Foundation first: who is who in this scene
| Name | Who he is |
|---|---|
| Marcus Cato | Portia's father; Brutus says he blamed Cato for killing himself |
| Young Cato | his son, Portia's brother, a soldier in Brutus's army |
| Lucilius | Brutus's loyal officer |
| Antony | the victor who must decide the prisoner's fate |
Mistaken identity is a favourite device in drama. Here a man pretends to be someone else to save him. The result is that the enemy finds a "prize" they did not expect, and Antony shows his respect.
Young Cato (Portia's brother, son of Marcus Cato) fights bravely, crying that he is "A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend", and is killed. Lucilius, to protect Brutus, pretends to be him: "And I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I; / Brutus, my country's friend; know me for Brutus!" He is captured by Antony's soldiers.
Antony recognises him: "This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you, / A prize no less in worth: keep this man safe; / Give him all kindness: I had rather have / Such men my friends than enemies." Lucilius declares that Brutus will never be taken alive: "When you do find him, or alive or dead, / He will be found like Brutus, like himself." Antony shows generosity and respect for loyalty.
Reading between the lines
- "A foe to tyrants, and my country's friend." Young Cato uses the same language as Brutus. The conspirators still call themselves enemies of tyranny, even in defeat.
- Lucilius's bold lie. He deceives the soldiers by claiming to be Brutus, hoping that they will kill him instead. The soldiers do not kill him: they want to take him alive and report to Antony.
- Antony's reaction. He is not angry. He says, "This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure you, / A prize no less in worth". He treats the captive with kindness. This shows an Antony who can recognise virtue even in an enemy, and prepares us for his tribute to Brutus.
- "Like Brutus, like himself." Lucilius says that Brutus will be found as he truly is: noble, and not a prisoner. It is a prediction, and it is also a compliment from a servant.
Worked examples
Example 1 (MCQ, 1 mark). Lucilius pretends to be Brutus because he wants to ______. (a) win a reward from Antony (b) save Brutus from capture (c) join Octavius (d) mislead Cassius
Model answer. (b). He draws the soldiers to himself so that Brutus will have time to escape.
Why this scores: his motive is loyalty, not gain.
Example 2 (short answer, 3 marks). How does Antony treat Lucilius, and why?
Model answer. Antony recognises that Lucilius is not Brutus, but says that he is "a prize no less in worth". He orders his men to keep him safe and to "give him all kindness", saying, "I had rather have / Such men my friends than enemies." He treats Lucilius well because he admires his loyalty and courage.
Why this scores: the order (1), the quotation (1), the reason (1).
Example 3 (4 marks). How does Lucilius show his loyalty to Brutus? What does this tell you about Brutus? How does Antony reward him, and what does this tell you about Antony?
Model answer. Lucilius pretends to be Brutus ("I am Brutus, Marcus Brutus, I") to draw the enemy to himself and save his master. Taken prisoner, he says that no enemy will ever take Brutus alive. This shows that Brutus was a leader who inspired deep love and loyalty. Antony orders his men to treat Lucilius with all kindness and says he would like such men for friends. This shows that Antony is generous and respects bravery even in an enemy. A question of this kind was set in ICSE 2026, Q3(v).
Why this scores: four parts of the question, each answered in one sentence. The 2026 paper asked all four.
Doubts cleared
Q. Who is Young Cato? He is Portia's brother and Marcus Cato's son. He fights bravely and dies, shouting his name and his cause.
Q. Did Lucilius survive? Yes. Antony saves him and keeps him safe. He is present at the end when Brutus's body is found.
Q. Why did the soldiers not kill Lucilius? They wanted to take a noble prisoner to Antony, and they refused his offer of money. They said, "We must not."
Mistakes to avoid
- Saying Antony punished Lucilius. He treated him with kindness.
- Mixing up Lucilius (who pretends to be Brutus) with Lucius (the boy servant of Act IV).
- Forgetting the proper names: Young Cato, son of Marcus Cato, brother of Portia.
Check yourself
- Who pretends to be Brutus?
- What does Antony say he would rather have than enemies?
- Who is Young Cato's sister?
Answers: 1. Lucilius. 2. Such men as his friends. 3. Portia.