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JC Act 4 Scene 1 - Notes

In Act 4, Scene 1, Antony reveals his manipulative nature by seeking to revoke Caesar's will for personal gain, showcasing the power struggle between him and Octavius. The scene highlights Antony's emotional intelligence as he transitions from a grieving friend to a ruthless politician, willing to sacrifice others for his ambitions. The new triumvirate's cold-hearted deliberations contrast sharply with the previous senators' moral justifications, indicating a shift in Rome's leadership dynamics.

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84 views1 page

JC Act 4 Scene 1 - Notes

In Act 4, Scene 1, Antony reveals his manipulative nature by seeking to revoke Caesar's will for personal gain, showcasing the power struggle between him and Octavius. The scene highlights Antony's emotional intelligence as he transitions from a grieving friend to a ruthless politician, willing to sacrifice others for his ambitions. The new triumvirate's cold-hearted deliberations contrast sharply with the previous senators' moral justifications, indicating a shift in Rome's leadership dynamics.

Uploaded by

nysa.vinchhi
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ACT 4, SCENE 1 – NOTES

In his funeral oration, Antony spoke to the people of Caesar's will. He told them of a
bequest of money and property to the people of Rome. With blinding speed, Antony
seeks to revoke that will, keeping the money and properties for himself, for Octavius,
and for the third member of the triumvirate who will rule Rome, Lepidus. In this
manner, you can confirm what you may already believe — that Antony has
manipulated the people with his own advantage in mind.
The question, then, is not whether these men will respect Caesar's final wishes (they
will not), but which of the three men now in power will dominate. Lepidus, who is, in
effect, Antony's messenger, sent to retrieve Caesar's will, has no power. The real
battle takes place between Octavius and Antony with no clear winner established. So
why does Shakespeare concern the reader with this question?
In this scene, his emotional nature is sidelined when cruel, rational thought is
required. How else would he be able to discuss the murders of so many people, the
betrayal of so many promises, so easily? Thus, Antony embodies both the problem
and the solution. He is able to understand and control passion. The Antony who likes
drink and women, the Antony who could weep with sincerity over Caesar's corpse, is
best able, because of his emotional experience, to take charge.
Antony leverages his newfound favour in the eyes of the Romans to join forces with
Octavius, the next in line to succeed Caesar. According to Roman history, these
three are the triumvirs who will jointly rule Rome in its new empire. A triumvir is one
of three officials forming a triumvirate to share public office in ancient Rome. The
audience gets a glimpse of what their rule will be like in this scene.

Their deliberations are brief, to the point, and menacing. They don't think twice about
marking a man to die if it benefits them, or of turning on Lepidus once he's out of the
room. Antony even agrees to condemn his own nephew. An over-promising
politician, he takes the money he just offered the crowd and uses it to further his own
ends. He doesn't need their favour anymore—he's already won, and he knows it.

By contrast, Brutus, Cassius, and the other senators repeatedly referenced


friendship and love and sought moral justifications for their choices. The men in this
scene act differently, as politicians and warriors, willing to be coldhearted. This is
Rome's new ruling class: steadfast and filled with ambition, like Caesar, only without
Caesar's fervor to please the people.

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