4. Antony’s opening line is particularly effective because of the contrast between the unemotional tone and the subject. “These many, the, shall die: their names are prick’d” Here, Antony appears to not care about anybody but himself. In the previous scene, Antony appeared to be very honest and powerful. Now, he still seems powerful, being a third of the triumvirate, but, he no longer seems to be an honest man. “Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine how to cut off some charge in legacies.” Antony’s dismissal of Lepidus indicates the triumvirate has nothing to do with friendship, or even principle for that matter; it is just a struggle for power. Antony’s long analogy between Lepidus and an animal, show that Antony thinks his fellow men are to be used, as he used the mob, like animals.
5. Scene 1 of Act 4 shows Octavius making military and political plans with Antony and replies to him with crisp independence and shrewd judgment. When Antony ridicules Lepidus, Octavius remind Antony that Lepidus has proved himself a capable soldier. “He’s a tried and valiant soldier.” This proves Octavius’ fairness and honour. He seems smart in his last lines of Act 4 Scene 1, alluding to being like the bear and showing that he is aware that not everybody likes the triumvirate he is a part of. “For [the triumvirate] [is] at the stake and bay’d about with many enemies; and some that smile have in their hearts, [Octavius] [fears], millions of mischiefs.”
Scene ii
1. Brutus tells Lucilius that “when love begins to sicken and decay, it useth an enforced ceremony. There are no tricks in plain and simple faith; but hollow men, like horses hot at hand, make gallant show and promise of their mettle; but when they should endure the bloody spur, they fall their crests, and, like deceitful jades, sink in the trial.” He is speaking of dying love, after Lucilius has delivered a message from Cassius. Brutus is displeased to hear that Cassius is like “a hot friend cooling” and worries that their ties may be weakening.
2. Brutus instructs Cassius to wait until they are alone in his tent to complain to him. “Speak your griefs softly…then in [Brutus’] tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, and [Brutus] will give [Cassius] audience.” Brutus makes it clear that he does not want the quarrel to be displayed in front of the armies. “Speak your griefs softly…before the eyes of both our armies here, which should perceive nothing but love from us, let us not wrangle.” He does not want to increase the tension or cause disunity among the armies. This could be considered unusual because Brutus was understanding while Cassius was raging at him. “Speak your griefs softly: [Brutus] [does] know [Cassius] well…then in [Brutus’] tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs, and Brutus will give you audience.” It is also ironic that Brutus does not want anyone to hear their argument, so he chose to go in a tent, which is obviously not sound proof. “In [Brutus’] tent, Cassius, enlarge your griefs.” He also orders Lucius and Titinius to stand guard outside the tent, which would enable them to hear the war of words clearly. “Lucius and Titinius guard our door.”
Scene iii
1. Cassius says that Brutus has wronged him by publicly disgracing him for marketing official positions like merchandise. “That [Brutus] [has] wrong’d [Cassius] doth appear like this: [Brutus] [has] condemn’d and note Lucius Pella for taking bribes here of the Sardians.” Brutus feels differently about the issue. Since he is noble and honest, he thinks that it is Cassius’ own fault for taking bribes in the first place. “[Cassius] wrong’d [himself] to write in such a case…to sell and mart [the] official positions for gold to undeservers.” Brutus insists that the guilty should be punished; that is why they killed Caesar. “Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake?”
2. In response, Brutus condemns Cassius for being greedy. “Cassius, [is]…much condemn’d to have and itching palm; to sell and mart [the] offices for gold to undeservers.” Cassius has been accepting payment for position, always trying to fill his hand with gold. “An itching palm.” Brutus is aggravated that Cassius did this instead of selecting noble men that would be better suited for the position. Brutus is apart of this whole thing because for “justice’ sake” and knows that what Cassius has been doing is neither noble nor just. He is angry that “the name of Cassius honours this corruption.”
3. Cassius threats to forget to restrain himself if Brutus continues to “urge” him. “Urge me no more, I shall forget myself; have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.” Basically, Cassius is saying the if Brutus cares about his health, he should refrain from tempting or provoking Cassius further. Cassius is mad the Brutus is saying he not more experienced and more capable of giving orders. “[Cassius is] older in practice, abler than [Brutus] to make conditions.” “Go to; you are not Cassius.”
4. Cassius wrongs Brutus by refusing to give him any money. “[Brutus] did send to [Cassius] for certain sums of gold, which [Cassius] denied [him].” Cassius, who is not overly scrupulous about principle, and is carrying out the campaign as forcefully as he can, has taken funds “from the hard hands of peasants.” Brutus would be incapable of the kind of extortion. He is “armed so strong in honesty” that he “can raise no money by vile means.” It is ironic that Brutus would ask Cassius for the money; although he condemns the extortion, he then asks for some of the profits.
5. To prove that he is wronged, Cassius tells Brutus to take his heart out. “There is my dagger. And here my naked breast. Within, a heart dearer than Plutus' mine, richer than gold. If that thou beest a Roman, take it forth.” “I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart. Strike, as thou didst at Caesar. For I know strike, as thou didst at Caesar. For I know when thou didst hate him worst, thou lovedst him better than ever thou lovedst Cassius.” Cassius proves that he is extremely upset and that he feels Brutus does not love him. The audience is exposed to another side of Cassius here. He has let down his guard and is completely flooded with emotion.
6. While Brutus is condemning Cassius for “[selling] and [marting] [his] offices for gold,” he has a deeper source of concern. In Act 2 Scene 1, the audience recalls Brutus’ anguish over the morality involved in joining the conspiracy. “[Brutus] [knows] no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.” He was worried about his motives and honesty. Now, with Cassius taking bribes and the triumvirate killing many people, Brutus must be wondering if the conspiracy he on which he staked his moral being itself corrupt. He used the word when he remarks “The name of Cassius honours this corruption,” and goes on to address not only Cassius, but himself. His anger indicates that he is thinking of the moral basis of the whole enterprise, as well as Cassius’ fault. “Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?” “Supporting robbers…contaminate our fingers with base bribes…sell the mighty space of our large honours.”
7. Messala brings news that the triumvirate has killed many people. “Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus have put to death an hundred senators.” He also confirms that the triumvirate is moving towards Philippi and that Cicero is dead. “[Messala] [has] letters of the selfsame tenour.” “Cicero is dead.” Messala tells Brutus of his wife’s passing. “For certain she is dead.” Brutus has just been discussing this briefly with Cassius, but appears to be hearing it for the first time when Messala tells him. “Why farewell Portia. We must die, Messala: with meditating that she must die once [Brutus] [has] patience to endure it now.” Brutus is trying to reinforce his image as a Stoic by acting like this is the first time he has heard about Portia’s death.
8. Brutus wants to go directly to Philippi because he feels that they will have an advantage over Antony and Octavius. “The people ‘twixt Philippi and this ground do stand but in forced affection, for they have grudged us contribution: the enemy marching along by them, by them shall make a fuller number up, come on refresh’d, new added, and encouraged; from which advantage we shall cut them off, if at Philippi we do face them there, these people at our back.” “There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and miseries.” Brutus feels that now is the best time to strike, however Cassius has a different opinion…
9. Cassius does not want to go directly to Philippi. He believes that “’tis better the enemy seek [them]: so shall he waste his means, weary his soldiers, doing himself offence.” His strategy is to tire out the enemy so that they have the upper hand, being well-rested, when they go to battle. “Whilst we, lying still, are full of rest, defence, and nimbleness.” Cassius’ strategy is a good one, and they would have had a much better chance of defeating Antony and Octavius if Cassius hadn’t agreed with Brutus. “Then, with [Brutus’] will, go on; we’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.” This is another fatal error on Brutus’ part.
10. Brutus decides to speed up his plans after his encounter with Caesar’s ghost. The ghost says that he has comes “to tell thee thou shalt see [the ghost] at Philippi.” This encounter with the supernatural has made Brutus want to talk to the “evil spirit” again. “[Brutus] will see thee at Philippi…ill spirit, [Brutus] would hold more to talk with thee.” It is ironic that the spirit of Caesar lives on, because Brutus said he would rather change Caesar’s spirit than kill him. “O that we could come by Caesar’s spirit, and not dismember Caesar.”
