Mark Antony is absolutely infatuated with Cleopatra, an exotic eastern beauty -everything about her is so far-removed from his mundane, political life back home in Rome that he loves indulging in Cleopatra's lifestyle with her, to the point that Caesar notices; "This is the news:-he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel", implying this is the direct effect Cleopatra has on him. The opposing sides Antony is faced with, Cleopatra and Caesar, representing the west and the east, passion versus power and reason is a main contribution to Antony's weakening .So I would also say that Antony’s loss of his own virtues was the main reason for his downfall.
Antony is obsessed with Cleopatra leading Antony further away from his virtues. Though Cleopatra is still renowned for her beauty and wit, she is aging and highly conscious of this; she nevertheless has managed to seduce Antony as she did Julius Caesar. Since Octavia does not, in fact, settle Antony's heart, it is ascertained that Antony requires something further to do so: Cleopatra. What Cleopatra offers Antony is the feeling of a desire met not beauty, wisdom, or modesty. Antony is searching simply for a life of pleasure, to fill his need to feel desired. This presents a rather weak character inclined to be controlled by these feelings.
An important moment in Antony's downfall can be seen as Antony fails to take power back from Cleopatra. At first he unmistakably decides that he should leave Cleopatra to attend to his duties in Rome saying, "I must from this enchanting queen break off." This statement implies that he realizes Cleopatra is dangerous and that his relationship with her will only end up causing harm. Even with this realization, he is unable to break free from her hold on him, declaring himself her "soldier-servant". Antony is concerned with his virtues and the effect of Cleopatra on him yet he is trapped by his obsession with her. Cleopatra taunts Antony about his love for him and is able to do so effectively so that she gets the reassurance she wants that he loves her.
Philo and Demetrius have something to say about Antony’s decline even from the very first scene, claiming that his "captain's heart" now serves as "the bellows and the fan to cool a gypsy’s lust.” During this period honour and reputation meant the difference between utmost respect and total disregard in Roman society. By falling head over heels in love, Antony, is allowing his own self-respect and pride to go down the drain. He is abandoning his responsibilities in favour of more carnal pursuits, and this is his most major downfall, which is seen throughout the play from even scene one.
By deciding to fight Octavius Caesar by sea, a strategy strongly advised against by Enobarbus, and declaring that he will go against Caesar one on one, Antony overcompensates for his loss of authority, attempting to assert his heroism. Antony struggles to re-establish a pride he has lost to regain his virtues. Instead of acting nobly out of his military experience, Antony is swayed by Cleopatra. His running after Cleopatra and fleeing the battlefield against Octavius marks a specific decline in his virtues. Scarus comments that he "never saw an action of such shame.” This demonstrates Antony's captivity by Cleopatra, that his honour and experience, characteristics that Antony prides have been abandoned and replaced by shameful manners. Antony thus loses his virtue as he loses power over his circumstances and actions, since his actions are now controlled by his desire for Cleopatra. Though Antony pursues his obsession, the fact that he does not receive the reassurances that his actions are rewarding puts him in an unfavorable position.
Cleopatra has just helped him go down the path to his demise. Eros and supposedly Cleopatra have killed themselves to which Antony responds, “A nobleness in record". Antony therefore attempts, to kill himself to achieve the nobleness he perceives has been reached by the others, however he is yet again unsuccessful at regaining his virtues. Though Antony fears this downfall, he is conflicted with an obsession that overpowers his attempts to maintain his virtues. With this loss Antony ultimately defeats himself: "So it should be, that none but Antony / Should conquer Antony, but woe `tis so!"
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