Julius Caesar

Acts IV/V Discussion

1. How does Antony show himself to be ruthless in this scene?

“These many, then, shall die; their names are pricked.” Not only does Antony easily mark people close to him for death, but

he also uses Lepidus to do the killing while, at the same time, planning to cheat him out of the rewards.

Antony, Octavius and Lepidus casually assemble a list of men who are to die.

This list includes not only enemies of the triumvirate but friends and family members as well.

The three men bargain with each other, offering the death of a nephew for the death of a brother.

This gruesome game clearly illustrates the viciousness and atrocities created by ill-managed insurrection.

Background information Act IV

Actual time between Caesar’s funeral and the forming of the Second Triumvirate was over a year and a half.

Antony failed to win over the Senate and was defeated by Decius Brutus’ army in Gaul.

While Antony was away from Rome, Octavius Caesar convinced the Senate to recognize him as Caesar’s rightful heir and had Mark Antony declared as a public enemy.

In the meantime, while Antony and Octavius were at odds with each other, Brutus and Cassius gathered their forces and amassed their power over the eastern portion of the Roman republic.

Knowing it was possible for Rome to fall into the hands of the conspirators if Antony and Octavius continued to oppose each other, Marcus Lepidue, a Roman general, successfully attempted to reconcile the two men.

Second Triumvirate = Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus

2. Why do you suppose Octavius assents to Antony’s suggestion regarding Lepidus?

“And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, / Millions of mischiefs.”

Octavius seems to be a wily person himself, possibly planning his own strategy.

3.In what unfavorable terms does Antony describe Lepidus? “This is a slight unmeritable man,” “Do not talk of him,/But as a property.” It is apparent that Antony and Octavius are

after power. From his comments concerning Lepidus, it is

clear that Antony uses and manipulates people as easily as he used and manipulated words in his funeral oration.

4. What are Brutus and Cassius up to? “Brutus and Cassius/ Are levying powers.” Brutus and Cassius are getting an army

together.

5. What does Antony suggest in response to Brutus and Cassius’ actions?

“Therefore let our alliance be combined.” Antony suggests he and Octavius combine

their alliances and retaliate against Brutus. “Let slip the dogs of war!”

6. Who is Brutus speaking of when he says:

“Thou hast described a hot friend cooling.” Brutus is speaking of Cassius. conflict

7. Why does Brutus suggest that he and Cassius hold their discussion inside the tent?

“Let us not wrangle. Bid them move away.” If the disagreement is observed by the troops, they

may be demoralized if they witness their leaders fighting between themselves.

The inevitable clash between Cassius’ cynical realism and Brutus’ stubborn idealism not only makes for excellent drama but also bring to light the larger issues of morality and ethics with rebellion.

8. For what reason does Brutus claim that

Cassius is often condemned by the people? “Are much condemned to have an itching palm,” Cassius is greedy and will take bribes to sell state

offices. Cassius is well-aware that it takes money to

maintain an army and it is not always possible to obtain the needed funds in honorable ways.

Brutus sees this as corruption.

9. Why is Brutus so outraged at official corruption? “Did not great Julius bleed for justice

sake?” Brutus did not kill his good friend Caesar so

other can make dirty profits.

10. How does Cassius try to intimidate Brutus? “I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself” Cassius tries threats, saying he is an older,

better soldier and suggests that he may fly into a rage if Brutus does not respect him.

11. What is Brutus’ response?

“Make your vaunting true,” In effect, Brutus scoffs Cassius by saying

he is full of words.

12. In speaking of honesty, why does Brutus sound like he lacks modesty?

“For I am armed so strong in honesty That they pass by me as the idle wind,” While it may be fit for others to speak of

how honest another person is, it is somewhat immodest of a man to boast of his own honesty.

13.If Brutus knows Cassius gets money dishonestly how can honest Brutus ask him for it?

“I did send to you For certain sums of gold, which you denied me,” It appears that Brutus is not practical enough to do what must be done

to pay his soldiers, but is realistic enough to ask Cassius for his ill-gotten money.

Brutus, having just condemned Cassius for obtaining money through extortion, now castigates Cassius for not sharing with him the spoils of his efforts.

Ironically, Brutus, accusing Cassius of contaminating “our fingers with base bribes,” fails to recognize his own participation in corruption when he insisted the conspirators contaminate their fingers with the blood of the murdered Caesar.

14. What is the point and tone of Cassius’ speech in response to Brutus?

“Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come!/ Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius.”

Cassius sounds as if he is feeling sorry for himself because Brutus is treating him in a very unfriendly way.

appeal to pathos Cassius swallows his pride and instigates the

reconciliation between the two men.

15. Do you think the speech by Cassius is sincere? your opinion

16. Who is Pluto and how does this allusion fit Cassius’ speech? Pluto is the Roman god of the underworld; however, this

does not fit very well in the context of the passage. Further research shows that the reference to Pluto may have been a mistake because in later editions, Pluto has been changed to Plutus, who is the Roman god of riches.

“Dearer is used to mean, “having more value,” “Pluto’s mine,” (Plutus’) refers to gold mines.

Cassius is trying to prove he has “ a heart richer than gold . . .”

But, he is also referring to suicide.

17. After the poet interrupts and speaks of “Love and be friends,” what is the cause of Brutus’ grief?

“No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.”

Portia has committed suicide.

18. How does Portia choose to take her life? “And (her attendants absent) swallowed

fire.” Portia put hot coals in her mouth until she

choked. Enforces the continuing imagery of

destruction by fire - conflagration Tragedy

19. What is Messala referring to when he says: “That, methinks, is strange”?

Messala asks if Brutus’ letters include any news about Portia. Brutus answers, “Nothing.” Messala believes this to be odd and proceeds to tell Brutus of Portia’s death.

Brutus does not let on that he knows about the suicide. Brutus, always concerned with his public image, could

have put on this show of stoic resignation to impress Massala, knowing that word of his response would spread through the camp and, indeed, Messala calls Brutus a great man.

Brutus sounds like Caesar.

20. What is the difference between Brutus and Cassius’ plans for engaging the armies of Antony and Octavius?

Cassius wants the enemy to come to them. This way, the enemy soldiers will be tired while their own soldiers will be well rested. Brutus, however, wants to go to the enemy to prevent them from picking up more soldiers along the way.

Brutus behaves dictatorially and his brazen over-confidence makes it more and more difficult to differentiate between the tyranny of the dead Caesar and the tyranny of the living Brutus.

21. Brutus says that “There is a tide in the

affairs of men” What does he mean by this? Brutus means that there is a time that is

right to take action; if that moment is missed, it is gone forever.

22. Brutus treats his followers with kindness and respect. What theme can this element of the play support?

“I pray you, sirs, lie in my tent and sleep.” This element of Brutus’ personality suggests a

conflict between his public and private self. Publicly, Brutus is viewed as a powerful man, capable of brutal actions. Privately, however, Brutus is kind, caring, and forgiving, which contradicts his public reputation.

Perhaps Brutus is in a role he was not meant to play.

23. What monstrous apparition does Brutus see and what message does it bring?

“thou shalt see me at Philippi.” Brutus sees the ghost of Caesar, and the

ghost says it will see Brutus again on the field at Philippi, where the battle is taking place.”

Fulfillment of Antony’s prophecy that Caesar’s spirit has “come hot from hell”

Foreshadowing

24. What does Antony think is the reason for Bruts and Cassius’ armies having confronted them face-to-face?

“thinking by this face/ To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage.”

Antony believes Brutus and Cassius are trying to be intimidating by making a show of bravery.

25. What is Octavius’ response when Antony

orders him to take the left side of the field? “I do not cross you; but I will do so.” first overt sign of dissension between the

two men Octavius is making a show of power and

superiority. Notice all the power plays.

26. What does Cassius remark about Antony? “This tongue had not offended so today/If

Cassius might have ruled.” If Brutus had listened to Cassius, Antony

would not be alive today. Notice all the power plays, conflict,

butchery, disruption Tragedy

27. What do the ravens and crows flying overhead mean to Cassius? Cassius interprets them as bad omens for

his side. Image of prey More foreshadowing in nature

28. What does Brutus say he finds cowardly and vile? Cato’s committing suicide Brutus believes that committing suicide is

wrong. Lots of suicide Will become ironic

29. Brutus says he “bears to great a mind” to allow something to happen. What does he mean by this?

Brutus will not allow himself to be captured alive and led through the streets of Rome as a captive.

30. Why do Brutus and Cassius give each other an everlasting farewell?

“Therefore our everlasting farewell take. For every and for ever farewell, Cassius!” The two men swear their friendship in case

they do not survive.

31. What message is Messala ordered to take to “the legions on the other side”?

Brutus is ready to charge Octavius’ forces. The battle has begun. Brutus and his army face off against the forces of

Antony. Brutus’ men overpower Octavius’ men and Brutus

sends word of the victory to Cassius. However, instead of moving in to help Cassius

defeat Antony, Brutus’ men begin a premature victory celebration.

32. According to Titinius, why is Cassius’ side losing to Antony’s forces?

“O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early,”

Brutus attacked Octavius prematurely, thus allowing Antony to encircle Cassius’ forces.

33. How does Cassius die? Why? Cassius has Pindarus kill him because he believes

Titinius, a close friend, has been killed, thus the battle is lost.

“Caesar, thou art revenged.” Poetic justice that Cassius kills himself with the

very sword that he used to kill Caesar. Cassius’ death is an unnecessary mistake, but only

in death can Cassius finally escape the bonds of Caesar’s power.

34. It turns out that Cassius killed himself prematurely. Why? “for Octavius is overthrown by noble Brutus’ power,” Titinius is still alive, and Brutus’ forces have almost

defeated the army of Octavius. Course of a man’s life is metaphorically connected to the

course of the sun in a single day, with sunrise being birth and sunset being death. In this speech, the images of the red rays of the sun, with a pun on son, are symbolic of the red blood seeping from Cassius’ dying body. With Cassius’ death, night is come for Rome and the ideals of freedom and liberty that he held dear are thrown into darkness.

35. Who impersonates Brutus? Why? “Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough.” Lucilius impersonates Brutus. The reason

for the impersonation my be debated, but the effect is that it saves Lucilius’ life.

Antony orders the soldiers to “keep this man safe.”

36. What does Strato do for Brutus? “Give me your hand first. Fare you well,

my lord.” The last battle is fought. The war is finished. Caesar’s death is avenged. Brutus decides to take his own life rather

than become a prisoner.

37. As he dies, why does Brutus say,”Caesar now be still”? Ever since Caesar’s death Brutus has felt

the spirit of Julius Caesar walked the land. Now, Caesar’s spirit may rest.

Omission of failure Tragedy

38. How do Antony and Octavius treat Brutus’ body? “This was the noblest Roman of them all.” In his eulogy over Brutus’ lifeless body, Antony praises Brutus. Words spoken at funerals often ignore the bad and glorify the good. Is Antony still being sarcastic? Having successfully avenged Caesar’s death, perhaps Antony realizes

it is time for Caesar’s spirit to rest. It is time for peace to return to Rome. Antony is a politician as well as a soldier and must understand that the

only way to truly achieve peace is to honor and thus forgive the fallen leader of the conspiracy, paving the way for unity and reconciliation in Rome.

39. Who is the tragic hero?

your opinion

40. Identify the play’s exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

Exposition - Caesar’s victory over Pompey Rising Action - Brutus’ involvement in the

conspiracy Climax - Antony’s funeral oration Falling Action - War Resolution - Brutus’ death