JULIUS CAESAR 401 Rakhi L Lalwani Assistant Professor

JULIUS CAESAR 401 Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE I • Antony meets Lepidus and Octavius at Caesar’s house. • They prepare a list (inclusive of relatives) of people who rose against Caesar and those who need to be killed. • Antony sends Lepidus to fetch Caesar’s will to examine if any of the funds he left to the public can be redirected to them. • Once Lepidus leaves, Antony compares Lepidus to a beast of burden and suggests that he is not fit to be one of the Triumvirs. • He tempts Octavius into accepting that they will be the two most powerful men in Rome. • He turns matters to Cassius and Brutus’ army, implying that even they have to get an army ready for war. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE II • Brutus enters Cassius’ camp and waits to meet him. • Lucillius, Titinius, and Pindarus wait along with him. • Lucillius meets with Cassius and reports to Brutus that Cassius is getting more and more angry with Brutus and that he almost refuses to meet Brutus. • Brutus is worried that their undersatnding and friendship may die. • Cassius walks in and blames Brutus for cheating him. • Brutus tells Cassius that he loves him like a brother and requests that they continue their argument in the tent. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE III • Cassius is angry with Caesar for having punished Lucius Pella for taking bribes, knowing that he was Cassius’ friend after Cassius writing him letters, telling him not to do so. • Brutus says that he is equally angry with Cassius for taking bribes and earning money illegally. • He reminds Cassius about “the ides of March. ” and tells him that they killed Caesar in the name of justice. They cannot be corrupt and unjust. • Cassius warns Brutus not to anger him as he is first and foremost a soldier and ready to fight. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE III • Brutus reveals that he is also angry with Cassius, because Cassius refused to give him money for his army, knowing that Brutus will not earn money illegally. • Cassius tells Brutus that he did not refuse him, but his words were not reported correctly by the messenger. • He also tells Brutus that Brutus has stopped loving him and that he would rather die. • He hands over his dagger to Brutus and asks him to kill him as Ocatvius will kill him soon and he has no desire to live without his friend, Brutus. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE III • Brutus is touched and asks Cassius to put away the dagger. He comments that they are both ill-tempered. • They forgive each other and share a hug. • Lucillius, standing outside the tent is attempting to prevent a poet from entering the tent. • The poet enters anyway and tells Brutus and Cassius that they should not give up their friendship. • As the two men have already sorted out their issues, they laugh at the poet and send him off. • Cassius and Brutus relax together and Cassius tells Brutus that he has never seen him angry as he was then. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE III • Brutus reveals that he has been under a lot of emotional pressure because of the death of his wife, Portia. • Portia has killed herself by swallowing fire. • Messengers, Titinius and Messala enter and inform them that Lepidus, Octavius and Antony (New Triumvirate) have killed hundred senators. • Messala enquires from Brutus if he has heard any news from Portia. Brutus answers negatively. • Messala tries to hide the truth from Brutus, but is forced to tell him the truth that Portia is dead. • (The repetition may be due to Shakespeare’s unstable drafts or to showcase the private and public side of Brutus. ) Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

ACT IV – SCENE III • Brutus plans to march to Philippi to meet Antony’s army. • Cassius advices him that they should let the opposing army come to them, but on Brutus’ force agrees to march to Philippi. • Everyone leaves, leaving Brutus with his servant. He bids Varro and Claudio to sleep in his tent as they have to deliver message early in the morning. • When everyone is asleep and Brutus is reading, a specter enters the tent (Caesar’s ghost. ) • Brutus thinks he may be dreaming and asks the spirit who it is. • The spirit replies, “thy evil spirit. ” and disappears after warning Brutus that they will meet in Philippi. • When Brutus asks the others if they saw anything, they reply in the negative. Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.

THANK YOU Rakhi L. Lalwani, Assistant Professor of English, SNMV CAS.