# Agrippa — Antony and Cleopatra character guide

> Agrippa in Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Agrippa O Antony, noble Agrippa, Agrippa Good Enobarbus, Agrippa Caesar

**First appearance:** 0009-act-ii-scene-ii

## Snapshot

Caesar's trusted general and diplomat, whose smooth proposal of Antony's marriage to Octavia sets the play's political machinery in motion.

## Who they are

Agrippa moves easily between camps, greeting Enobarbus with warmth and speaking for Caesar when a delicate suggestion is needed. It is his idea to marry Antony to Octavia, a stroke of statecraft delivered as friendship, and he watches with satisfaction as the two rivals clasp hands. His competence and affability make him the face of Roman pragmatism, the world of calculable advantage that Antony keeps trying and failing to leave behind.

## Relationships

### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony)

_rivalry_

Agrippa is a loyal general to Octavius Caesar and a direct military and political adversary of Mark Antony.

### [Octavia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/octavia)

_friendship_

Agrippa is a loyal supporter of Octavius and thus allied with Octavia, his sister, in the political struggle.

### [Menas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/menas)

_rivalry_

Agrippa and Menas are military commanders on opposing sides of the Roman civil war.

### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony)

_rivalry_

Agrippa is a loyal general to Octavius Caesar and a direct military and political adversary of Mark Antony.

### [Menas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/menas)

_rivalry_

Agrippa and Menas are military commanders on opposing sides of the Roman civil war.

### [Octavia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/octavia)

_friendship_

Agrippa is a loyal supporter of Octavius and thus allied with Octavia, his sister, in the political struggle.

### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony)

_rivalry_

Agrippa is a loyal general to Octavius Caesar and a direct military and political adversary of Mark Antony.

### [Menas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/menas)

_rivalry_

Agrippa and Menas are military commanders on opposing sides of the Roman civil war.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Proposes Antony's marriage to Octavia to secure alliance.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

Mentions that Mark Antony will only briefly kiss Octavia before following.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Engages in banter with Enobarbas about Lepidus's loyalties and observes Caesar's emotional state.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi)

Agrippa comments on Antony's insolence and advises that Caesar's accusations should be answered.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Present with Caesar in the camp.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi)

Receives Caesar's orders to begin the fight and to place the revolted soldiers in the vanguard.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii)

Commands a retreat, acknowledging that Caesar's forces are overextended.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Comments on the strange necessity of lamenting our most persisted deeds and praises Antony's rare spirit.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/agrippa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters