# Menas — Antony and Cleopatra character guide

> Menas in Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Menas Caesar, Menas Aside, Menas Enobarbus

**First appearance:** 0008-act-ii-scene-i

## Snapshot

A pirate-turned-commander under Pompey, blunt and opportunistic, whose ruthless instincts expose the cutthroat logic beneath Rome's noble posturing.

## Who they are

Menas serves Sextus Pompey as a naval captain, bringing the practical cunning of a former pirate into a war being waged by men who prefer to dress ambition in honor. He watches the triumvirs negotiate and sees only targets, a perspective that throws the play's political theater into sharp relief. His willingness to act where others merely scheme makes him a quiet threat to the fragile peace Antony and Caesar keep trying to construct.

## Relationships

### [Pompey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/pompey)

_professional_

Menas is a pirate captain and subordinate ally to Pompey, serving as his military commander.

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

_rivalry_

Antony and Menas are enemies on opposing sides of the Roman civil conflict, with Menas serving Pompey.

### [Iras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/iras)

_social_

Iras and Menas are minor characters on opposite sides of the conflict, with limited direct interaction.

### [Agrippa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/agrippa)

_rivalry_

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

### [Cleopatra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/cleopatra)

_rivalry_

Cleopatra and Menas are on opposing sides, as Menas serves Pompey who fights against Antony and Cleopatra.

### [Pompey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/pompey)

_professional_

Menas is a pirate captain and subordinate ally to Pompey, serving as his military commander.

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

_rivalry_

Antony and Menas are enemies on opposing sides of the Roman civil conflict, with Menas serving Pompey.

### [Agrippa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/agrippa)

_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_

Antony and Menas are enemies on opposing sides of the Roman civil conflict, with Menas serving Pompey.

### [Pompey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/pompey)

_professional_

Menas is a pirate captain and subordinate ally to Pompey, serving as his military commander.

### [Iras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/iras)

_social_

Iras and Menas are minor characters on opposite sides of the conflict, with limited direct interaction.

### [Iras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/iras)

_social_

Iras and Menas are minor characters on opposite sides of the conflict, with limited direct interaction.

## In the story

### [Scene I: Pompey's House in Messina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Reports intelligence about Caesar and Lepidus being in the field, and speculates on the strained relations between Caesar and Antony.

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

Stays behind with Enobarbus, criticizing the treaty and discussing the political implications of Antony's marriage.

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

Proposes to Pompey that he murder the triumvirs to gain the world; after Pompey's refusal, he resolves to abandon him.

## Links

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