Question

Read the excerpt from Julius Caesar, act 1, scene 2.

[CASSIUS.] And this man Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature, and must bend his body If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.125 He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake. 'Tis true, this god did shake. His coward lips did from their colour fly, And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world130 Did lose his lustre. I did hear him groan: Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans Mark him and write his speeches in their books, "Alas,” it cried "Give me some drink, Titinius,” As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me60135 A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world, And bear the palm alone.
According to this passage, why is Cassius so frustrated with Caesar?
1. Cassius considers himself less fortunate than Caesar.
2. Cassius is angry that Caesar did not care for a sick girl.
3. Cassius is worried about Caesar’s health and his ability to rule.
4. Cassius cannot believe that a weakling like Caesar has become so great.

Answer 1

The answer is the fourth option:

4. Cassius cannot believe that a weakling like Caesar has become so great.

From the excerpt we can understand that Cassius is incapable of believing that the man he once saw pale and sick is the same man that rules others. He compares Caesar to a sick girl and criticizes his weakness. As he states, 'it doth amaze me (that) a man of such a feeble temper should so get the start of the majestic world, and bear the palm alone.'

In act 1, scene 2 of Julius Caesar, Cassius is trying to convince Brutus that Caesar is not better than any of them, that they should not be his subjects. He tells Brutus that people talk of him (Brutus) as a noble man whom they would very much like to follow instead of Caesar.

Answer 2

The correct answer is 4: Cassius cannot believe that a weakling like Caesar has become so great. Cassius complains of being forced to bow before Caesar (he "must bend his body If Caesar carelessly but nod on him"), and the fact that Caesar has suffered from fevers and seizures makes his submission to him all the more enraging. Cassius does not believe himself to be less than any other man, much less one who has such weak health.