5.1 About the act
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scene 1 setting | a house in Rome (Antony's) |
| Scenes 2–3 setting | Brutus's camp and tent near Sardis, in Asia Minor |
| the triumvirs | Antony, Octavius, Lepidus |
| Lepidus's brother | condemned by the triumvirs |
| Antony's nephew | Publius, his sister's son, condemned |
| senators killed in the proscriptions | a hundred (Messala); seventy (Brutus's letters) |
| famous senator killed | Cicero |
| the bribe-taker | Lucius Pella, accused of taking bribes from the Sardians |
| how Portia died | she "swallow'd fire" |
| where the armies will meet | Philippi |
| who guards the tent door | Lucius and Titinius (some editions read Lucilius and Titinius) |
| who sleep in Brutus's tent | Varro and Claudius |
5.2 Key events in order
- The triumvirs prick the names of those to die; Lepidus's brother and Antony's nephew are condemned.
- Lepidus is sent for Caesar's will, to cut the legacies.
- Antony calls Lepidus "a slight unmeritable man" and "a barren-spirited fellow".
- Brutus and Cassius are reported to be raising armies.
- Near Sardis, Lucilius describes Cassius's cool welcome: "a hot friend cooling".
- Cassius arrives: "you have done me wrong"; they go into the tent.
- Lucius Pella; the "itching palm"; "Remember March".
- The gold denied; Cassius blames the messenger.
- "Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come"; Cassius offers his dagger.
- Reconciliation: "Give me your hand." "And my heart too."
- The Poet is thrown out.
- "Portia is dead"; the bowl of wine.
- Messala's news: a hundred senators dead, Cicero among them; the enemy marching to Philippi.
- Cassius advises waiting; Brutus insists on Philippi: "There is a tide in the affairs of men."
- Lucius's music; the Ghost of Caesar: "thou shalt see me at Philippi."
5.3 Who said it?
| Line | Speaker | To whom |
|---|---|---|
| "These many, then, shall die; their names are prick'd." | Antony | Octavius and Lepidus |
| "This is a slight unmeritable man, / Meet to be sent on errands" | Antony | Octavius |
| "But he's a tried and valiant soldier." | Octavius | Antony |
| "So is my horse, Octavius" | Antony | Octavius |
| "A hot friend cooling" | Brutus | Lucilius |
| "Most noble brother, you have done me wrong." | Cassius | Brutus |
| "you yourself / Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm" | Brutus | Cassius |
| "I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon" | Brutus | Cassius |
| "I did send to you / For certain sums of gold" | Brutus | Cassius |
| "A friend should bear his friend's infirmities" | Cassius | Brutus |
| "Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come" | Cassius | (the absent enemies) |
| "O Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb" | Brutus | Cassius |
| "No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead." | Brutus | Cassius |
| "'Tis better that the enemy seek us" | Cassius | Brutus |
| "There is a tide in the affairs of men" | Brutus | Cassius |
| "Thy evil spirit, Brutus." | the Ghost of Caesar | Brutus |