Julius Caesar Group

Question:

armitage182
armitage182

  1. In Julius Caesar, what is the purpose of picturing Octavius and Antony disagreeing about military strategy?

act 5

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Posted by armitage182 on Sunday August 12, 2007 at 4:51 PM and tagged with act 5, antony, characters, julius caesar, octavius.

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  1. bmadnick Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Octavius, Caesar's chosen successor, is showing that his words equal action just as his adopted father's did. In Act I, scene ii, Antony comments that "When Caesar says, 'Do this', it is performed." Caesar the father and Caesar the son (Octavius)both show their authority as powerful leaders. After Octavius disagrees with Antony, Antony refers to him as Caesar, establishing his permanence as the leader of Rome. Also, the fact that Octavius shows such authority in the last act suggests that the Roman Empire will be stable for the first time since Caesar's death.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/jc/act-v-scenes-4-5-summary-analysis

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    Posted by bmadnick on Sunday August 12, 2007 at 5:58 PM


  2. mrerick Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Another strong emphasis is placed on the juxtaposition of arguments between Oct/Ant and Brut/Cass.  There appears to be a struggle for power with-in both camps - something that would have been and still is!) common amongst most military campaigns.  It's important that the reader see how similar things are on both sides of the battle in order to form a personal opinion about the state of Rome and its potential new leader.

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    Posted by mrerick on Monday August 13, 2007 at 12:25 PM


  3. sagetrieb Teacher
    Doctorate

    Another way to understand this conflict is to see it in relation to their previous discussion concerning Lepidus in Act 4 and then in relation to the Brutus/Cassius conflict also in Act 4. Although Antony rouses he plebeians with rhetorical power after the assassination, we see a less attractive side of him when he and Octavius bargain over names on the death list and when he disparages Lepidus, both incidents suggesting he cherishes his own ambitions for political leadership over the good of Rome.  Also in Act 4, we see Brutus and Cassius argue, but they resolve their disagreements in a warm, very human way, and this resolution throws into relief the instability between the alliance of Antony and Octavius, causing us to see that Rome without Caesar might result only in confusion and uncertainty.  However, when the young Octavius overrules Antony in Act 5, we understand that he will become a good ruler for he appears just and strong, and his   decision to pardon and take into his service “all that served Brutus” confirms this, for he makes it independently and it is undisputed by Antony

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    Posted by sagetrieb on Tuesday August 14, 2007 at 11:07 AM