Act IV Study Guide
Scene i
In actual history, more than a year and a half has intervened. Act IV opens with a meeting of the Second
Triumvirate: Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus. Octavius is Julius Caesar’s nephew, and Caesar had named
Octavius as his heir and adopted him. Lepidus is a Roman general who just happened to have a legion of
troops on the outskirts of the city on the day of the assassination, so he moved his troops in and occupied
Rome.
1.
What are Anthony, Octavius, and Lepidus doing at the beginning of the scene?
2.
What does Lepidus agree to?
3.
Who says this? What opinion does this scene give you of
the triumvirate?
He shall not live. Look, with a spot I damn him.
(IV,i,6)
4.
How does Antony feel about Lepidus? (Include quote.) What does Antony compare him to? (Quote.)
Scene ii
5. Where does this scene take place?
6.
What practical instructions does Brutus give Cassius about their disagreement? (Include a quote.)
Scene iii
7. Where does this scene take place?
8.
According to Cassius, how has Brutus “wronged” him?
9.
Paraphrase Brutus’s response.
10.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers. (IV,iii,9-12)
What is “an itching palm”? What is Brutus accusing him
of doing?
11. What does Cassius threaten to do if Brutus continues to “urge” him?
12. According to Brutus, how has Cassius wronged him? What would be frustratingly ironic in Cassius’s eyes?
Act IV Study Guide
13. To prove that Cassius has been wrongly accused, what does he tell Brutus to do to him?
What it says in Shakespeare’s play:
What that means in modern English:
BRUTUS
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs.
BRUTUS
Oh Cassius, I’m tired out by many sorrows.
CASSIUS
Of your philosophy you make no use
If you give place to accidental evils.
CASSIUS
You’re forgetting your Stoic philosophy if you allow
chance misfortunes to upset you.
14. What does it mean to be a Stoic? (Look up stoic / stoical in the dictionary.)
15. What is the real reason for Brutus’s ill temper? (Include the quote about how that happened.)
16. What does Messala say the triumvirate is doing in Rome?
17. What senator’s name is mentioned?
18. Messala also shares news about Portia. (Include his quote of how it happened.) What is Brutus’s reaction? How is this
consistent with the Stoic philosophy?
19. What reason does Cassius give for NOT going directly to Philippi? (Include quote.)
20. What reason does Brutus give for going directly to Philippi? (Quote.) Who prevails?
21. What happens to make Brutus speed up his plan to go to Philippi?