Daily+Update

As you read, please keep me updated with a daily log of what you have read as well as your thoughts on the play.

**__April 13th, 2012: Scene 1 Act 1__**
As //Julius Caesar// ended with having Antony looking down upon the body of Brutus, Shakespeare, allowed for multiple endings. I personally thought that the ending was brilliant and have had some conclusions myself. In //Antony and Cleopatra,// Shakespeare started with a bang that led to one of the conflicts in the play; which allowed me to daydream about how this 'conflict' would effect everyone else. Antony was considered by most a hero and kind ruler, but when he became romantically involved with an Egyptian queen he started to lose his supporters and it has showed up in the first couple lines of the play. //"Nay, but this dotage of our general’s// //O’erflows the measure."// //"And is become the bellows and the fan// //To cool a gypsy’s lust."// (No Fear Shakespeare, SparkNotes LLC)

__**April 14th, 2012: Scene 1 Act 2**__
Civil unrest becomes a unforgiving problem for Antony and his followers. They had a duty, but love seemed to push it all away. The conflicts didn't disappear, they were just forgotten for the time being. Cleopatra already showed signs of making Antony's love into a game of hide-and-go-seek. Her attendants and minister sought their future with the fortune teller who claimed someone was going to have a cheating wife. Cleopatra's attendants also had their minds set that they wanted to live longer than her and have a better future. They all wanted good news and if not they threatened to turn the fortune teller in for witchcraft. Does it change anything if the fortune teller lies to save them the grief of knowing their unsettled future? Antony on the other hand was dealing with the present as his feelings for Cleopatra made him worrisome. He also wished that he would've never seen Cleopatra and decided to go back to Rome after hearing about his wife, Fulvia's, death. The unfortunate events that were caused by his wife and brother in Italy brought more issues that Antony could handle. How could something so beautiful cause so much hardship? Why would it want to? __**April 16th, 2012: Scene 1 Act 3**__ Cleopatra awaited her undicided future as she had a conflict with what to do next with her game of loving Antony and how to make him believe he was truly in love with her. Her attendants advised otherwise with her tactics and suggest letting Antony having his way. She believed being that way would be the easiest way to lose a man though. Some of her weaknesses seemed to be patients and understanding as she had a fit after hearing of Antony's acceptance to return to Rome. Even when Antony told her about Fulvia's death she questioned his loyalty. Did he not love her as much as she thinks? Why would he leave her when she obviously was ill? (sarcasm) Her fit was childish and soon angered Antony as he explained what he was going to do back to Rome. Before he left he stated that they would never be seperated because their love was stronger than the boundaries that could block them from being together. //"Our separation so abides and flies// //That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,// //And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.// //Away!"// (No Fear Shakespeare, SparkNotes LLC) Octavius Caesar didn't let what Antony was doing slide by without question. He described Antony as a warrior who gave his all and suffered worse than any servant in their lands. But he was neglecting his duties and instead drank his life and power down in Alexandria with Cleopatra. Lepidus seemed less accusing than Caesar, not stating that he was betraying Rome or allowing Pompey to take advantage of their delay that threatened Italy. All they could do was hope that Antony would return to Rome soon and combine their forces to defeat the Parthians. But only one question remains; 'Will Antony stay in Rome when he returns even if Cleopatra is stationed in Alexandria?' Or will their be a worse outcome? Antony had started his journey back to Rome as Cleopatra dreamed her life away with questions that couldn't be answered. She wanted to know everything he was doing and even as her minister, Alexas, gave her a pearl from Antony as a symbol of extending her empire. She would then be called 'queen' and respected, but Cleopatra fantasized further with what being with Antony again would be like. She marvoled over her past affairs with both Julius Caesar and Pompey, saying she didn't know what love was back then. Only now she finally understood the truth of what love could bring. In return she engraved her mark of love in a letter, sealing her 'deal' with Antony. //"My salad days,// //When I was green in judgment, cold in blood,// //To say as I said then. But, come, away.// //Get me ink and paper.// //He shall have every day a several greeting,// //Or I’ll unpeople Egypt."// (No Fear Shakespeare, SparkNotes LLC)
 * __April 17th, 2012: Scene 1 Act 4__**
 * __April 17th, 2012: Scene 1 Act 5__**