The tone and action of the play change significantly in the fourth act. Shakespeare has, in essence, given his audience two plays neatly packaged into one. Where a theme concerning civil liberty dominates the first three acts, a theme involving civil war takes over in the remaining two acts. Yet the central figure of the play, Marcus Brutus, smoothly unites the two parts. In both the first and second parts of the play, Brutus personally struggles with acting nobly and selflessly for the public good and maintaining a stoic calm in the midst of chaos. Fate has turned against Brutus. The one truly good man cannot hope to achieve success in a society and government where ruthlessness and cunning are necessary elements.
Such ruthlessness is evident in the first scene of the fourth act. With Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators driven from Rome, the new leaders of the Empire are Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus. These three men form the new Triumvirate – the three leaders who equally share the leadership of Rome. And their first order of business is to protect their government from those who would change it – to eliminate the threat posed by Cassius and Brutus.
The scene begins with the three leaders writing down a list of their enemies as Antony states, “These many, then, shall die” (1). This scene provides a sharp contrast to the scene where the conspirators meet to decide the details of the assassination (in Act II, 1). In that earlier scene, Brutus worried about their actions being too bloody, and he argued that Antony and other close followers should be allowed to live. The more ruthless Cassius had wanted Antony assassinated as well. And Brutus would have been wise to accept Cassius’ proposal. But Brutus was too noble, and he expected Antony to be as noble in response. Brutus made a mistake. He had allowed a snake (Antony) to live, and now that snake is coming back to bite him.
The new leaders of Rome, however, do not worry about being too bloody. Lepidus allows his own brother to be put on the death list, and Antony adds his own nephew to the list as well (lines 2-6). None of the new Triumvirate leaders allows his personal feelings or family considerations to interfere with the merciless business of permanently getting rid of their enemies.
The will of Julius Caesar, which Antony had lied about so effectively in the previous act, is mentioned again here (lines 8-9). But this time Antony is trying to figure out a way to cheat the heirs so that the Triumvirate can take the money for themselves in order to support their war against Brutus and Cassius. Antony’s true nature – his ruthless nature – thus reveals itself.
One further aspect of that ruthlessness appears after Lepidus leaves the other two men. Antony then remarks to Octavius that after the civil war is over, they should get rid of Lepidus. Antony notes that Lepidus is a weak leader and undeserving to be one of the rulers of such a vast empire. Yet Antony realizes that, for the moment, they need Lepidus and the army he leads to help them against the conspirators. But after the conspirators are killed, they will no longer need Lepidus. Octavius remarks that Lepidus is a brave and reliable solider, but Antony compares Lepidus to his horse (lines 29-40). Just because his horse has been brave and reliable during times of war, Antony would not make his horse a leader of Rome. Antony concludes his remarks about Lepidus with the following: “Do not talk of him but as a property” (39-40). And once that property or object is no longer useful, Antony will throw it away.
The killing of his nephew, the cheating of the heirs of Julius Caesar, and the cold decision to eliminate Lepidus: these three actions reveal the callous and cruel aspect of Antony’s true nature.
Brutus and Cassius at this time have fled from Rome and are now living in Sardis (a city in western Asia). But unlike Antony and Octavius, who are coolly in agreement about how to proceed, Brutus and Cassius are in conflict with each other. Brutus views Cassius as a “hot friend cooling” (19). Their once close friendship is no longer so close. Brutus is unhappy that Cassius and Cassius’ men have become corrupt and are accepting bribes to make quick money (lines 75-78). Cassius, on the other hand, is angry that Brutus condemned and humiliated one of his men for taking bribes (lines 54-55). Brutus feels that their honorable notions about eliminating a tyrant have become dishonored by Cassius’s open corruption. So, a heated argument between the two men then occurs.
A careful reader should keep in mind that Brutus is a stoic – he follows the philosophy of stoicism and the notion that a man should always be in control of his emotions. Yet, in this scene, Brutus does become quite emotional. He becomes quite angry with Cassius. The dialogue is not only emotionally charged; it is also childish:
BRUTUS I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.
CASSSIUS Brutus, bay not me.
I’ll not endure it. You forget yourself
To hedge me in. I am a soldier, I, Older in practice, abler than yourself To make conditions.
BRUTUS Go to, you are not, Cassius.
CASSIUS I am.
BRUTUS I say you are not.
CASSIUS Urge me no more, I shall forget myself.
(79-88)
The dialogue is not unlike two schoolboys in a schoolyard getting ready to fight: “I’m stronger.” “No, I’m stronger.” “No, I am.” Brutus even dares Cassius to start the fight (lines 105-06), but Cassius knows that Brutus is a better soldier and backs down.
Brutus then complains to Cassius how he denied him money when he asked for a loan (lines 130-32). The expenses of war are high, and Brutus is in great need of money to maintain his army. So, he is upset that Cassius – his friend – refused to help him.
Cassius in all likelihood did refuse Brutus the money. But Cassius claims that his messenger had made a mistake (lines 138-39). Cassius is smart enough to know that without Brutus, he will stand no chance against the armies Antony and Octavius. He needs Brutus. So, Cassius makes an impassioned plea, an emotional appeal, to Brutus and claims that he loves Brutus like a brother (line 150). Cassius even dramatically gives Brutus his dagger (line 154) and tells Brutus to stab him rather than to hate him. The dramatics work. Brutus calms down, and the two men become friends once more.
The curious reader should wonder why Brutus, the cool and rational stoic, should become so intensely emotional over money. But, Brutus’ emotional state actually has a far different cause; and that cause concerns his wife.