Julius Caesar Acts IV-V

ACT IV Octavius and Mark Antony go through a list of possible enemies and decide which Romans will live and which shall die. Antony compares Lepidus to a horse to be trained and used. Antony is shown to be craftily preparing his next move. Antony plans to maintain power by any means necessary. Both Octavius and Antony are ruthless.

Antony’s opinion of Lepidus illustrates his opinion of people in general: they are there to serve his needs. We have to remember the powerful speech Antony gave the Roman people and wonder if he used them for his own purposes.

Even though Cassius and Brutus argue, they make up. It is important to recognize that Brutus still has a conflict of conscience which is apparent during his argument with Cassius. Brutus references the murder of Caesar and is disturbed that the conspiracy may have become corrupt because Cassius accepted bribes for top positions. Brutus is shown to be an honest and honorable man and he continues to be moral. The two then move on to discussing strategies of war.

Cassius has more battle experience than Brutus but it is Brutus who decides to go to Phillipi. Of course, this move is a tactical mistake and it is exactly what Antony and Octavius hoped Brutus would do. This poor tactical decision ends up being a fatal error for Brutus and Cassius.

Act V The leaders of both sides meet and we see that both sides have two drastically different attitudes. Mark Antony and Octavius feel they will be victorious where as Cassius and Brutus are uncertain as to what the outcome will be. Cassius refers to Octavius as a”peevish school boy” the implication is that he is young and impetuous. In other words, he has a temper and little experience.

Cassius calls Mark Antony a “masker and a reveller.” This is a reference to Antony’s reputation as a womanizer and party- animal. However, the word “masker” seems to imply someone who hides their true intentions. This statement combined with Cassius’ reference to Antony’s “honeyed” words refers to Antony’s deceptive performance following Caesar’s assassination.

The battle begins. Cassius and Brutus have stationed their men in separate areas. Cassius sees his men retreating and send Titinius to check out the situation. Cassius hears that Titinius has been surrounded and Cassius kills himself out of guilt. It is Pindarus who stabs Cassius. Of course, Cassius has been given faulty information and Titinius is still alive, though not for long. Upon seeing Cassius dead, Titinius kills himself.

Brutus discovers Cassius is dead and vows to try once more to defeat Octavius and Mark Antony. Unfortunately, Brutus has no luck and upon the defeat of Young Cato and Lucilius, Brutus has Strato hold his sword and runs onto it. Brutus dies.

Mark Antony calls Brutus the “most noble Roman that ever lived” because Brutus killed his friend for the good of Rome, not out of envy like the others. The play ends with order restored.