Antony and Cleopatra · Chapter
Scene VI explained
At Misenum, the triumvirs (Caesar, Antony, Lepidus) meet Pompey to negotiate a truce.
What happens
At Misenum, the triumvirs (Caesar, Antony, Lepidus) meet Pompey to negotiate a truce. Pompey accepts their offer of Sicily and Sardinia in exchange for clearing pirates and sending wheat to Rome. The leaders agree to feast aboard Pompey's galley. After the main party exits, Menas and Enobarbus remain behind, discussing the treaty and Antony's marriage to Octavia, which they suspect will ultimately cause conflict between Antony and Caesar.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Antony’s degradation: he…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Power and Ambition
The negotiation highlights the political maneuvering and power struggles among Pompey, the triumvirs, and their allies.
- Betrayal and Trust
Menas and Enobarbus discuss the fragile trust in the alliance, predicting that Antony's marriage to Octavia will lead to betrayal.
- Love vs. Duty
Enobarbus suggests Antony married Octavia out of political duty rather than love, and will return to Cleopatra, creating future conflict.
Characters to notice
- Pompey
Negotiates a truce with the triumvirs, accepting their offer but expressing resentment over his father's treatment.
- Mark Antony
Participates in the negotiations and is teased by Pompey about his time in Egypt; later discussed by Menas and Enobarbus regarding his marriage to Octavia.
- Octavius Caesar
Leads the triumvirs in the negotiations, presenting their terms to Pompey.
- Lepidus
Present as a triumvir, attempts to keep the discussion on track.
- Enobarbus
Remains after the main party to converse with Menas, revealing skepticism about Antony's marriage and the stability of the alliance.
- Menas
Stays behind with Enobarbus, criticizing the treaty and discussing the political implications of Antony's marriage.
- Mecaenas
Present among the triumvirs' retinue during the negotiations.
Key passages
“Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty.”
Your father would never have agreed to such a compromise.
Menas criticizes Pompey for accepting the truce, implying it is a sign of weakness.
“If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.”
If I had to predict the outcome of this alliance, I wouldn't be optimistic.
Enobarbus expresses doubt about the lasting nature of the bond between Caesar and Antony.
“He married but his occasion here.”
He married only for political convenience.
Enobarbus explains that Antony's marriage to Octavia was a strategic move, not a romantic one.
