Notes on Julius Caesar Act 4 & 5

Act IV

Cassius Accused of Taking Bribes

  • Brutus accuses Cassius and his men of accepting bribes from the people of Sardis.
  • Brutus was upset because Cassius initially refused to send money when requested, which turned out to be a miscommunication due to a messenger's error.
  • This type of miscommunication caused by messengers is a common trope in Shakespearean plays with detrimental consequences.

Reconciliation

  • Brutus and Cassius resolve their issues and make up.

Portia's Death

  • News arrives that Portia has died, which is described as a sad and tragic event.

Act IV - Turning Point

  • Act IV represents a turning point for the tragic hero, where they can either improve their situation or continue down a destructive path.

Brutus' Wrong Decisions

  • Two wrong decisions made by Brutus:
    • Deciding to attack at Philippi first.

Reasons Against Attacking at Philippi First

  • Two reasons it's a bad idea to attack at Philippi first:
    • Caesar's ghost warned Brutus that he would be seen again at Philippi (dramatic irony). A ghost sighting predicting a meeting is a bad omen.
    • Cassius warns Brutus that their army could be weaker if they advance, whereas staying put would allow the army to rest and wait for the enemy.
    • Cassius' warning echos his previous advice against allowing Antony to speak, which Brutus ignored, to his detriment.

Act V - Tragedy Unfolds

  • Act V is where things go wrong, as the tragic hero chooses their fatal flaws over doing the right thing, leading to a negative outcome.
  • As a tragedy, more death is expected.

Act V, Scene 1

Setting

  • The scene opens with Octavius and Antony in their camp at Philippi. Brutus and Cassius' armies are attacking.

Allied Armies

  • Brutus and Cassius are allies but have separate armies.
  • Octavius and Antony are also allies with separate armies.
  • Octavius' army battles Cassius', and Brutus' battles Antony's.

Initial Conflict

  • Octavius and Antony are challenged at Philippi before they can challenge Brutus and Cassius.
  • Octavius states he predicted this, and they are not brave but making a bad decision.

Disagreement Among Allies

  • Antony wants Octavius to lead his army to the left side of the field, but Octavius disagrees, causing a disagreement.

Pre-Battle Parley

  • Brutus and Cassius approach, and the armies of Octavius and Antony stop, signaling a desire to talk before the battle commences.
  • Octavius asks Antony if they should give the sign of battle, but Antony says they will respond to the enemy's charge.
  • Antony refers to Octavius as Caesar, which is purposeful and confusing.

Exchanging Words

  • Brutus asks if they will talk before fighting.
  • Octavius responds by saying Brutus likes to talk more than fight, and they prefer to fight.
  • Antony refers to the stabbing of Caesar and how Brutus gave a nice speech afterward.
  • Cassius points out that Antony uses words sweetly but means harm, referencing his speech after Caesar's death.
    • This is described using a metaphor of robbing bees of their honey.

Cassius' Regret

  • Cassius tells Brutus that Antony would not have been able to offend them if they had killed Antony when Cassius suggested, blaming Brutus for their current predicament.

Octavius' Resolve

  • Octavius draws his sword against the conspirators, declaring he will not put it away until Caesar's blood is avenged.
  • Octavius states that Caesar can't die by their hands unless he brings them with him and that he was not born to die by their sword.

Octavius & Antony Depart

  • Octavius and Antony leave, with the message that they will fight when ready.

Omens and Superstition

  • Cassius tells Messala it's his birthday, a day he was warned about, and that he saw a sign.
  • Cassius recounts his philosophical beliefs as an Epicurean, explaining the philosophy that gods did not interfere with human life, omens, or science. He now believes he was wrong because something scared him, which he recounts.
  • Two eagles perched on their banner as they left Sardis but were replaced by ravens, crows, and kites in Philippi. These birds are related to death, and he fears the omen of the gods.
  • It was a strong Roman belief that birds were omens from the gods.

Cassius and Brutus' Discussion

  • Cassius asks Brutus that if they lose, that they will never see each other again. So what will you do in that case?
  • Brutus responds that he doesn't agree with suicide and thinks it would be cowardly and vile to take away your own life to prevent suffering. He will let life take its course.
  • Cassius asks if that means if they lose, Brutus is going to let them lead him as a captive in the streets of Rome, to which Brutus responds no.
  • Brutus then offers Cassius his everlasting farewell, and if they end up never speaking again, they are leaving on good terms.

Brutus' Final Thoughts

  • Brutus states that "the work that we started on the ides of March needs to be finished,"
  • Brutus wishes that he could know what's going to happen before it happens but accepts fate will be what it is.

Scene 2

Brutus' Tactics

  • Brutus instructs Messala and his army to attack Octavius' side because they are weak right now, and a sudden attack might take them by surprise and overthrow them.

Scene 3

Observing the Battlefield

  • Cassius and Titanius observe the battlefield from a hill.
  • Cassius' army is facing Antony, and they are concerned because their soldiers are being captured.

The Enemy's Arrival

  • Antony and his armies are looting Cassius' tents and resources.
  • Titanius says Cassius' tents are on fire as well.

A Mission to Determine Friend or Foe

  • Cassius sends Titanius to see if the troops near the tents are friends or enemies:
    • Titanius agrees to go and quickly return to tell Cassius what is going on.
    • Cassius then has Pandarus watch Titanius to see what is going on.
    • Cassius is impatient, so he has Pandarus go up further on the hill to watch him because he doesn't have good eyesight.

Solemn Reflection

  • Cassius fears that his birthday will be the day he dies, as things look bleak, suspecting his army is being captured and his resources lost. He is not going to win this battle

Erroneous Observation

  • Pandarus reports seeing Titanius is being taken off his horse and captured by the enemy:
    • The enemy is shouting for joy.

Cassius' Death

  • Cassius is distraught by the news of Titanius being taken, that he has Pandarus, his loyal servant, stab him with the same sword he used to stab Caesar.
  • Cassius is dead by his own sword.

Pandarus' Escape

  • Pandarus is free now, with no master, but is fleeing the location and any Roman to find him.

Truth Revealed

  • Titanius and Messala return with news that Octavius has been overthrown by Brutus.
    • Brutus' army is doing well, even though Caseius' has been overtaken.
  • They found Cassius.

The Sun of Rome

  • There has been mistrust, "hateful error, melancholy's child, why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men the things that are not?"
  • Describes that thoughts create a reality that is not there.
  • They are going to loof for Pindaris.

Another Erroneous Report

  • It is reported that Pindarus has friends and allies. They shouted with victory and gave them a wreath and were excited tot ell them the news about Brutus victory, and they had given htem a wreath of victory.
  • Another time, the messenger screwed it up.

Reaction

  • Titanius takes Cassius' sword (the same one used to kill Caesar), kills himself, and dies.

Lament and Acknowlegment

  • Cassius finds the body of Brutus, reporting, is facing upwards with his body and mourning.
  • After Brutus is slain that Brutus art mighty, there and the battle moves for him.
  • Final thoughts that these were the last of the Romans and were proper deaths. Now they will go try their luck, and Brutus os going to press on continue to fight.

Analysis

  • Act 5 is where the tragic hero's decisions fall apart. Not easy, particularly for the tragic hero Brutus.
  • Brutus moves fully to Philippi, loses some men, etc.
  • Victor being the tragic hero who is not thinking straight and not being able to do good.
  • Brutus is prideful.
  • Overconfidence, inability to think further than the next thing. He thinks that he is doing the right thing, noble best for Rome, which he is overly ambitious to.
  • Things are not continue to look good.