Julius Caesar ACT IV

This scene deals with the vacuum of power left after Caesar’s murder This scene deals with the vacuum of power left after Caesar’s murder. It also deals with the questions of who is honorable and who is not. Several character traits are revealed for Brutus, Cassius, and Antony.

ACT IV Scene i Antony meets Octavius and Lepidus at his house to review a list of names and decide who should be killed. Lepidus agrees to the death of his brother is Antony agrees to sacrifice his nephew. Antony suggests that they examine Caesar’s will to see if they can get some money to pay for war expenses.

ACT IV Scene i Antony expresses his doubts in Lepidus’ ability to rule with him and Octavius. Antony compares Lepidus to his horse and a “mere tool”. Brutus and Cassius are building an army and it is up to Antony and Octavius to stop their bid for power.

ACT IV Scene ii Brutus is in his camp and meets with Lucilius, Pindarus and Titinius. Lucilius brings a message from Cassius that he is upset with Brutus and Brutus worries that Cassius is a “hot friend cooling” Cassius arrives with his own army and accuses Brutus of wronging him

ACT IV Scene ii Brutus wants to continue the conversation privately in his tent so all the army does not see their dissention. Cassius is mad because Brutus condemned one of their men for taking bribes. Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes himself.

ACT IV Scene ii Brutus reminds Cassius that they killed Caesar because of his corruptness. Brutus asks Cassius if they should become the very thing they fought against. Cassius tells Brutus not to argue with him anymore because he is a soldier and will fight him.

ACT IV Scene ii The two men exchange insults. Brutus claims to be so honorable that he will not raise funds illegally, so he has to borrow from Cassius, and Cassius ignored his request. Cassius claims the messenger misreported Brutus’ request. Cassius accuses Brutus of no longer loving him.

ACT IV Scene ii Cassius says he hopes that Antony and Octavius kill him soon, because he no longer wants to live. Cassius offers Brutus his dagger and tells Brutus to kill him saying that Brutus loved Caesar better than he ever loved him. Brutus tells Cassius to put his dagger away and that they are both just in bad moods.

ACT IV Scene ii The two men embrace and forgive each other. A poet comes into the tent and tries to give them advice on friendship. The two generals laugh at him and send him away.

ACT IV Scene ii Cassius and Brutus drink wine together. Brutus explains that he has been under many emotional burdens lately, particularly the death of his wife, Portia. Portia kills herself by swallowing hot coals. Messala comes in to report that the triumverate of Antony, Octavius and Lepidus have put to death 100 senators.

ACT IV Scene ii Messala also reports the news about Portia, which Brutus already knows. Brutus doesn’t act like he knows, which may suggest that he is not good friends with Messala so he doesn’t want to talk with him about it. This may also reveal the conflict in Brutus between his public and private life. Some people think that Shakespeare just forgot it was in the play twice!

ACT IV Scene ii Brutus suggests that they march to Phillippi to meet the enemy. Cassius says let the enemy come to them. Brutus says they need to ride the wave of opportunity. Cassius agrees to march.

The Role of FATE The role of fate versus free will appears throughout the play. Brutus acknowledges that both exist and one should take advantage of fate by using one’s own free will. Later events will show that fate is stronger than action, but Brutus’ speech marks him as a man of deep reflection.

ACT IV Scene ii Lucius, Claudio and Varro come to sleep in Brutus’ tent. Brutus lies awake trying to read. The ghost of Caesar comes in and tells Brutus he will meet him at Phillippi, foreshadowing that Caesar will die at Phillippi.

The ghost as a symbol Brutus cannot sleep , perhaps because he is thinking of his own guilt, and that guilt shows up in the form of Caesar. The ghost identifies himself as “thy evil spirit”, which could mean that he is appearing only to Brutus, or that the spirit represents Brutus’ own spirit, which is secretly evil. In either case, the arrival of the ghost is symbolic for bad events to come.