PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act IV, by William Shakespeare
Reading: Read Between the Lines
DIRECTIONS: Using your ability to read between the lines and to understand the characters and situations in Act IV, answer the following questions.
1. A. In the opening lines of Act IV, Scene i, Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus discuss which
Romans must die.
What specific individuals do they mention as being marked for death?
1. A. They mention the brother of Lepidus and the nephew of Antony.
1.B. What does this conversation reveal about the characters of these three men?
B. The fact that they are willing to kill their own relatives reveals that they are calculating and full of vengeance; they will stop at nothing to gain and maintain power.
2. A. At the beginning of Act IV, Scene iii, Brutus and Cassius call each other names and
argue about who is the better soldier when they should be planning how to defeat
Antony. Why do you think they are arguing in such a personal, petty way?
2. A. They are arguing in this way because they have such different perspectives and because they are overwhelmed by the real problems they face. Each man has hurt the other, and they are no longer sure they can trust each other.
2.B. What does this argument reveal about Brutus’ and Cassius’ leadership abilities?
2.B. Cassius and Brutus are divided and disorganized. They are not well matched to rule together. Each man lets his pride get in the way of doing what is best for Rome.
3. A. Why is Cassius so shocked when he finally hears the news of Portia’s death from Brutus?
What does Cassius mean when he says, “How scap’d I killing when I cross’d you so?”
3. A. Cassius cannot believe that Brutus has waited so long to tell him this terrible news and that he tells it so calmly. He cannot believe that a man who has just suffered such a loss could have controlled himself as well as Brutus did in their argument. He suggests that any other man would have killed the person who argued with him at such an emotional time.
3.B. In lines 146–191 of Act IV, Scene iii, how does Brutus react to the death of his wife, Portia?
What does his reaction reveal about his commitment to the philosophy of Stoicism?
3.B. Brutus reacts with very little emotion. His reaction shows that he is dedicated to living according to the principles of Stoicism, which advocated bearing misfortune bravely, without emotion.
