Act 2 Scene 6

## Scene Outline

Before waging a war, Pompey and the triumvirs hold a meeting. Pompey tells Caesar, Lepidus, and Antony that he is fighting to avenge his father, whose defeat by Julius Caesar led him into Egypt, where he was killed. Antony informs Pompey that despite the latter’s strength at sea, the triumvirs’ army will prevail. The three offer Pompey rule over Sicily and Sardinia should he agree to rid the sea of pirates and to send payments of wheat to Rome as a tax. Pompey admits that he was ready to accept this offer until Antony offended him by refusing to acknowledge the hospitality he showed Antony’s mother on her recent visit to Sicily. Antony assures Pompey that he intended to offer a gracious thanks, at which the men shake hands and make peace.

Pompey invites the Romans aboard his ship for dinner, and the triumvirs join him. Enobarbus and Menas stay behind discussing their military careers, the current political situation, and Antony’s marriage to Octavia. Enobarbus repeats that he is sure Antony will inevitably return to Egypt. After the talk, the two go to dinner.

## Symbolism

Menas: "All men's faces are true..." (II vi 99)
Enobarbus: "But there is never a fair woman has a true face" (II vi 100)
These quotes illustrate the misogynistic opinion of the Romans that only men are capable of being honest whilst women may be beautiful but they can never be genuine and are ultimately false.This symbolizes the Roman perception that Cleopatra is a malicious seductress who has wrongly convinced Antony that their 'love' is greater than his duty to Rome. The allure of women is to conceal their apparent falseness as Enobarbus agrees with Menas that all men are honest yet women are deceptive as demonstrated by Cleopatra's corruption of Antony. However, their comments are ironic as Antony has disgraced Rome and abandoned honour and duty in favour of pleasure. Thus it is conveyed that not all men's "..faces are true" As Antony has not acted in an honourable way.

## Analysis

Pompey is unable to withstand the power of the united Triumvirate but before conceding to the peace terms offered, rule over Sicily and Sardinia, he demands to be given thanks for his hospitality to Antony's mother. As when his "mother came to Sicily..." to find "her welcome friendly" (II vi 45-46) Pompey is infuriated that Antony has not acknowledged his kindness and this is a matter of pride. Pompey is aware that he cannot overcome the force of the Triumvirate now that all members are united in the west yet he cannot agree to peace terms without a sense of validation, in the form of a generous apology from Antony that reconciles Pompey.

Enobarbus and Menas converse in prose, discussing each others skill and the falseness of women. Menas is ambitious and is growing disillusioned with Pompey who in his perception has failed to meet the standards set by his legendary father, Pompey the Great, who "...would ne'er have made this treaty" (II vi 84) This illustrates the weakness of Pompey in comparison to his father and demonstrates how he lacks the skill and confidence to strive for victory. By conceding his greatest strength of the navy and accepting the terms offered by the Triumvirate, Pompey has ultimately failed in his pursuit for victory in a dishonourable way as implied through Menas' dissatisfaction over the treaty.

Enobarbus once again predicts that Antony's marriage to Octavia will fail to entice him to avoid the lure of Cleopatra. Ocatvius' anger at the inevitable betrayal of his beloved sister will be, in Enobarbus' opinion, a cause for a great war between Octavius and Antony.