Act 5, Scene 1
On the plains of Philippi, Octavius and Antony discuss the situation. Octavius says the enemy is planning to attack,
contrary to what Antony had suggested. Antony replies that they are just putting on a false show of courage. The
two men prepare for battle, although they disagree on tactics. Antony wants Octavius to take the left side of the
field, while he takes the right. Octavius wants it the other way around.
Before the battle begins, Octavius, Antony, Brutus and Cassius meet and trade insults. Cassius reproaches Brutus
for sparing Antony's life. If he had not done so, they would not now have to listen to his aggressive words. Octavius
says he will not stop until Caesar's death is avenged. Cassius denounces him as a schoolboy who does not deserve
the honor of being killed by Brutus; he also insults Antony's love of revelry. Antony and Octavius depart, ready for
battle.
Cassius tells his servant Messala that it is his birthday. He also tells of an omen: as they journeyed from Sardis, two
eagles swooped down and perched on their banner. The eagles remained there all the way to Philippi. But that
morning they departed. In their place are ravens, crows and kites, who make "a canopy most fatal, under
which/Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost" (88-9) and look down on Cassius's army as if they were prey. He
fears that this is a bad omen. Messala urges him not to believe it, and Cassius says he only partly does, and he is
fresh and ready for battle.
Cassius asks Brutus what he plans to do if they should lose the battle. Brutus rejects suicide, calling it "cowardly
and vile" (104), but he also insists that he will never return to Rome as a prisoner. Before they rally the troops,
Cassius and Brutus bid a solemn farewell to one another:
If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;
If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.
Act 5, Scene 2
The battle has begun. Brutus sees an opportunity to strike Octavius' forces, which appear to be weakening, and he
sends Cassius orders to attack immediately.
Act 5, Scene 3
The battle goes badly for Cassius's troops. Cassius angrily reports that his own soldiers have run from the enemy.
Brutus appears to be having some success, but his soldiers have fallen to looting.
Pindarus tells Cassius to flee because Antony's troops are upon them. Cassius refuses. He sends Titinius to
investigate whether there really are enemy soldiers at their tents, as Pindarus told him. He sends Pindarus higher
up the hill to gather information. But Cassius knows in his heart that he is defeated. Pindarus reports that Titinius
has been captured.
Titinius is enclosed round about
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.
Now, Titinius! Now some light.
O, he lights too. He's ta'en. (28-32)
This is the final blow for Cassius. He orders Pindarus to help him commit suicide:
Come hither, sirrah:
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;
Now be a freeman: and with this good sword,
That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom. (36-42)
Pindarus holds the sword steady. Cassius impales his chest on the blade. "Caesar, thou art revenged/Even with the
sword that kill'd thee." (45-6).
Titanius and Messala enter, reporting that Brutus has triumphed over Octavius even as Cassius's army has fallen to
Antony. They discover the dead Cassius. Titanius laments that Cassius killed himself because he misunderstood the
situation. Titanius had in fact been welcomed and treated like a friend; he had not been captured at all.
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee?
Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing! (80-85)
Filled with grief, he kills himself.
Brutus enters with Messala, who has brought him the news of Cassius's death. Brutus exclaims that Caesar is
mighty yet, and it is his spirit that has caused their defeat. He laments the death of two great Romans, and then tells
his generals to prepare for another round of battle.
He cries,
"Are yet two Romans living such as these?/The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!" (98-9). For Cassius he
has special words:
Friends, I owe more tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.
I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time. (102-3)
He laments the death of two great Romans, and then tells his generals to prepare for another round of battle.
This scene is a good illustration of what is sometimes called the "fog of war." Reliable information is hard to come
by, and Cassius dies because of it.
Act 5, Scene 4
Antony proves too strong and Brutus is forced to retreat. He orders his men to remain fighting on the field. Lucilius
pretends to be Brutus and is captured. When Antony arrives he sees that they have the wrong man, but he praises
Lucilius' bravery and spares his life.
Act 5, Scene 5
Brutus and his few remaining servants gather at a rock. He asks Clitus and then Dardanius to kill him to avoid
capture, but they refuse. He then implores Volumnius as a friend to help him commit suicide. But Volumnius too
refuses: "That's not an office for a friend, my lord." (29). As the enemy troops draw near, Clitus, Dardanius, and
Volumnius flee and Brutus remains behind with another servant, Strato. He convinces Strato to hold the sword for
him as he runs upon it. With his final words Brutus addresses Caesar:
Caesar, now be still:
I kill'd not thee with half so good a will. (50-1)
Antony and Octavius arrive and find Brutus' body. Antony, knowing that Brutus was a valiant defender of Rome,
delivers a tribute befitting so honest a man:
This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators save only he
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
He only, in a general honest thought
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world 'This was a man!' (68-75)
Octavius sends Brutus' body to his own tent until they can arrange a proper burial and the play comes to close: "So
call the field to rest; and let's away/To part the glories of this happy day" (80-81).
Mabillard, Amanda. Julius Caesar Plot Summary. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. 5 Oct. 2012. Web <
http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/juliuscaesar/juliuscaesarps3.html >.