Julius Caesar Act 4 Quiz Study Guide

Who are the three rulers of Rome at the start of Act 4?

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus

What are Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus doing at the beginning?

Making a death list of people to be killed

What condition does Lepidus make?

That Antony's nephew Publius must also die

What does Antony think of Lepidus?

He thinks Lepidus is weak and only useful for errands

What does Octavius think of Lepidus?

He believes Lepidus is a capable soldier

What metaphor does Antony use for Lepidus?

A donkey carrying gold

What news does Antony share?

Brutus and Cassius are building an army

Where are Brutus and his army?

Near Sardis

What does Lucilius say about Cassius?

He was polite but less friendly than before

What does "a hot friend cooling" mean?

A friendship is weakening

Why do Brutus and Cassius argue?

Brutus accuses Cassius of corruption and taking bribes

What does Cassius accuse Brutus of?

Refusing to give him money for his soldiers

What is Brutus' view on bribes?

They are dishonorable and wrong

How does the argument end?

They reconcile and become friends again

What does Cassius offer Brutus?

His dagger to kill him

What happens to Portia?

She dies

How did Portia die?

She killed herself by swallowing fire

How does Brutus react?

He stays calm and hides his grief

What news about Rome do they receive?

Many senators were killed, including Cicero

Where are Antony and Octavius going?

To Philippi

What is the disagreement about strategy?

Cassius wants to wait, Brutus wants to attack

Why does Brutus want to go to Philippi?

To gain advantage and strike at the right time

What famous line does Brutus say?

There is a tide in the affairs of men

What do they decide?

To march to Philippi

What appears to Brutus at night?

The ghost of Caesar

What does the ghost say?

He will see Brutus at Philippi

How does Brutus react to the ghost?

He is shaken but stays brave

Did the others see the ghost?

No, they saw nothing

What order does Brutus give at the end?

Prepare to march early and follow Cassius

"Is it fit that the threefold world divided, he should stand one of the three to share it?"

Speaker: Antony

To Whom: Octavius

Significance: Antony feels like Lepidus is ignorant/unimportant, which foreshadows the downfall of the triumvirate because it's weak.

"Some that smile have in their hearts, I fear, millions of mischief."

Speaker: Octavius

To Whom: Antony

Significance: Implies no one can be fully trusted.

"Your master... hath given me some worthy cause to wish things done undone, but if he be at hand I shall be satisfied."

Speaker: Brutus

To Whom: Pindarus (Cassius' servant)

Significance: Brutus realizes he should have listened to Cassius.

"Strike as thou didst at Caesar, for I know, when thou didst at Caesar; when thou didst hate him worst, thou lovesdt him better than thou lovedst Cassius."

Speaker: Cassius

To Whom: Brutus

Significance: Cassius reveals he was jealous of Caesar's relationship with Brutus.

"Impatient of my absence, and grief that young Octavius with Marc Antony have made themselves so strong... she fell distract and swallowed fire."

Speaker: Brutus

To Whom: Cassius

Significance: She swallows fire in the play, fumes in real life, and commits suicide because she wants to control her own death.

"By postscription and bills of outlawry Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus have put to death a hundred senators."

Speaker: Messala

To Whom: Brutus and Cassius

Significance: They witnessed Caesar's assassination and did nothing.

"Tis better that the enemy seek us; so shall he waste his means and weary his soldiers."

Speaker: Cassius

To Whom: Brutus

Significance: If he acts defensively, he will come across as strong.

"To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi."

Speaker: Ghost of Caesar

To Whom: Brutus

Significance: Foreshadowing Brutus' death.

Describe the three things that Brutus and Cassius argue about in Act IV.

Brutus and Cassius argue about three main things in Act IV. First, they argue about corruption because Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes and acting dishonorably. Cassius gets very offended by this since he believes Brutus is judging him unfairly. Second, they argue about money, since Cassius says Brutus refused to send him gold to pay his soldiers. Brutus explains that he would rather stay honest than raise money in corrupt ways, which adds more tension between them. Third, they argue about their pride and respect for each other, with both of them feeling hurt and disrespected during the conversation. Overall, their argument shows how stress and pressure from the war are starting to weaken their friendship.