Shakespeare introduces us to Antony in his very first scene, which starts and ends with a Roman viewpoint, which entraps Antony's personality inside. Philo is the first on stage and his speech is engulfed in war and duty, "files and musters", "plated", "Mars". This perception that Shakespeare has given us of the Romans is how the audiences is expecting Antony to be but their thoughts are questioned as Philo claims that "The triple pillar of the world transformed into a strumpets fool". Antony was presumed to be strong and empowered is now shown to be so weak as to be brought down by a woman. What Philo has seen confirms his view that Antony has chosen lust rather than military honour. Antony seems equally convinced, " Here is my space", that he has chosen eternal love rather then worldly power. Shakespeare shows us Antony grandly entering the stage with Cleopatra on his arm obviously unashamed of being with Cleopatra and showing their affection towards one another. This entrance once again gives him strength, power and authority but Shakespeare shows us the contrast of his weakness when Cleopatra and Antony begin to talk about their love for each other, "beggary in the love". As soon as a messenger enters and even mentions "News, my lord, from Rome", Antony is quick to become irritable and frustrated as he is woken from his trance of infatuation, "Grates me! The sum". His short temper with the messenger is due to the fact that he has just been reminded about his political duty and his irritated reaction shows the audience the conflict that is set up in his mind by the tension of duty in Rome and pleasure with Cleopatra. He seems unbothered about the news from Rome "Let Rome in Tiber melt" and quickly tries to resume the embrace that he and Cleopatra had been in before the interruption by calling her "Queen" and talking of "love". When dismissing the messenger Antony seems to do it with spite and self-assurance "Speak not to us".
