The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra Transformation Quotes

Antony rails against himself for becoming a different person—he’s just fled the sea battle chasing after Cleopatra, and he admits he’s no longer a respectable soldier. Further, even his transformation into old age rebels against him—his wiser side (white hairs) condemns his youth (brown hairs) for their rashness, and his youth condemns his age for its cowardice in the battle, and the fact that his age lets his affection for Cleopatra overpower his strength and nobility.

Antony flies into a passionate rage. It seems, having seen that Cleopatra is capable of betraying him, he is transformed. He realizes that he hasn’t judged clearly, and has been acting a fool for love. Worse, he admits that he transformed himself into something of a vagrant. He could’ve had children with the nice Octavia at home and made some very legitimate heirs, but he’s disgraced himself in Egypt with Cleopatra instead.

Enobarbus hits on the great change that’s come over Antony—he has just flown into a murderous rage over Cleopatra’s betrayal, had a man beaten within an inch of his life, forgiven Cleopatra, called for wine, and resolved to murder so many people that he’ll compete with Death itself. Antony’s valor has gotten the better of him. He has forgotten his fear of death, and seems to have forgotten his reason.