ENGLISH LITERATURE
JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 4, SCENE 3
STD 8
Overview: As soon as Cassius and Brutus are within the tent, Cassius accuses Brutus of having
wronged him by condemning Lucius Pella for taking bribes from the Sardians, in spite of
Cassius' letters in his defense. Brutus replies that Cassius should not have written defending such
a cause, and Brutus charges him with having an "itching palm" — that is, Cassius has been
selling offices. Brutus reminds Cassius that it was for the sake of justice that they killed Caesar,
and he says strongly that he would "rather be a dog and bay the moon" than be a Roman who
would sell his honor for money. The quarrel grows in intensity as Cassius threatens Brutus, but
Brutus ignores his threats. Brutus reminds Cassius of his failure to send sums of gold that Brutus
had requested for his troops. Cassius denies this and laments that his friend no longer loves him;
he invites Brutus to kill him. Finally the two men are reconciled and they grasp one another's
hands in renewed friendship.
Octavius and Antony are marching with their armies toward Philippi and that they "put to death
an hundred senators," including Cicero. Messala also reports the death of Portia, but Brutus
stoically gives no indication that he already knows of her suicide. He proposes that they march
toward Philippi to meet the enemy at once. Cassius disagrees, maintaining that it would be better
to wait for the enemy to come to them. This strategy would weary the enemy forces while their
own men remain fresh. Brutus persists, however, and Cassius at last gives in to him.
When his guests have departed, Brutus tells his servant Lucius to call some of his men to sleep
with him in his tent. Varro and Claudius enter and offer to stand watch while Brutus sleeps, but
he urges them to lie down and sleep as well. Brutus then asks Lucius to play some music. Lucius
sings briefly, then falls asleep. Brutus resumes reading a book he has begun, but he is suddenly
interrupted by the entry of Caesar's ghost. Brutus asks the ghost if it is "some god, some angel, or
some devil," and it says that it is "thy evil spirit." It has appeared only to say that they will meet
again at Philippi. The ghost then disappears, whereupon Brutus calls to Lucius, Varro, and
Claudius, all of whom he accuses of crying out in their sleep. They all swear that they have seen
and heard nothing.
1
Answer the following with reference to the context.
Ref I. “The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.”
1. Who is the speaker of the above lines? What „corruption‟ is he talking about?
Brutus says the above lines. He is criticising Cassius for having an itching palm to sell and mart
his offices for gold to undeservers(unworthy people).
2. Why does Cassius feel that he has been wronged by Brutus?
Cassius feels that he has been wronged by Brutus as Brutus had condemn’d and noted Lucius
Pella for taking bribes from the Sardians and Cassius’ letters taking his side as he knew Lucius.
3. Why does Brutus remind Cassius about the ides of March?
Brutus reminds Cassius about the ides of March to tell him about the reason for killing Caesar.
He asks him if there was anyone so villainous as to stab Caesar for some other reason than the
cause of justice. He also asks him whether one of them who struck the foremost man(Caesar) of
the world, would contaminate their fingers with base bribes and sell the mighty positions of their
great honours for so much trash as may be grabbed. He tells Cassius he would rather be a dog
and bay the moon than be such a Roman.
4. Why wouldn‟t Cassius endure Brutus‟ anger?
Cassius wouldn’t endure Brutus’ anger because he says that Brutus forgets himself to hedge him
in. Cassius is a soldier, older in practice and abler than Brutus to make conditions.
Ref II. Cassius: O ye gods! ye gods! Must I endure all this?
Brutus: All this? ay, more: fret till your proud heart break…
1. What should Cassius endure according to Brutus?
Brutus tells Cassius to fret till his proud heart breaks. He asks Cassius to show his slaves how
angry he is and make his bondmen tremble. He asks if he must budge, observe him or stand and
crouch under his testy humour. Brutus tells Cassius that he could digest the venom of his spleen
(anger) for from that day onwards he would use Cassius for his mirth and laughter when he is
waspish (bad-tempered).
2. a. What has Cassius done for which he should be sorry?
Brutus tells Cassius that he should be sorry for what he has done. Brutus had asked him for
certain sums of gold to pay his army which Cassius denied. He tells Cassius that he would rather
turn his heart into gold and his drops of blood into silver coins (drachmas) than squeeze the
unwilling (hardworking) hands of the peasants to get their poor money by any dishonourable
means.
b. What does Cassius reply to this?
Cassius says that he did not deny him but the messenger was only a fool that brought his answer
back and that Brutus had riv’d (torn) his heart.
2
Ref III. Cassius: Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius…
1. Why does Cassius say the above words? How does he express his grief?
Cassius says the above words as he is aweary (tired) of the world. He is hated by the one he
loves, brav’d (defied) by his brother and check’d like a bondman (corrected like a slave). All his
faults are observ’d, set in a notebook and conn’d by rote to throw in his face.
He expresses his grief when he says that he could die of grief. There was his dagger and naked
breast; within a heart which is dearer than Pluto’s mine, richer than gold and he challenges them
to take it out and strike him like they did to Caesar and further adds that he, who had denied gold
shall give his heart because he knows that when they hated Caesar worst, they loved him more
than they had ever loved Cassius.
2. What does Brutus compare Cassius‟ anger to?
Brutus compares Cassius’ anger to a flint that does not give fire until it has been struck
repeatedly and with violence, it gives a brief spark and is immediately cold again.
3. How do Brutus and Cassius reconcile?
Cassius tells Brutus to be patient with him as the rash humour that his mother gave him makes
him forget himself. To this Brutus replies that when Cassius is over-earnest (too hard on) with
Brutus, he would think that Cassius’ mother chides and leave it at that.
Ref IV. Brutus: Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philipi presently?
1. Why does Cassius think that marching to Philippi was not good?
Cassius thinks that marching to Philippi was not good because it would be better that the enemy
found them so that they would exhaust his supplies, weary his soldiers, harming himself whilst
they, lying still in the same place, will be full of rest, defence and nimbleness.
2. How does Brutus justify his decision of marching to Philippi?
Brutus says that good reasons must of force give place to better and the people between Philippi
and this field were their friends in a forc’d affection as they are unwilling to supply them. The
enemy marching along with them, will increase in size and advance refresh’d and encourag’d
and that they shall cut him off of this advantage if they face him at Philippi with these people at
their back.
3. In spite of Cassius pleading of Brutus to listen to him, how does Brutus convince him to
march to Philippi?
Brutus tells Cassius that they have tried the utmost of their friends and their legions are brim-full
and their case is ripe. The enemy increases everyday and they in their force are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood leads to fortune and if omitted
(men fail to take the opportunity presented to them), all the voyages of their life are stranded in
shallow water and in miseries. Since they are now afloat on such a high tide, they must take the
current when it serves or lose their ventures.
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