and her brother, and she hopes to keep them together. Antony’s return to Cleopatra proves that the marriage was only a political tool. Caesar then uses his sister’s pain as a reason to attack.

Cleopatra’s role at Actium

The play does not clearly explain why Cleopatra’s ships flee. This gap makes her actions a matter of debate. Some readers see fear, and others see a weakness in her leadership. The play never gives a firm answer, which keeps the audience unsure of her loyalty. This uncertainty drives Antony’s anger in the final scenes of the act and in the next act. Read more on the themes page.

Loyalty under strain

Enobarbus’s doubts begin in this act. He supports Antony after Actium, but each scene gives him more reason to leave. Shakespeare prepares the audience for his desertion in Act 4 by showing how reason and loyalty pull against each other inside him.

Key Quotes from Act 3

• “I have fled myself” (Antony, Scene 11): he feels he has betrayed his own honour.
• “I’ll yet follow the wounded chance of Antony” (Enobarbus, Scene 10): loyalty against reason.
• “I will seek some way to leave him” (Enobarbus, Scene 13): the first sign of desertion.

See the full list on the famous quotes and meanings page.

Practice Context Questions on Act 3

WAEC and NECO test this play through objective context questions, so try these short questions before you read the answers.

• What causes Antony’s defeat at Actium? Answer: Cleopatra’s ships flee, and Antony follows them.
• Who says “I have fled myself”, and what feeling does it show? Answer: Antony speaks, and he feels deep shame.
• Enobarbus’s reason tells him to leave Antony after Actium, but what keeps him there? Answer: His loyalty.
• Whom does Antony order to be whipped, and why? Answer: Thidias, because he kissed Cleopatra’s hand.

Continue Reading

• Act 4 Summary and Analysis
• Act 2 Summary and Analysis
• Plot Summary of Antony and Cleopatra
• Study Guide for WAEC and NECO Practice