The mood is tense throughout the play. Compassion, sorrow, and an overarching sense of doom permeate the narrative, as the audience watches Antony and Cleopatra war with themselves and each other over the survival of their love, their honor, and their kingdoms. Because their story has been told so many different times, the audience knows the tragic outcome of the play before it even starts, adding a layer of grief to all of the events—a sense of grief that only grows as the drama reaches its inevitable conclusion.
Dryden creatively employs dramatic and situational irony through the play to craft moments of tension and emotional distress rather than comedy. Characters are constantly scheming and trying to trick one another in pursuit of their romantic and political goals. This tactic is particularly clear in Act 4, first when Dollabella lies to Cleopatra about Antony’s farewell and second when Octavia and Venditius attempt to sully Cleopatra’s reputation. In both instances, which in another play might have been portrayed as merely a cruel trick or a hilarious misunderstanding, Dryden imbues the narrative with a significant amount of heart. Dollabella’s repentance and reconciliation with Cleopatra, and his unequivocal recognition of her true love for Antony, is a significant, heartwarming moment in a play full of tragedy. Throughout the play, Dryden creates similar moments of poignant emotion, keeping the audience engaged even if they know how the story will end.
