Antony and Cleopatra - Gender

I don't think there is a large difference in gender roles between Antony and Cleopatra. However, I feel that Cleopatra's atypical female character makes the dynamic between Antony and Cleopatra much more... complicated. This informs the power politics of the military conflicts, as Cleopatra's abandonment of Antony at, sea plays a huge role in the conflict. I still don't understand why Cleopatra would abandon Antony, as their victory would benefit her. 

I think Cleo's power over Antony is due to her sexuality, and is one of the reasons he acts so irrationally, but I think Antony is also attracted to her because of her power. I think that influences his decisions, and sees their relationship as a way to effectively rule much of the world. This attraction to her sexuality and power excites him. Maybe he sees her as an equal, and craves a relationship like that. As Enobarbus says, 

ENOBARBUS

Never. He will not.

Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale

Her infinite variety. Other women cloy

The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry

Where most she satisfies. For vilest things

Become themselves in her, that the holy priests

Bless her when she is riggish.

Antony and Cleopatra - Regions

In the context of Antony and Cleopatra, I do believe that Egypt is an "other" region. The only characters that go back and forth between Rome and Egypt constantly are Antony and Enobarbus, who both ultimately meet their deaths. This indicates that Egypt is not a good place to be when you're a Roman. And yes, Cleopatra and Charmian both commit suicide due to their involvement with the Romans. I believe that this shows that Egypt and Rome should be singular. Due to the way Shakespeare portrays Egypt, I believe he wants to hold it up as an equal to Rome. Just look at the way Enobarbus talks about Egypt in this quote:

"I will tell you.

The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,

Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold;

Purple the sails, and so perfumed that

The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were 

silver,

Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made

The water which they beat to follow faster,

As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,

It beggar'd all description: she did lie

In her pavilion—cloth-of-gold, of tissued— 

O'erpicturing that Venus where we see

The fancy out-work nature. On each side her

Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,

With divers-colored fans, whose wind did seem

To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,

And what they undid did. (2.2.226-242)"

This beautiful description of Egypt and its ruler is never made in regards to Rome. Though the other characters may see Egypt and it's queen as a vile place, Shakespeare wants to portray it in a way that makes us root for its success. 

I believe some of Antony's admiration toward Cleo is due toward her charm and character. She constantly is manipulating him to "love" her. Though I think part of his attraction toward her is due to the decadence that comes with being a powerful individual in Egypt. Does he actually love her? I don't know. I don't think so but hey who am I to say.

If anything, I think Antony completely burns the bridges that connect Egypt and Rome. Though during the end of the play, Caesar tries to make amends with Cleopatra (see quote) and exist peacefully, but Antony's postmortem influence over Cleo is what ultimately causes her to commit suicide. Ultimately, I think it's the leaders of each region that determine how relations are. Part of the conflict, I think, is that Antony is Alexandrian, but his duty is toward Rome. This, I believe, is ultimately the biggest conflict of the play. There is no way to get away from your identity without considerable effort, and as a influential Roman after the death of Julius, he cannot be an Alexandrian no matter how hard he tries.

CAESAR QUOTE:
"You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
Our great competitor. From Alexandria
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes
The lamps of night in revel, is not more manlike
Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he; (1.4.1-7)"

Antony and Cleopatra - Choices

When you think about the decisions made by Antony and Cleo during their "passionate" moments, I would hope you think that passion does not constitute reasonable grounds for decision making. 

I do believe passion is contrary to reason and good judgement. In the dictionary, passion is described as a "strong and barely controllable emotion." In the court of law, certain murder cases have lesser charges. This is because the court decided the actions were committed in the "heat of passion," indicating that the person who committed the act was not in their right mind. I do believe that passion can inspire judgments, but the inherent thought process behind the decision is not sensible. 

In terms of the aforementioned scenario, I believe that Enobarbus is right to blame Antony for his loss in the first naval battle. His poor judgement through his passion did not allow him to think as the great general he was supposed to be. I believe his victory in the land battle was sheer luck, not to be confused by any kind of successful strategy or planning.

Ultimately, I do believe letting passion dictate your choices is an inherently poor decision. 

Does Shakespeare put Antony or Cleopatra in a more positive light?

I do not personally think Antony or Cleopatra are portrayed in a positive light, but the layers of political power and strategy that are present make it difficult to determine who is the "protagonist" of the story. While I would assume the "protagonists" are... Antony and Cleopatra... I don't think it's uncommon to side with one of the title characters and hold them to a higher standard. In this case, I've bet on the wrong horse.

But, as I've said before, I think Antony is a spineless little bitch.

Whether Shakespeare uses his most poetic language to describe the heroic and honorable actions of the Great Antony, I still can't get the image out of my mind of a horny teenager willing to chop his own nuts off to sleep with Cleopatra.

He has constantly and consistently abandoned his honor in favor of his lust for the Queen of the Nile. From totally disregarding his deceased wife in Act 1 Scene 3 ("And that which most with you should safe my going, Is Fulvia’s death."), to abandoning his men to Pompey's forces at sea in Act 3 Scene 10: "She once being loofed, The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard, Leaving the fight in height, flies after her."

Antony's self-interests toward his own position in Rome has been clouded by Cleopatra. He is so pussy-whipped that he literally left his men to die to be with Cleopatra. Not only that, but he forgave her for it!!!! He eventually realized his mistakes, and chided himself for doing so. However, I still think his actions are indefensible.

As for Cleopatra, her actions are so selfish that it is almost admirable. She has sight of what she wants, whether it's more power or just having power over Antony.

In the end, I still think Antony is a piece of shit. Screw him.