Julius Caesar:
Acts IV, V and Beyond
The aftermath of the
assassination and Mark Antony’s
speech…
ACT IV
Act IV, Scene I

Mark Antony, Octavius (Caesar’s adoptive
son) and Lepidus all meet at Antony’s
home.
Act IV, Scene I
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus form the
“2nd Triumvirate”… remember Caesar was
in the 1st triumvirate sharing power with
Pompey and Crassus prior to Act I.
 Unlike Brutus, these three men are willing
to kill all of their political opponents and
anyone they even think might be
associated with the conspirators.

Act IV, Scene I

Despite the fact that he used Caesar’s will as a
means to anger the crowd in Act III, he
reexamines it to find ways to change where the
money is going (less money for the people as
Caesar’s will and Antony promised).
Act IV, Scene I

After Lepidus leaves, Antony and Octavius
discuss whether Lepidus is worthy enough to
join them in the triumvirate. Octavius approves
of him, but Mark Antony has his doubts, calling
him a “barren spirited fellow”.
Act IV, Scene I

The scene ends with Mark Antony and Octavius
making plans to deal with Brutus and Cassius,
who are raising an army to defy the new
triumvirate and possibly take back Rome.
Act IV, Scene II
Brutus and Cassius have raised armies as
Mark Antony stated, but they are also
having disagreements.
 Brutus arrests one of Cassius’ men for
taking bribes (although Cassius asked him
not to because he knew him)
 Brutus also accuses Cassius of taking
bribes and they threaten to fight each
other over the perceived insults.

Act IV, Scene II


Brutus correctly points out that they (or at least he)
killed Caesar on the Ides of March to remove an abuse
of power and corruption on the part of Caesar. Brutus
does not want them to become corrupt too as he still
values the idea of honor.
The two men work out their disagreements and become
friends again.
Act IV, Scene II

Brutus is still upset
because he has received
word that his wife Portia
has killed herself by
“swallowing fire,” (either
swallowing a hot coal or
burning coal in a closed
room to asphyxiate).
Act IV, Scene II

Brutus tells Cassius that they should meet
the armies of Mark Antony and Octavius at
a location called “Philippi”. Cassius thinks
they should wait and let the enemy come
to them, but Brutus wins the argument.
Act IV, Scene II

That night, as Brutus
is reading, Caesar’s
Ghost enters his tent
and tells Brutus he is
Brutus’ “evil spirit” and
that he will see him at
Philippi. The ghost
vanishes and no one
sees it but Brutus.
Act V
Act V, Scene I
Octavius and Antony make battle plans,
with Octavius overriding Mark Antony’s
suggestions (sound familiar? Power
struggle maybe?)
 Brutus, Cassius, Octavius and Mark Antony
meet, exchanging insults with one another
before withdrawing from the field to
prepare for battle.

Act V, Scene I

Despite bad omens, Cassius and Brutus
say their goodbyes and prepare their
respective armies for the upcoming
warfare.
Act V, Scene II

Only six lines long, Brutus begins the
battle of Philippi.
Act V, Scenes III - V

Stay tuned… the film version will show
you the fate some of the main
characters…
Aftermath
As seen, Brutus committed suicide, but
was shown respect by Mark Antony for his
honorable life.
 Cassius also committed suicide. Like
Brutus and the other conspirators, he was
not hailed as a liberator, but simply as an
assassin thanks to the propaganda of
Octavius.

Aftermath

Octavius returned to Rome
after the battle of Philippi
and used his influence to
increase his armies and
consolidate his power. He
was named as the heir to
Julius Caesar in Caesar’s
will. Julius Caesar was
declared to be a deity (god)
to the Roman people after
his assassination.
Aftermath

Mark Antony and Octavius eventually
clashed over power within the empire,
sending Lepidus into exile and leaving the
two of them to fight for ultimate power
over the Roman empire. Mark Antony was
based in the east (the region of Egypt)
while Octavius remained in Rome
Aftermath

Mark Antony
was linked
romantically
with
Cleopatra;
queen of
Egypt (as
Julius Caesar
had been
before)
Aftermath
Despite his ties to Cleopatra, Mark Antony
married Octavia, Octavian’s sister, to help mend
their deteriorating relationship / triumvirate. It
was her 2nd marriage and his 4th.
 Later he separated from Octavia, her two sons
from her first marriage and 2 daughters from his
marriage to her.
 He then married Cleopatra who, during their
separation, had given birth to twins by Antony, a
boy and a girl. They would have three children
together in total.

Aftermath
Back in Rome, Octavius used propaganda
to imply that Mark Antony intended to
defeat Rome and hand the Roman empire
over to Egypt and Cleopatra.
 Using Caesar’s former armies and new
allies, Octavius went to war with Antony
and Cleopatra.

Aftermath

Eventually, Mark Antony and Cleopatra
fought a final, historic naval battle with
Octavius called the battle of Actium.
Aftermath
Because their navies were being defeated,
Cleopatra withdrew from the battle with 60 ships
and Antony took a portion of his ships,
penetrated the enemy line and followed her.
 The remaining navy surrendered, as did
Antony’s ground forces. Approximately a year
later, Octavius’ armies were close to complete
victory over Antony and Cleopatra.

Aftermath

Following the loss in the battle of Actium and
Octavius’ imminent conquest, Mark Antony
committed suicide by falling on his sword
Aftermath

Rather than face humiliation or defeat,
Cleopatra also took her life, using a
poisonous serpent called an asp.
Aftermath


Following the death of
Antony and Cleopatra,
Octavius had Cleopatra’s
son by Julius Caesar;
Caesarian, killed (stating
“two Caesars are one too
many”)
He changed his title and
name to “Caesar
Augustus” and ruled the
Roman empire as its first
emperor from 27 B.C. to
14 A.D.
Aftermath
So, despite Brutus’ good intentions and the
deaths of many including Caesar, Cassius,
himself and Mark Antony, the actions of the
conspirators were ultimately unable to prevent
the rise of an emperor.
 For the next 200 years or so, Rome prospered
and expanded under various emperor-style
leaders in the “Pax Romana” or “Roman Peace,”
although it wasn’t always peaceful for Rome’s
enemies.

Aftermath