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Comment on the portrayal of Antony and Cleopatra and your responses to them in the first three scenes of the play.
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Comment on the portrayal of Antony and Cleopatra and your responses to them in the first three scenes of the play. The play opens in Cleopatra's palace. Two of Antony's friends, Philo and Demetrius discuss how Antony has become the "bellows and the fan to cool a gypsy's lust" and that he has become a "strumpets fool". In his opening lines, Philo complains that Antony has abandoned the military endeavours on which his reputation is based for Cleopatra's sake. This criticism of Antony's "dotage" or stupidity, introduces a tension between reason and emotion that runs throughout the play. Antony and Cleopatra's first exchange heightens this tension, as they argue whether their love can be put into words and understand or whether it exceeds such faculties and boundaries of reason. Philo and Demetrius stand aside as Antony and Cleopatra enter. Antony and Cleopatra talk of love and Antony says, "There's beggary in...
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