Act 2 Scene 5

Scene Outline
Qn Qgypt, Clqqpqtrq qmqsqs hqrsqlf with her servants Charmian and Mardian, a eunuch. As she reminisces about Antony, likening him to a fish that she has caught, a messenger arrives from Italy. Noting his unhappy expression, Cleopatra fears that Antony is dead and threatens the messenger should he deliver such unwelcome news. The messenger assures the queen that her lover is alive and well, but admits that Antony has married Octavia. Cleopatra strikes the messenger furiously, but he insists that he must tell her the truth. Cleopatra admits that it is beneath her station to treat a menial servant so viciously, but she cannot help upbraiding the man as she forces him to repeat that Antony belongs to another. She finally dismisses the messenger, then sends him orders to go and see Octavia so that he may report her features—how old she is, how she acts, even the color of her hair.

Analysis
In this scene much is shown about Cleopatra's love for Antony. It also shows the psychotic nature of her personality and her ability to abuse her power. The striking of the messenger shows that Cleopatra is irrational and does not face adversity with logic but instead uses emotion. The reader can see this after Cleopatra finds out Antony is married, she exclaims to the messenger "The most infectious pestilence upon thee!" This is an obvious overreaction to the news that has been given and indicates that she is extremely distraught by the news and shows insight into her tempremental nature. However upon closer inspection it also demonstrates the deep love she has for Antony and just how much he meant to her. This is a clear juxtaposition from earlier in the scene where she joked about "laughing him out of patience" and "wagered on her angling". She no longer wants to play him along but instead has fallen in love with him and is angered by his lack of commitment to her