Enobarbus’ Description Of Cleopatra In Her Barge

4 Pages 998 Words

In this scene Enobarbus tells the story of how Antony met Cleopatra. The way Enobarbus describes her contrasts sharply with the earlier conversation with the Triumvirs. The Roman’s seem harsh and strict in their political discussion whilst the imagery of Cleopatra in her seductive world makes us understand why Antony is attracted to her. Earlier on in Act 2, Anthony agreed to marry Octavia, Caesar’s sister to seal his alliance with Caesar. This is a sharp contrast also as Octavia is the opposite of Cleopatra, humble and unexciting. It is mentioned again towards the end of the scene, Octavia is described as ‘modest’, something that Cleopatra can never be, although Antony seems to like this in her and after having a taste of her, it does not seem as though he will ever be able to be satisfied with Octavia.
Enobarbus describes Cleopatra as a very captivating woman who lives her life almost as if in a fantasy in a romantic and poetic world. He describes the surroundings in which she sat on her barge and the words that he uses help us to imagine the idyllic setting she had. ‘The poop was beaten gold’, ‘the oars were silver’ and ‘cloth of gold – of tissue’ all make us believe that the barge was very grand and fit for a queen. Cleopatra is also made out to be like a goddess in lines 209-211 ‘In her pavilion – cloth of gold, of tissue – O’erpicturing that Venus where we see the fancy outwork of nature’. Venus was the goddess of love and this simile is well placed when talking about Cleopatra, as she is known for being a temptress. This line continues on to tell us that the boys on either side of her where like ‘smiling cupids’ and a couple of lines down at 216 her gentlewomen are ‘like the Nereides’ (sea nymphs). One of her attendants also seems to be dressed as a mermaid and appears to be at the helm of the barge. This all ties in with the effect of Cleopatra being goddess-like and now her servants ar...