ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. According to Cassius, how has Brutus done wrong to him?
(a) By calling him a trustworthy of Caesar
(b) By condemning Lucius Pella for taking bribes
(c) By brushing aside his letters in defence of Lucius Pella
(d) Both (b) and (c).
Ans. (d) Both (b) and (c).
2. Why does Brutus remind Cassius of the month of March?
(a) To remind him of his cruelty
(b) To remind him that Caesar was murdered for the sake of justice
(c) To remind him of the similar fate awaiting him
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) To remind him that Caesar was murdered for the sake of justice
3. What does Brutus say he would like to be rather than be a Roman with a low character?
(a) An ass
(b) A horse
(c) A dog
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) A dog
4. With whom has Brutus compared Cassius’ irritable mood?
(a) A wasp
(b) A snake
(c) A dog
(d) A lion
Ans. (a) A wasp
5. In which trait does Cassius say he is better than Brutus?
(a) Soldier
(b) Orator
(c) Planner
(d) Organiser
Ans. (a) Soldier
6. Why does Brutus ask Cassius for certain sum of money?
(a) He cannot ask anybody else
(b) He cannot take it from Caesar’s legacy
(c) He cannot raise it himself by foul means
(d) All of the above
Ans. (c) He cannot raise it himself by foul means
7. What would Brutus do to raise money rather than using foul means?
(a) Convert his property into money
(b) Convert his enemies into his friends
(c) Convert his heart into pieces of money
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (c) Convert his heart into pieces of money
8. Who would overlook a friend’s fault, according to Brutus?
(a) A selfish man
(b) A flatter’s eye
(c) An arrogant man
(d) An evil man
Ans. (b) A flatter’s eye
9. With whom has Brutus compared his gentle nature?
(a) A goat
(b) A mule
(c) A lamb
(d) None of the above
Ans. (c) A lamb
10. How does Brutus carry anger within his nature?
(a) As a flint carries fire
(b) As a drop of water
(c) As a match stick
(d) As a wick of a candle
Ans. (a) As a flint carries fire
11. What reason does Brutus give for his anger?
(a) His misfortune
(b) His grief
(c) His failures
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) His grief
12. How did Portia die?
(a) By jumping from Mount Olympus
(b) By drowning in the sea
(c) By swallowing poison
(d) By swallowing burning coals
Ans. (d) By swallowing burning coals
13. What was Brutus’ fear in waiting for the enemy at Sardis?
(a) Local population would attack them
(b) Local population would join the enemy
(c) The enemy would approach them from other side
(d) All of the above.
Ans. (b) Local population would join the enemy
14. Messala brings the news of killing of which of the following senators by Antony and Octavius?
(a) Lecilius
(b) Titinus
(c) Cicero
(d) Cassius
Ans. (c) Cicero
15. What does the ghost of Caesar stand for?
(a) Spirit of Caesar, restless for revenge
(b) Spirit of Caesar, restless for saving Roman Republic
(c) Spirit of Caesar, restless for being betrayed by Brutus
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Spirit of Caesar, restless for revenge
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Brutus
You wrong’d yourself to write in such a case.
Cassius
In such a time as this it is not meet
That every nice offence should bear his comment.
Brutus
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself.
(i) Where are Brutus and Cassius at this time? State briefly what charge Brutus lays against Cassius.
Ans. Brutus and Cassius are in Brutus’s tent in the military camp near Sardis. The main charge Brutus lays against Cassius is corruption, specifically having an ‘itching palm’, meaning Cassius is accepting bribes and selling official positions in the army to undeserving men for money.
(ii) What had Cassius just complained of, to make Brutus say, “You wronged “yourself”? Explain the meaning of Brutus’ words.
Ans. Cassius had just complained that Brutus had condemned Lucius Pella for taking bribes and had ignored Cassius’s letters written in Pella’s defense. When Brutus says, ‘You wrong’d yourself’, he means that Cassius damaged his own honor and reputation by defending a corrupt man. By choosing to support a briber, Cassius has implicated himself in the dishonorable act.
(iii) What advice is Cassius giving Brutus in this extract? Do you think that Cassius was being practical?
Ans. In this extract, Cassius is advising Brutus that in a critical time of war, facing powerful enemies, it is not appropriate to comment on or punish every petty offense. Essentially, Cassius is urging Brutus to relax his strict moral standards and overlook minor corruption for the sake of unity and practicality. Yes, Cassius was being practical; he recognized that in wartime, maintaining absolute moral purity is often impossible and that harsh punishment for every small offense could undermine their fragile alliance.
(iv) What did Brutus accuse Cassius of when he said, “Let me tell you yourself…”? How did Cassius react to this?
Ans. When Brutus says, ‘Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself…,’ he is preparing to accuse Cassius directly of having an ‘itching palm’, being personally guilty of accepting bribes and selling offices. Cassius reacted to this accusation with fury and disbelief. He shouted, ‘I an itching palm!’ and immediately issued a death threat, warning Brutus that if anyone else had spoken that speech, it would have been their last.
(v) In the argument which continues between these two, Brutus accuses Cassius of other faults. Point out two of these faults, and say how Cassius reacted to these accusations. Do you think Brutus was being fair to Cassius?
Ans. Two other faults Brutus accuses Cassius of in the continuing argument are denying him gold to pay his legions and displaying rash, uncontrollable anger, which Brutus compares to the staring of a madman. Cassius reacted to the accusation of denying gold by denying it completely, blaming the messenger, and becoming dramatically emotional, claiming Brutus had ‘rived his heart’. Regarding the anger, Cassius initially challenged Brutus’s authority and tried to maintain his furious indignation, but eventually broke down, offered Brutus his dagger, and later attributed his temper to a ‘rash humour which my mother gave me’. Brutus was arguably not being entirely fair to Cassius. While Cassius was certainly corrupt in his practices, Brutus’s relentless moralizing and public humiliation of his friend, especially when he himself was suffering from grief, pushed their relationship to the breaking point. His use of his own superior virtue to demand submission was a form of unfair emotional cruelty.
2. Brutus
The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
Cassius
Chastisement!
Brutus
Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?
What villian touch’d his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us. .
(i) What sort of corruption is referred to in the extract? What has been the reaction of Cassius, just before this extract, to this accusation?
Ans. The corruption referred to in the extract is financial wrongdoing, specifically bribery and the selling of public offices for personal gain. Brutus accuses Cassius of having an ‘itching palm’, meaning he is greedy for money and profits from his position by selling government posts to undeserving men. Cassius’s reaction just before this extract was one of furious denial and threats. He was so enraged that he warned Brutus, ‘You know that you are Brutus that speak this, / Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last’.
(ii) What does the ides of March signify to them? For which purpose did Brutus say that Julius bled “for justice sake”?
Ans. The Ides of March signifies the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated by the conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius. It represents the founding act of their rebellion and their supposed moral commitment to Rome. Brutus argues that Julius Caesar bled ‘for justice’ sake’ because he maintains that the conspirators killed Caesar not out of envy or personal malice, but to prevent Caesar from becoming a tyrant and to preserve the Roman Republic and its freedom.
(iii) Give two examples from this scene to indicate that Brutus was really angry with Cassius.
Ans. Two examples from the scene that indicate Brutus was truly angry with Cassius are his verbal insults and his refusal to concede any ground. First, Brutus calls Cassius a ‘slight man’ and compares his temper to a ‘madman’, saying, ‘Must I give way and room to your rash choler? / Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?’ Second, he accuses Cassius of denying him money to pay his legions, then declares that he will use Cassius’s waspish outbursts for his own ‘mirth, yea, for my laughter’.
(iv) Explain briefly the bitter irony involved in the quarrel over money between Brutus and Cassius.
Ans. The bitter irony in their quarrel over money is that Brutus and Cassius are fighting about corruption and bribery while simultaneously being on the run and needing money to fund the very army they raised to establish an honest and just republic. Brutus accuses Cassius of being corrupt, yet he still asked Cassius for money to pay his soldiers because Brutus himself was so rigidly honest he refused to raise funds by ‘foul means’. This highlights Brutus’s impossible idealism: he demands absolute moral purity from a war effort that depends on the political and financial compromises that Cassius, the pragmatist, is willing to make. The very men who killed a tyrant to save Rome are now struggling over the dirty necessities of war.
(v) State briefly how the disagreement between Cassius and Brutus was resolved.
Ans. The disagreement between Cassius and Brutus was resolved through mutual confession and reconciliation. Cassius’s emotional display of despair by offering Brutus his dagger which softened Brutus. Brutus then revealed the hidden source of his anger and grief: the death of his wife, Portia. Brutus confessed that he was ‘ill-temper’d too’ when he spoke harshly. Cassius, in turn, attributed his own quick temper to a ‘rash humour’ inherited from his mother. The two friends finally clasped hands, symbolically burying all unkindness in a shared cup of wine.
3. Brutus
By the gods,
You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
I’ll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
When you are waspish.
Cassius
Is it come to this?
Brutus
You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well. For mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
(i) Give the meaning of: “You shall digest the venom of your spleen,/ Though do split you.” What does Brutus say he will use Cassius for?
Ans. The phrase ‘You shall digest the venom of your spleen, / Though it do split you’ means that Cassius must swallow and suppress his bitter, angry temperament, even if keeping it inside causes him intense pain or rage. Brutus says he will use Cassius for his ‘mirth’ and ‘laughter’, meaning he will treat Cassius’s outbursts as a source of amusement from now on, especially when Cassius is being irritable or ‘waspish’.
(ii) Give two examples of the taunts which Brutus had indulged in earlier which makes Cassius say, “Is it come to this”? (Do not use the material used for answering question (i) above.)
Ans. Two taunts that Brutus indulged in earlier, which lead Cassius to exclaim, ‘Is it come to this?’ are when Brutus dismissed Cassius as a ‘slight man’ when Cassius asserted his authority as an older soldier. Second, when Brutus compared Cassius’s rage to that of a ‘madman’, suggesting his anger was irrational and frightening only to the weak.
(iii) Under what conditions had Cassius made the statement that he was a better soldier than Brutus? How accurate is Cassius’ assessment of himself as a soldier? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Cassius had made the statement that he was a better soldier than Brutus when he was defending his own honor and military experience. He initially claimed to be an ‘elder in practise, abler than yourself / To make conditions’, which Brutus immediately interpreted and challenged as meaning ‘better soldier’. Cassius’s assessment of himself as a soldier is arguably more accurate than Brutus’s. Cassius later proposes a sounder military strategy, waiting for the enemy at Sardis to let them waste resources, while Brutus overrides this with his ‘tide in the affairs of men’ argument, an idealistic but strategically risky move that ultimately contributes to their defeat at Philippi.
(iv) What is meant by “vaunting”? How could Cassius prove his vaunting at this point of time?
Ans. ‘Vaunting’ means boasting or bragging. Brutus challenges Cassius to prove his boast that he is a ‘better soldier’ by showing his superior skill in planning and executing the upcoming military campaign. At this point in time, Cassius could prove his vaunting by successfully leading his troops, demonstrating better tactical judgment, and ultimately helping their forces defeat Antony and Octavius in the approaching battle.
(v) While Brutus and Cassius are arguing, a strange visitor enters the scene. Who is he? What is the purpose of his visit? How does Brutus react to his arrival?
Ans. While Brutus and Cassius are arguing, the strange visitor who enters the scene is a Poet. The purpose of his visit is to urge the generals to stop fighting and be friends, preaching love and reconciliation based on his belief that his greater age gives him wisdom. Brutus reacts with anger and disdain to his arrival, calling him a ‘saucy fellow’ and a ‘jigging fool’ and questioning why the war needs such rhyming companions, before ordering him to leave.
4. Cassius
There is my dagger,
And here my naked breast; within, a heart
Dearer than Pluto’s mine, richer than gold:
If that thou be’st a Roman, take it forth.
I, that denied thee gold, will give my heart:
Strike, as thou didst at Caesar; for, I know,
When thou didst hate him worst, thou lov’dst him better
Than ever thou lov’dst Cassius.
(i) In what state Cassius? Why is his heart richer than gold?
Ans. This speech is delivered by Cassius in a state of overwhelming emotional distress and despair during his fierce argument with Brutus. He feels completely misunderstood, unloved, and betrayed by the man he cherishes most. His heart is metaphorically richer than gold because it represents his deep, selfless love and loyalty to Brutus, which he believes is far more valuable and precious than any mere physical treasure or financial asset. He is so wounded that he is offering his life as proof of his affection.
(ii) Who is Pluto? Why is Cassius’ heart compared to Pluto’s mine?
Ans. Pluto in this context refers to Plutus, the Roman god of wealth and riches. Cassius’s heart is compared to Pluto’s mine because Plutus’s mine is the classical symbol for the greatest and most inexhaustible source of riches. By making this comparison, Cassius asserts that his love for Brutus is an immeasurably valuable treasure, far exceeding all the world’s material wealth.
(iii) When did Cassius deny gold to Brutus? Why did the latter need the gold? What explanation did Cassius give for not giving the gold?
Ans. Cassius denied gold to Brutus earlier in the scene. Brutus needed the gold to pay his soldiers, as he refused to raise money himself through corrupt or ‘vile means’ like extorting peasants. Cassius, in his subsequent explanation for the denial, blamed the fool who brought the answer back, implying the messenger gave a false report or that Cassius’s intent was misinterpreted. He suggests he never actually refused Brutus the gold himself.
(iv) What reply does Brutus give to Cassius after this extract?
Ans. Brutus’s reply to this dramatic declaration is a move towards reconciliation. He tells Cassius to ‘Sheathe your dagger’ and immediately softens his tone. He confesses his own faults, calling himself a lamb whose anger is fleeting, like a spark from a flint that is ‘straight is cold again’. Brutus then explains that he, too, was in a bad temper due to his own personal grief i.e. the death of Portia, which allowed him to be so harsh. He ultimately embraces Cassius, and the two friends reconcile their quarrel.
(v) What is the dramatic importance of this dialogue? In what way does it influence the subsequent course of action in the play?
Ans. This dialogue is of immense dramatic importance because it is the climax of the conflict between the two main conspirators. It acts as the cathartic moment where all the pent-up tension, accusations, and emotional injury are released. It shows Cassius’s passionate, volatile nature and his profound love for Brutus, while also revealing Brutus’s capacity for remorse and immediate reconciliation. This dialogue influences the subsequent course of action by restoring their alliance; having resolved their personal differences, they are now able to focus on the political and military crisis. However, their reconciliation is quickly followed by the decision to march to Philippi, setting them firmly on the path to their fatal confrontation with Antony and Octavius.
5. Cassius
Portia, art thou gone?
Brutus
No more, I pray you.
Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition towards Philippi.
Messala
Myself have letters of the self-same tenor.
(i) Where has Portia gone? Why is Brutus so abrupt as to wave aside the thought of Portia? What does it show us of his nature?
Ans. Portia has died. Brutus is abrupt and waves aside the thought of Portia because he has already processed and come to terms with the news of her death, which happened tragically by her swallowing fire. He is a Stoic philosopher, and his abruptness shows his nature is rational, disciplined, and emotionally reserved. He believes that meditating on the inevitability of death gives him the patience to endure his loss now. He must prioritize the war effort and their current dangers over personal grief.
(ii) Who is Messala? What is the “self-same tenor” of which Messala speaks?
Ans. Messala is a loyal officer and friend who serves in Brutus’s and Cassius’s army. The ‘self-same tenor’ refers to the same content or nature of the letters Brutus just mentioned. Both Brutus and Messala have received intelligence that young Octavius and Mark Antony are marching with a large army and are directing their campaign toward Philippi.
(iii) What other news does Messala give just after this extract?
Ans. Just after this extract, Messala confirms that by a decree of proscription and bills of outlawry, Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus have put to death one hundred senators. Brutus’s letters had mentioned seventy, but Messala’s confirm a higher number.
(iv) What does Brutus come to know (from the letters he received) about Octavius and Antony? Where does Brutus plan to meet the enemy?
Ans. From the letters he received, Brutus knows that Octavius and Antony are advancing upon them with a ‘mighty power’ and are heading toward Philippi. Brutus eventually overrules Cassius’s strategy and plans to meet the enemy at Philippi to prevent the enemy from gathering more strength from the local population.
(v) How strong had Octavius and Antony made themselves? What was the fate of Cicero?
Ans. Octavius and Antony had made themselves so strong that they, along with Lepidus, had formed the Second Triumvirate and began executing their political opponents. This is evident in the fact that their proscription lists included the names of many powerful Romans. The fate of Cicero was that he was one of the senators put to death by order of the Triumvirate.
6. Brutus
You must note beside,
That we have tried the utmost of our friends.
Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe.
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
(i) To whom is Brutus giving the arguments in the extract? What is meant by “Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe”?
Ans. Brutus is giving the arguments in this extract to Cassius, his fellow general and conspirator. The phrase ‘Our legions are brim-full, our cause is ripe’ means that their army is currently at its maximum strength (brim-full), and the moment to act, to push for their goal, is perfect and ready (ripe).
(ii) Give two arguments of Brutus to indicate that his military strength is in an advantageous position.
Ans. Two arguments Brutus uses to indicate his military strength is in an advantageous position are: first, that their legions are brim-full, meaning their army is fully manned and equipped at its peak numbers. Second, he argues that they are currently ‘at the height’ of their power, implying that their forces are strong, their resources are available, and their morale is high, a peak they cannot expect to maintain indefinitely.
(iii) Brutus says, “The enemy increaseth every day.” State how it increases every day.
Ans. Brutus says, ‘The enemy increaseth every day’, because if they wait and allow the enemy to march through the region between their camp and Philippi, the local people will be forced or persuaded to join the enemy’s army. The enemy would then gain new recruits and come to the battle ‘refresh’d, new-added, and encouraged’, effectively increasing their daily strength while diminishing their own potential support.
(iv) “There is a tide in the affairs of men.” What comparison is made between the voyage of life and the voyage on sea?
Ans. The comparison made between the voyage of life and the voyage on sea centers on the idea of timing and opportunity. Just as a ship must sail when the tide is high i.e. ‘at the flood’ to avoid getting stuck in the mud or shallows, men must seize a favorable opportunity in life when it appears. If the high tide of opportunity is ‘omitted’ or missed, the journey of life, like a ship’s voyage, will be ‘bound in shallows and in miseries’, stuck in difficulties and unable to move forward to fortune.
(v) According to Brutus, “On such a full sea are we now afloat.” How is this statement valid?
Ans. Brutus’s statement, ‘On such a full sea are we now afloat’, is valid because it asserts that the ideal moment for action has arrived for their forces. The ‘full sea’ represents the peak of their resources, strength, and opportunity. They are currently in a position where everything is favorable (the high tide) to engage the enemy and win. He argues they must act now i.e. ‘take the current when it serves’ before their fortunes recede and they are overwhelmed by their enemies.
7. Brutus
How ill this taper burns-Ha! who comes here?
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me. Art thou any thing?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That mak’st my blood cold, and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.
(i) To whom does Brutus speak in the extract? What is the setting of the scene during this time?
Ans. Brutus speaks to the Ghost of Julius Caesar in this extract. The setting is Brutus’s tent at his military camp near Sardis, late at night. Brutus is alone, trying to read by the light of a taper after having reconciled with Cassius and decided on the strategy to march to Philippi.
(ii) What is the “apparition” referred to in the extract? Why is it said to be “monstrous”?
Ans. The ‘apparition’ referred to is the Ghost of Julius Caesar. It is said to be ‘monstrous’ because it is a frightening, unnatural, and unsettling sight. The word ‘monstrous’ emphasizes its supernatural, terrifying nature, which seems to challenge the reality Brutus knows.
(iii) What does Brutus wonder about the apparition? What is the effect of the apparition on Brutus?
Ans. Brutus wonders if the apparition is ‘some god, some angel, or some devil’, he questions its supernatural origin and nature, unable to classify the chilling figure. The effect of the apparition on Brutus is profound and immediate: it makes his ‘blood cold’ and his ‘hair to stare’ i.e. to stand on end, showing he is struck with great terror and shock.
(iv) What does the apparition say to Brutus? What is the significance of what the apparition says to Brutus?
Ans. The apparition says to Brutus, ‘Thy evil spirit, Brutus’. When Brutus asks why it has come, the Ghost replies: ‘To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi’. The significance of this message is immense: it acts as a prophecy of doom. By identifying itself as Brutus’s ‘evil spirit’, the Ghost suggests that the consequences of killing Caesar or the moral guilt are now haunting Brutus. The promise to meet again at Philippi foreshadows the defeat and death of Brutus, confirming that Caesar’s spirit will prevail and have its revenge in the upcoming battle.
(v) Who else was present at the scene? Did they see the apparition? State whether the apparition was the product of Brutus’ imagination. Give a reason to justify your answer.
Ans. Lucius, Varro, and Claudius were also present at the scene; they were all sleeping inside Brutus’s tent. No, they did not see the apparition. When Brutus wakes them, they confirm they saw and heard nothing unusual. It is widely interpreted that the apparition was the product of Brutus’s imagination. The reason to justify this is that Brutus is the only character who sees the Ghost; the fact that no one else sees or hears the ‘monstrous apparition’ suggests it is a psychological manifestation of Brutus’s overwhelming guilt and fear about the impending battle.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Cassius
You know that you are Brutus that speaks this,
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last.
Brutus
The name of Cassius honours this corruption,
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head.
(i) Where are the two speakers? What has Brutus just said to make Cassius react so aggressively? (3)
Ans. This exchange occurs in Brutus’s tent at the military camp near Sardis. Cassius reacts aggressively because Brutus has just accused him of being corrupt, specifically for having an ‘itching palm’, meaning Cassius has been taking bribes and selling high offices in the military to people who don’t deserve them in exchange for gold.
(ii) Explain what Brutus means by “this corruption” and “chastisement doth therefore hide his head.” (3)
Ans. By ‘this corruption’, Brutus is referring to the widespread bribery and profiteering Cassius is involved in, particularly by selling military commissions. He means that Cassius’s great reputation and noble name are currently shielding this misconduct. When he says ‘chastisement doth therefore hide his head’, he means that the necessary punishment for this corruption is being avoided or is too ashamed to appear because the respected Cassius is the one committing the crime. Brutus implies that Cassius’s honor is protecting dishonorable behavior.
(iii) Why has Cassius come to meet Brutus in this scene? (3)
Ans. Cassius has come to meet Brutus to confront him about an earlier grievance: Brutus had condemned Lucius Pella for taking bribes, and Cassius is angry because Brutus ‘slighted off’ or disregarded the letters Cassius sent to him, which asked Brutus to be lenient towards Pella. Cassius felt Brutus had publicly wronged him by condemning a man he was defending.
(iv) What information does Brutus bring against Cassius later in the scene which is the cause of his bad temper? (3)
Ans. Later in the scene, Brutus reveals a specific piece of information against Cassius which has directly caused his bad temper: Brutus had sent messengers to Cassius for a large sum of gold to pay his legions, but Cassius denied him the money. Brutus needed this money because he refused to use ‘vile means’ like extorting funds from the local population. Cassius’s refusal to supply the gold forced Brutus to bear the shame and difficulty of not being able to pay his soldiers fairly.
(v) Later in the scene, how does Brutus accuse Cassius further? How does Cassius reply to this? (4)
Ans. Following the revelation of the denied gold, Brutus further accuses Cassius by contrasting their actions: Brutus would rather ‘coin his heart’ and ‘drop his blood for drachmas’ than use base methods to raise funds, yet Cassius locks up his money even from his friend. Brutus calls this action covetous and dishonorable. Cassius replies emotionally, first by denying the refusal and blaming the messenger, citing that ‘he was but a fool that brought / My answer back’. He then expresses profound hurt, saying Brutus has ‘rived my heart’ and that a true friend should overlook his friend’s weaknesses, but Brutus only magnifies them.
2. Brutus
Good reasons must, of force, give place to better.
The people ‘twixt Philippi and this ground
Do stand but in a forc’d affection;
For they have grudg’d us contribution:
The enemy, marching along by them.
By them shall make a fuller number up,
Come on refresh’d, new-added, and encourag’d;
From which advantage shall we cut him off,
If at Philippi we do face him there,
These people at our back.
(i) What good reasons are given by Cassius against their army marching to Philippi? (3)
Ans. Cassius’s good reasons against marching to Philippi centered on a defensive strategy. He argued it was better to wait and let the enemy march to them. This approach would allow the enemy to waste their resources, weary their soldiers, and do themselves harm by moving a great distance. Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius’s forces would remain ‘full of rest, defense, and nimbleness’.
(ii) Briefly state the better reasons put forward by Brutus. At the end, whose reasoning proved to be right? Why? (3)
Ans. Brutus argued that his reasons were ‘better’ because the local people between Sardis and Philippi were only reluctantly supporting them and had ‘grudg’d us contribution’. Brutus feared that if the enemy marched through that area, they would easily gain recruits, making their army ‘a fuller number up, / Come on refresh’d, new-added, and encourag’d’. By marching to Philippi first, they would cut off this potential advantage and secure the local populace behind them. In the end, Cassius’s reasoning proved to be tragically right. Brutus’s desire for a swift, decisive action failed, as the battle at Philippi resulted in the defeat and deaths of both Cassius and Brutus, validating the wisdom of Cassius’s patient defensive strategy.
(iii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Do stand but in a forc’d affection.
(b) For they have grudged us contribution. (3)
Ans. (a) Do stand but in a forc’d affection: The people only support us because they are being forced to; their loyalty is not genuine or heartfelt.
(b) For they have grudged us contribution: They have given us money and supplies (contribution) only unwillingly or resentfully.
(iv) How does this scene create suspicion in the minds of the audience? (3)
Ans. This scene creates suspicion and foreboding in the minds of the audience primarily through the Ghost of Caesar appearing to Brutus. The Ghost announces itself as Brutus’s ‘evil spirit’ and ominously says, ‘Thou shalt see me at Philippi’. This supernatural event is a clear portent of doom, suggesting that the cause of the conspirators is cursed and that Brutus will meet disaster and death at the battle, leading the audience to suspect their ultimate failure.
(v) What have Brutus and his friends been doing to make themselves unpopular with the local population? What danger would the local people likely to pose for the army of Brutus because of this? (4)
Ans. Brutus and his friends have been making themselves unpopular by extorting money and supplies i.e. forcing contributions from the local population to finance their war. The danger this posed was exactly what Brutus pointed out in his own speech: if the armies of Antony and Octavius marched through those regions, the unhappy local people would likely join the enemy, providing Antony and Octavius with new soldiers and supplies, thereby increasing the enemy’s strength and enthusiasm.
ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 4, Scene 3 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What specific accusation does Brutus level against Cassius that sparks their major quarrel?
A. Being too friendly with Mark Antony.
B. Showing cowardice in battle preparations.
C. Having an ‘itching palm’ i.e. taking bribes.
D. Speaking ill of Portia.
Ans. C. Having an ‘itching palm’ i.e. taking bribes.
Q2. Why does Cassius initially claim Brutus has wronged him?
A. Brutus refused to give Cassius gold for his legions.
B. Brutus appointed Lucilius instead of Cassius to a high office.
C. Brutus condemned Lucius Pella and dismissed Cassius’s letter defending him.
D. Brutus questioned Cassius’s loyalty to the Roman Republic.
Ans. C. Brutus condemned Lucius Pella and dismissed Cassius’s letter defending him.
Q3. What does Brutus say he would rather do than raise money by ‘vile means’?
A. Abandon the campaign against Antony and Octavius.
B. Coin his heart and drop his blood for drachmas.
C. Beg Mark Antony for a loan.
D. Surrender to the Triumvirate immediately.
Ans. B. Coin his heart and drop his blood for drachmas.
Q4. How does Cassius explain his angry, rash behavior to Brutus upon reconciliation?
A. He was exhausted from planning the battle.
B. He was drunk with power.
C. He missed his wife, Portia.
D. He has a ‘rash humour’ inherited from his mother.
Ans. D. He has a ‘rash humour’ inherited from his mother.
Q5. What famous image does Brutus use to describe the opportunity they must seize for victory?
A. The strength of a granite mountain.
B. The flash of lightning before a storm.
C. A ‘tide in the affairs of men’.
D. A soldier’s armor at dawn.
Ans. C. A ‘tide in the affairs of men’.
Q6. How does Portia die, according to Brutus’s account?
A. By being stabbed by an enemy spy.
B. She was executed by Octavius.
C. She swallowed fire i.e. burning coals
D. She died of a sudden illness.
Ans. C. She swallowed fire i.e. burning coals
Q7. Who is the first person to enter Brutus’s tent after the argument, urging the generals to ‘Love, and be friends’?
A. Messala
B. The Poet
C. Lucius
D. Titinius
Ans. B. The Poet
Q8. What military strategy does Cassius advise for the upcoming battle?
A. Splitting their forces to attack from two sides.
B. Waiting at Sardis for the enemy to advance and waste their supplies.
C. Launching a surprise attack at midnight.
D. Immediately marching across the sea to Rome.
Ans. B. Waiting at Sardis for the enemy to advance and waste their supplies.
Q9. Which prominent Roman senator is confirmed dead by proscription, according to Messala?
A. Cicero
B. Casca
C. Lepidus
D. Cinna
Ans. A. Cicero
Q10. What warning does the Ghost of Caesar give to Brutus?
A. To beware the ides of March again.
B. To stop fighting Antony and Octavius.
C. ‘Thou shalt see me at Philippi’.
D. To trust Cassius completely.
Ans. C. ‘Thou shalt see me at Philippi’.
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based questions.
A.
BRUTUS
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
CASSIUS
Then, with your will, go on;
We’ll along ourselves, and meet them at Philippi.
Q1. What ‘tide’ is Brutus referring to, and what immediate action does he want to take?
Ans. Brutus is referring to the current peak opportunity for military success against Antony and Octavius. He believes their own army is at its strongest point now, and any delay will lead to a decline. Therefore, the immediate action he wants to take is to march their combined forces to the city of Philippi to face the enemy right away.
Q2. What military strategy did Cassius propose that Brutus is arguing against, and what was Cassius’s main reasoning?
Ans. Cassius proposed a defensive strategy: they should remain at their current camp near Sardis and wait for the enemy to advance. His main reasoning was that by forcing the enemy to march, the Triumvirate’s army would waste its resources and grow tired, while Brutus’s army would remain rested and prepared.
Q3. In Brutus’s metaphor, what do the terms ‘flood’, ‘shallows’, and ‘ventures’ represent?
Ans. The ‘flood’ represents the optimal timing for action, leading to success or ‘fortune’. The ‘shallows’ represent the resulting lack of opportunity and failure or ‘miseries’ if action is delayed. The ‘ventures’ represent the goals, efforts, or outcomes of their military campaign, which they stand to lose.
Q4. What additional reason did Brutus give for needing to march toward Philippi immediately?
Ans. Brutus feared that the local population between Sardis and Philippi was only supporting them out of obligation, not loyalty. If the enemy marched through that territory, Brutus believed the unwilling locals would be forced to join Antony and Octavius, thereby increasing the enemy’s troop numbers and enthusiasm.
Q5. Explain the significance of this exchange for the play’s plot and the characters’ dynamic.
Ans. This exchange is highly significant because it represents Brutus overriding Cassius’s better military judgment, which ultimately leads to their defeat. Cassius, despite his earlier anger, defers to Brutus out of deference to his friend’s authority, saying, ‘with your will, go on’. This decision to fight at Philippi is a fatal error, confirming that Brutus’s idealism and self-confidence have blinded him to pragmatic military advice. This moment seals their fate, aligning with the earlier prophecy of Caesar’s Ghost, and sets the stage for the climactic tragedy.
B.
CASSIUS
I deny’d you not.
BRUTUS
You did.CASSIUS
I did not: he was but a fool that brought
My answer back. Brutus hath rived my heart:
A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.
BRUTUS
I do not, till you practise them on me.
Q1. What is the main subject of the heated disagreement between Brutus and Cassius in this dialogue?
Ans. The disagreement centers on a financial matter: Brutus had sent a messenger to Cassius asking for a sum of gold to pay his soldiers. Brutus maintains that Cassius denied the request, which deeply offended him because he needed the money and refused to resort to corruption himself. Cassius vehemently denies the refusal.
Q2. What reason does Brutus give for needing the gold, and why is he particularly offended by the refusal?
Ans. Brutus needed the gold to pay his legions and uphold military discipline. He was offended because he had refused to raise money by ‘vile means’ like wringing money from reluctant peasants preferring to keep his cause pure. He felt that Cassius, as his comrade, should have immediately supplied the gold he himself was too honest to acquire.
Q3. What explanation does Cassius provide for the misunderstanding regarding the gold?
Ans. Cassius does not accept the blame for the refusal. He claims he did not deny Brutus the money; instead, he suggests that the messenger was an incompetent fool who incorrectly delivered or misinterpreted Cassius’s reply to Brutus. This explanation quickly attempts to shift the blame away from himself to save face.
Q4. When Cassius says, ‘Brutus hath rived my heart’, what is the central emotional claim he is making about Brutus’s behavior?
Ans. Cassius is claiming that Brutus has cruelly wounded his feelings and torn his heart apart. He feels that Brutus is not acting like a true friend, who, according to Cassius, should be patient with his companion’s flaws. Instead, Brutus is magnifying Cassius’s faults and using them as a weapon against him.
Q5. Describe the contrasting views on friendship and faults expressed by Brutus and Cassius in the wider context of the scene.
Ans. Cassius argues for unconditional love in friendship, where a friend should tolerate and overlook another’s ‘infirmities’ or faults. He believes Brutus is too harsh and judgmental. Brutus, however, holds an idealistic and highly principled view: he states he does not dislike Cassius, but he does not like his faults. He believes friendship does not excuse corruption, and only a ‘flatterer’s eye’ would ignore moral errors. Brutus suggests he only challenges Cassius when his faults directly ‘practise them on me’, such as by denying him the gold he needs to pay his honest army. This dynamic shows the fundamental clash between Cassius’s pragmatism and Brutus’s stoic moral purity.