Julius Caesar Act V

Scene i Octavius and Antony arrive at the battlefield at Phillippi A messenger reports that the enemy is ready for battle Antony tells Octavius to attack from the left and that he will attack from the right, Octavius says he will take the right. Antony asks Octavius why he would question his authority Scene i

Julius Caesar to Octavius Caesar When Octavius refuses to agree to Antony’s battle plan, his stubborn personality starts to remind the audience and Antony of his adopted father Julius. When we first met Caesar in the opening act, Mark Antony says of him, When Caesar says, ‘Do this’ it is performed; such authority is the mark of a powerful leader” (I. ii. 12) Octavius is now exerting his authority and Antony begins calling him “Caesar”, noticing the similarity between Julius Caesar and his adopted son, Octavius. Caesar, once a man’s name, again becomes a generic term for the ruler of Rome.

Scene i Brutus, Cassius, and their army enters The two sides exchange in parley – have a meeting on the battlefield They exchange insults and Octavius draws his sword and says he will not lay it down again until Caesar’s death is avenged. Scene i

When the four leaders meet, the power of words becomes more evident in the play. Antony suggests that Brutus’ words have become more damaging to Rome than his physical blows. He murdered Caesar even as he cheered for him, making a hypocrite and untrustworthy. Now Caesar’s death can only be avenged in blood. The Power of Rhetoric

Scene i Brutus calls Lucius to talk privately. Cassius calls Messala to talk privately Cassius informs Messala it is his birthday and of the bad omens he has seen recently Two eagles lit on the army’s banner and ate from the soldiers hands (positive sign) Now crows, ravens and other scavenger birds circle over them as if they were weakened prey. Scene i

Cassius talks to Brutus about the possibility of them never seeing one another again. Cassius asks Brutus if he would allow himself to be led through the streets of Rome as a captive. Brutus says he would rather die than go back to Rome defeated. Brutus says they must end the work that was begun on the Ides of March. Scene i

The battle begins and the six lines in this scene represent the first surge against one another. Brutus senses a weakness in Octavius’ army and will push forward to exploit it. Scene ii

The scene begins with Cassius standing on a hill with Titinius watching the battle. Pindarus comes to report that Antony’s troops have entered Cassius’ camp. Pindarus asks Cassius to run away. Cassius sends Titinius to see whose troops were on the ground near the burning tents. Titinius leaves to evaluate the situation. Scene iii

Pindarus is monitoring the progress of Titinius and he reports that Titinius gets surrounded by men and gets off of his horse while the men cheer. Cassius takes this to mean that Titinius has been captured. Cassius gives Pindarus his sword and asks him to kill him, which Pindarus does, this shows Cassius’ weakness in not being able to complete the task himself Cassius’ last words are that Caesar has now been revenged with the very sword that killed him. Scene iii

Comparing Cassius to Caesar Cassius and Caesar both die after failing to perceive the truth. They are both killed with the same sword (the one that killed Caesar) Caesar’s power is the cause of both deaths Comparing Cassius to Caesar

Scene iii Surprisingly, Titinius returns with Messala. They report that Antony has defeated Cassius’ troops, but Brutus has defeated Octavius. Titinius realizes that Cassius is dead because of the mistaken report, and becomes so distraught he takes his own life. Messala goes to bring the news to Brutus. Scene iii

As Brutus enters and finds the bodies, he says, “O Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet,” meaning that even in death, Caesar is getting his revenge. Brutus orders that Cassius’ body be taken away and they return to the fight. Scene iii

Scene iv Brutus prepares for another battle with the Romans Lucilius pretends he is Brutus and is captured. Antony recognizes the mistake and sends his men to see if Brutus is still alive. Scene iv

Brutus asks several of his men to hold his sword so he can run against it. The ghost of Caesar had appeared to him again on the battlefield and told him it was time to die. His men urge him to run away, but he stays behind and gets Strato to hold his sword. Brutus declares his motives in killing himself are twice as honorable as when he killed Caesar. Scene v

Scene v Antony enters and finds Brutus’ body. Lucilius says he is glad his comments about Brutus never being taken alive came true. Octavius takes Brutus’ men for his own army Antony gives a sort of eulogy for Brutus, saying that he was the “noblest Roman of them all”. Scene v

Scene v Antony praises Brutus for his dedication to the common good. Octavius adds that they should give him an honorable burial and will keep Brutus’ body in his tent. Scene v

Character is revealed in death as well as life Brutus’ death Cassius’ death Bravely impales himself on his own sword Acknowledges that Caesar has been avenged Brutus is honored in death by his enemies Cowardly hides his face while his slave stabs him Simply states that he is killed with the same sword as Caesar Cassius is abandoned in death by his slave Character is revealed in death as well as life

In the final scene Brutus is revealed as the true hero of the play In the final scene Brutus is revealed as the true hero of the play. The idealistic, tormented Brutus faces the most difficult decisions, and always chooses wrongly. His mistake lies in his attempt to impose his personal sense of honor on the whole Roman state.

QUIZ PREP How does Act V begin? Cassius still blames Brutus for something he did not do early in the play. What does he blame him for? Why does Cassius think he is meant to die? What are Cassius' and Brutus' differing attitudes toward the coming battle? Why does Cassius ask someone to take his life? Why is Cassius NOT a tragic hero? How do Antony and Octavius treat Brutus' followers after they are captured? What convinces Brutus that he should not have killed Caesar? According to Antony, why was Brutus better than Cassius? Why is Brutus a tragic hero? Vocabulary disconsolate Bonus What is a hyperbole? Give an example from the play.