Friday, October 12, 2012

In Act IV scene 3 of Julius Caesar, how do the two allies pacify one another?

As this scene opens we are presented with a side that
obviously has clear divisions that are opening up between them and threatening to tear
the conspirators apart. Firstly, Cassius is angry with Brutus because of how he punished
Lucius Pella for accepting bribes, but then Brutus is also angry with Cassius because,
according to him, Cassius did not give Brutus money when he asked for it to pay for more
legions. The only thing that (temporarily) pacifies the two of them is when Cassius
threatens to commit suicide to prove his love and loyalty of Brutus. Note what Cassius
says:



For
Cassius is aweary of the world:


Hated by one he loves;
braved by his brother;


Checked like a bondman; all his
faults observed,


Set in a notebook, learned and conned by
rote


To cast into my teeth. O, I could
weep


My spirit from mine
eyes!



Of course, we don't
know whether Cassius is being sincere here or whether this is another deliberately
calculated move to manipulate Brutus, as he has already done so successfully. What is
clear however is that although the situation is temporarily pacified, we as an audience
question how long it will be until these issues flare up again.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What accomplishments did Bill Clinton have as president?

Of course, Bill Clinton's presidency will be most clearly remembered for the fact that he was only the second president ever...