Julius Caesar Act V Scene 1

Extract 1
Octavius: They mean to warn us at Philippi here, …
Antony: … To fasten in our thoughts that they have courage,
But ‘tis not so.
1. Who are ‘they’ referred to in line 1? What warning would they give? From where
would they come to Philippi?
• The ‘they’ referred to in line 1 refers to Brutus and Cassius.
• They would give a warning of battle. They would come from Sardis to Philippi.

2. Give the meaning of:

(a) Answering before we do demand of them.
• Octavius implies that the conspirators would answer the challenge of battle even
before they had made it or in other words they would start the battle.

(b) I am in their bosoms.

• Antony replies to Octavius that he knows well enough what is in the hearts of the
conspirators.

3. Whose military strategy has dictated that the battle should take place at Philippi?
What had Brutus argued regarding this strategy?
• Brutus’s military strategy had dictated the venue of the battle.
• Cassius had suggested that they better wait for the enemy to advance instead of going
to Philippi.
• But Brutus had insisted that they should avail the strategic advantage they had over
the enemy because the people who lived between Sardis and Philippi were only loyal
to them out of fear of their force.
• They only gave them men and money for their army only because they felt they had
to/ under duress.
• The enemy, marching past them, would be able to grow by recruiting them.
• Then they would come at them refreshed, newly reinforced and confident.

4. What did Octavius hope that the enemy would do? What according to him is the
intention of the enemy?
• Octavius had hoped that the enemy would warn them at Philippi.
• According to Octavius, the enemy intended to challenge them before they had put up
a challenge from their side.

5. What, according to Antony, is the planning of the enemy? Why does Antony feel so
confident that he knows what the enemy intends to show?
• According to Antony, the enemy planned to come down to Philippi and challenge
them in order to show off their courage.
• Antony felt so as he knew the crafty brain of Cassius and also what was in the hearts
of their enemies.

Extract 2
Cassius: Now, Brutus, thank yourself ….
Octavius: Come, come, the cause: ….
Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.
1. Whose is the “tongue” of which Cassius speaks? Give the substances of what the
tongue had said which so “offended” Cassius.
• Cassius speaks of the tongue of Antony.

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 • Antony had called Brutus and Cassius as villains and traitors who flattered and
then killed Caesar.
• Antony calling them villains, traitors and flatterers offended Cassius.

2. Give a brief explanation of the earlier episode that Cassius is referring to when he
reminds Brutus that he has only himself to think for the present situation.
• Cassius refers to the earlier episode when the conspirators had been discussing the
assassination of Caesar.
• Cassius had suggested that Mark Antony should also be killed but Brutus had
objected to it.
• Hence, Cassius reminds Brutus that Antony would not have offended them in the
present situation if Brutus had listened to him and killed him too.

3. Give the comments made by Cassius, in his next speech, when he scornfully describes
Octavius.
• Cassius scornfully describes Octavius as a peevish school boy who is not worthy
of such honour
• And he has now allied with a reveller.

4. What does Octavius mean by “the cause”? State in your own words the meaning of
the last two lines of the passage – “or till another Caesar … sword of traitors.”
• Octavius means that the reason for their talk is to start the battle.
• Octavius says that they he will only sheath his sword when Caesar’s death is
avenged or he himself is killed.

5. Was Octavius successful in his task of vengeance? How does the play end?
• Octavius was successful in his task of vengeance.
• The play ends with the triumphant victory of Antony and Octavius but also with
the death of Brutus and Cassius.

Extract 3
Cassius: This is my birthday; as this very day ….
And partly credit things that do presage.
1. Who was Pompey? Why is he referred to in the extract?
• Pompey the Great was one of the main Roman military leaders and statesmen
during the final decades of the Roman Republic.
• He made a political alliance with Julius Caesar,
• married his daughter and then fought against him for control of the empire.
• He was defeated by Caesar and later murdered.
• He is referred to in this extract because Pompey was defeated decisively at the
Battle of Pharsalus on which all his fortunes depended
• Just like the fortunes of Cassius and Brutus are dependent on the battle of Philippi.

2. What is Cassius compelled to do? Who has compelled him? How? What would be the
outcome of the decision which he is compelled to take?
• Cassius like Pompey is compelled to bet all of his freedom on one battle.
• He is compelled by Brutus who has decided to meet and engage armies of Antony
and Octavius at Philippi.
• The outcome pf this decision to fight the battle at Philippi would be defeat.

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 3. Who is Epicurus? What was his view? If Cassius held the view point of Epicurus,
what makes him now to change his mind?
• Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who argued that people should pursue
pleasure and de-emphasized the role of the Gods.
• Cassius had changed his view point seeing the ravens and crows following his
army which seemed a sign of defeat.
• Moreover, he had lost his aggressive and confident stance and appeared more like
a philosopher and not a proactive soldier like he was before.

4. Give the meaning of:

Be thou my witness that against my will,
And partly credit things that do presage.

• Cassius requests Messala to be his witness that he has been forced against his
desire, as Pompey was, to bet all of their freedoms on one battle.
• He reiterates that he used to believe in Epicurus’ position that the gods did not
send omens
• But he has changed his mind and partly believes in signs that foretell what is
to come.
• And then both wish each other farewell.
• Brutus says that if they meet again they “would smile and if not then this
parting was well done.”

5. Comment briefly on the uncertainty which Cassius feels about the outcome of the
battle that day. How do Brutus and Cassius wish each other farewell at the end of the
scene?
• Cassius hints that he is prepared for a possible defeat by saying that he is going to
battle against his will like Pompey who did so and was defeated in battle.
• Like Brutus he had become philosophical.
• In fact his questioning Brutus about whether he would like to go to Rome in chains or
commit suicide show that he was already accepting defeat in the impending battle.

Extract 4
Cassius: Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign …
Messala: Believe not so.
1. In this extract, Cassius narrates something he has seen. What is it? Did he believe in
the significance of such things earlier in his life? Why?
• Cassius tells Messala that he had seen two great eagles at Sardis which ate from the
hands of their soldiers,
• But in the morning he found that the eagles were gone and in their place ravens,
crows and kites had appeared signifying defeat. Cassius, earlier in his life did not
believe in such things as he firmly believed in Epicurus, who was an ancient Greek
philosopher who argued that people should pursue pleasure and de-emphasized the
role of the Gods.

2. Give the meaning of: “As we are sickly prey: their shadows seem / A canopy most
fatal.” What do these lines signify?
• Cassius here refers to the ravens and crows that fly overhead following his army.
• Their shadows are like a deadly canopy, under which their army lies, ready to die.
• These lines signify defeat and death to Brutus and Cassius.

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 3. What did Cassius see on the previous day and on that particular morning? What do
these signs signify?
• Cassius on the previous day had seen two great eagles eating from the hands of his
soldiers
• and on that particular morning instead of the eagles there were ravens, kites and crows
looking at them as if they were a prey to them.
• These signify defeat to the conspirators and ultimately their death.

4. How can you conclude from what Cassius says, a little later, that he was prepared for
a possible defeat?
• Cassius hints that he is prepared for a possible defeat by saying that he is going to
battle against his will like Pompey who did so and was defeated in battle.
• Later he asks Brutus if he would be prepared to commit suicide or walk through
Rome in chains hinting that he could foresee their defeat in the battle.
• He tells Brutus that hopefully the gods will be kind to them but “let’s think about the
worst that may happen.”
• This shows that he was prepared for defeat.

5. How does Brutus console him?

• Brutus consoles Cassius by telling that hate cannot be stopped and hence they should
strengthen themselves with patience and wait for what might happen in the future.
• Brutus advises him against suicide as he believes it is cowardly and vile to cut off
your life early by suicide, in order to prevent possible suffering later on.

Extract 5
Brutus: Even by the rule of that philosophy …
That govern us below.
1. Who is Cato? Give details of his philosophy.
• Marcus Cato, Brutus’uncle and father-in-law, was famous for his support of the
Roman Republic, Stoicism, stubborn adherence to his principals, and his choice to kill
himself rather than be taken prisoner by Julius Caesar.
• Cato applied Stoic principles (A Stoic that thinks that as long as they can think and
behave virtuously that they need not concern themselves with the impact of external
events that lay outside of their control) to fight against corruption and uphold justice.
• He was admired for his unwavering integrity and his dedication to the greater good.
• His commitment to virtue and the Republic made him an inspiration to those who
sought to preserve Rome’s traditional values.

2. Why didn’t Cato follow that philosophy till the end of his life? Name two characters
in the play who were the followers of that philosophy.
• One of the central principles of Stoicism is that you must not let yourself be
emotionally affected by the misfortunes of life, whether they are by chance or
predestined by Fate.
• Cato committed suicide when defeated hence did not follow this philosophy till the
end of his life.
• Brutus and Portia were the two stoics in Julius Caesar.
• Portia died by swallowing burning coals and Brutus by suicide.

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 3. How did Brutus and Cassius bid farewell to each other? Why were their words at the
farewell prophetic?
• Cassius walks back to join Brutus and comments that the future looks uncertain; if
they lose, they may never see each other again.
• Cassius asks Brutus if Brutus would allow himself to be led through Rome as a
captive should they lose.
• Brutus replied that he would rather die than go to Rome as a defeated prisoner;
• he declares that “this day must end that work the Ides of March begun”- that is, the
battle represents the final stage in the struggle for power that began with the murder
of Caesar.
• He bids Cassius “for ever and for ever farewell.”
• And then both wish each other farewell.
• Brutus says that of they meet again they”would smile and if not then this parting was
well done.”
• Cassius too wishes him farewell and says,
• “If we meet again , we’ll smile indeed.
If not, it’s true this parting was well done.”
• Their words are prophetic as they never meet again and are defeated in battle and thus
comes to an end what they had begun on the day of the Ides of March by killing
Caesar.

4. Give the meaning of:

For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life.
Brutus explains his views on suicide. He finds it cowardly and vile; to cut off your life
early by suicide, in order to prevent possible suffering later on.

5. What does Brutus say to indicate that he was a true Roman soldier? Do you think he
proved himself? Give reasons to justify your answer.
• Brutus honourably says that he will never go to Rome in chains as he says , “He bears
too great a mind.”
• It shows that Brutus bears Rome as a truly great state and does not want to go in a
disgraced manner back to Rome.
• He truly believed that he had done an honourable deed in killing Caesar and so could
never go back dishonoured in chains.

Extract 6
Cassius: Then, if we lose this battle, …
Brutus: No, Cassius, … Therefore our everlasting farewell take.
1. What has Brutus just said which makes Cassius say the words given in the extract?
Which Roman practice is referred to in Cassius’ speech?
• Brutus says that he will never commit suicide as it is a cowardly act according to
Stoicism.
• Cassius had earlier referred to the Epicurean in his speech.
• Epicurus was an ancient Greek philosopher who argued that people should pursue
pleasure and de-emphasized the role of the Gods.

2. State briefly to what extent Brutus bears a great mind.

• Brutus says that he will never go to Rome in chains or commit suicide which,
according to the Stoic philosophy he believes in, is a cowardly act.
• It shows that Brutus bears a great mind.

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3. What was begun on the ides of March? How will the words of Brutus be prophetic?
• The task of reforming Rome from tyranny and making it a Republic again had begun
on the day of the Ides of March by killing Julius Caesar.
• The words of Brutus are prophetic as he ends his life later in the play for ending the
task he had begun.

4. Do Cassius and Brutus meet again? Why?

• Cassius and Brutus do not meet again as they both kill themselves to prevent their
capture by Antony and Octavius.

5. Brutus and Cassius are affected by the latest events. This makes them act in a different
way than their normal behaviour. Give one incident to illustrate this.
• Brutus is affected by Portia’s death and he becomes short tempered which is normally
the character trait of Cassius.
• Cassius, on the contrary, had become philosophical like Brutus which is depicted
when he says it was his birthday and he thinks it will also be his death day.
• Cassisus never believed in signs and omens but when he sees the crows and ravens he
believes them to be a sign of defeat in the impending battle.

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