Overview Act V Julius Caesar

Overview Act V

Bill Long

Narrative Flow and Themes

Act V describes the decisive battle of Philippi in which Brutus and Cassius fall to the combined forces of Antony and Octavian. Instead, therefore, of bringing the desired "liberty, freedom and enfranchisement (3.1.81)," the conspirators "misconstrue everything (5.3.84)," and end up on the losing end. Though Act V has many significant and memorable lines, Shakespeare continues to struggle in this Act in integrating these lines with the flow of the scenes and the portrayal of characters. The significant scenes are 5.1, 5.3 and 5.5.

5.1.--Trading Insults, Exchanging Philosophies

Before battle is joined, the principals enter into the ritual exchange of insults, a common theme in Shakespeare's plays. Antony's words are described as so sweet (i.e., deceptive) that they "rob the [legendary-for-their-sweetness] Hybla bees,/ And leave them honeyless (5.1.34-35)." Whereas Antony "buzzes" before he stings, giving the listeners some warning of his activity, the conspirators are upbraided by Antony for not giving any kind of warning to Caesar. They simply attacked him like a pack of animals (5.1.39-44). Ultimately, Antony and Octavian see themselves as the avengers of Caesar's "three and thirty wounds (5.1.53)." On the other hand, Brutus and Cassius see themselves facing "A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honor,/ Join'd with a master and a reveller (5.1.61-62)!" Though the battle lines are clearly drawn, Cassius lets drop an intersting line. When Antony calls them "flatterers," Cassius responds that Brutus ought to thank himself because "This tongue [i.e., Antony's] had not offended so to-day,/ If Cassius might have rul'd [i.e., if Cassius' will with respect to Antony, to kill him, had been observed, 5.1.46-47]. Is this a lingering hurt that Cassius bears?

The principals draw back to prepare for battle, and Cassius and Brutus are left discussing philosophy. Cassius expresses his fears. Though he had been an Epicurean all along, and thus did not believe in Gods sending messages through omens, now he has witnessed eagles being replace by "ravens, crows, and kites" (5.1.84) flying over their march--"a canopy most fatal (5.1.87)." A "death bed" conversion to Stoicism for Cassius. Meanwhile, Brutus asserts his continued commitment to Platonism by eschewing the suicide option. However, when Cassius asks him if he is ready to be paraded in Rome when he may be captured, Brutus responds that he would not permit himself to be so displayed, "He (Brutus) bears to great a mind (5.1.112)." Whatever this is supposed to mean, Brutus continues to strike the reader as a man not fully in touch with the realities around him.

5.3. Cassius' Death

Cassius' troops flee when joined in battle against Antony, and he retreats to a hill while sending Titinius to explore the damage more closely. However, Cassius must rely on a foreigner, Pindarus, taken in the Parthian campaign (53 B.C.), to report on Titinius' exploits because "My (Cassius') sight was ever thick (5.3.21)." Even before Pindarus reports that Titinius seems to be surrounded and taken, Cassius gives up hope, exclaiming that "my life is run his compass (5.3.25)." When Pindarus report that horsemen surround and take Titinius [they could have been friendly or enemy horsemen], Cassius in his frame of mind construes them as enemies who seize Titinius, and asks Pindarus to kill him. Some very rich lines lamenting the death of Cassius, and how "thou (Cassius) has misconstrued every thing (5.3.84)" follow. Finally, Brutus enters and laments that he will be unable to show appropriate grief for Cassius at this time because the battle is raging.

5.5 Brutus's Death

Battle is joined a second time, and Brutus recognizes his end is near. Finally, his emotions overcome him and a servant remarks that "Now is that noble vessel full of grief,/ That it runs over even at his eyes (5.5.13-14)." If Cassius uses language of the wheel of time (a compass) to signal his awareness of his imminent death, Brutus uses Christological language. He, like Jesus of the Fourth Gospel, knows "My hour is come (5.5.20)." But no one seems to want to kill him, and nearly 50 lines are taken up deciding how Brutus is to die. Finally, he runs on his own sword (5.5.49), belying the Platonist philosophy which he solemnly avowed in 5.1. Though few words are provided to interpret Cassius' death in 5.3, Antony appears to provide a rich description of the "meaning" of Brutus's life (5.5.68ff.). In words frequently quoted, Antony says of Brutus, "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 (5.5.73-75)!" Octavian, however, has the last words of the play, affirming the intention to honor Brutus and then get away, "To part the glories of this happy day (5.5.81)." This line presents a final irony; Julius Caesar is a tragedy, yet the last words announce a happy day. Complexity thus continues to the very last words of the play.