During the scenes depicting the Battle of Actium, Shakespeare's presentation of Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony and Cleopatra cause the balance of audience sympathy to change between the three great leaders.
Audience sympathy never lies by any real amount with Caesar, and in Acts III and IV, the audience feels increasingly alienated from him. This is largely due to his calculated, ruthless style of leadership, which becomes more evident during the battle. Caesar judges wisely, and is successful because of this, and by Act III, Scene 7 he has already defeated Toryne – previously one of Antony's territories. In Act III, Scene 12, Shakespeare presents Caesar as a callous and cruel leader, as he hears the requests of Antony for peace and ignores them, declaring, "For Antony, / I have no ears to his request", which indicates his determination to destroy Antony.
Additionally, Shakespeare further alienates the audience from Caesar through his display of his treacherous nature, "she / From......

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Title: Explore Shakespeare's Presentation Of The Three Great Leaders: Caesar, Antony And Cleopatra, Through The Changing Fortunes Of Acts Iii And Iv. Explain How The Balance Of Audience Sympathy Shifts
Approximate Word Count: 1664
Approximate Pages: 7 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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