ecision to go home to Rome. Because they were married and Antony is an important official he could be held responsible for her actions no matter how rash. He uses the image of a driver herding someone or something in a chosen direction when he says, "shoved." He, being the driver who could have steered Fulvia on less drastic paths, has failed her. He chose pleasure by staying away from his wife and commitments so it is now that he will return to his duty and leave Cleopatra who represents that pleasure. He curses himself for being weak enough to choose the earthly pleasure she symbolizes when he mentions the many harms his "idleness" has caused. Antony will often be put on the position to choose one or the other opposing worlds, and the consequences of his actions will be great. It is possible that he knows of these consequences, and that this plagues him, hinders or drives on his decisions.
             Enobarbus, whom Antony calls to after the death of his
             wife, presents an interesting and difficult situation by showing Antony he does have other options. He tells Antony that the situation is not as dire as the general may think when he says,
             When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a
             man from him, it shows to the man the tailors of the
             earth; comforting therein, that when the old robes are worn out, there are members to make them new. If there
             were no more women that Fulvia, then had you
             indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented. This grief
             is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings
             forth a new petticoat... (1.2.178-185)
             Here Enobarbus shows the reader that due to the fact that Antony is struggling to choose between his Rome and decadent Egypt, his wife is fortunately dead and he is free to have his life the way he wishes. To live in the land of milk and honey by choosing Egypt. The 'old smock' not only rep
             ...