Question

Read the two excerpts from act 4, scene 3, and act 5, scene 5, of Julius Caesar. CASSIUS. Ha! Portia? BRUTUS. She is dead. CASSIUS. How scaped I killing when I crossed you so? O insupportable and touching loss! Upon what sickness? BRUTUS. Impatient of my absence, And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong—for with her death That tidings came. With this, she fell distraught, And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire. BRUTUS. Why this, Volumnius. The ghost of Caesar hath appeared to me Two several times by night—at Sardis once, And this last night, here in Philippi fields. I know my hour is come. VOLUMNIUS. Not so, my lord. BRUTUS. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius. Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes. Our enemies have beat us to the pit, [Low alarums] It is more worthy to leap in ourselves Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius, Thou know’st that we two went to school together. Even for that, our love of old, I prithee, Hold thou my sword hilts, whilst I run on it. . . . So fare you well at once, for Brutus’ tongue Hath almost ended his life’s history. Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, That have but laboured to attain this hour. . . . I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord. Thou art a fellow of a good respect. Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it. Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? Which statement best compares Brutus’s remarks at the death of his wife, Portia, to his words before his own death? Brutus shows more sadness for Portia’s death than he does for his own. Brutus is more philosophical about his own death than he is about Portia’s. Brutus uses more imagery when speaking about Portia’s death than about his own. Brutus reacts more matter-of-factly about his own death than he does about Portia’s.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Brutus is more matter-of-factly about his own death than he is about Portia’s.

Indeed, when Brutus learns the bad news about the death of his wife Portia he is overcome by grief as he states it himself: “sick of many griefs.” And Cassius points out that Brutus is not being philosophical about her death but emotional by saying “your philosophy you make no use”. Furthermore, he goes on drinking in order to “bury all unkindness (sorrow) in a bowl of wine”.

This is a stark contrast to his death that he takes as the inevitable conclusion of both human condition and his betrayal of Caesar. Indeed, ex considers that it is more honorable and logical to take his own life than to be executed by Mark Antony and also reveals that he experiences remorse about his crime as the following lines show:

- BRUTUS: Our enemies have beat us to the pit: It is more worthy to leap in ourselves, than tarry till they push us. Farewell, good Strato.—[He runs on his sword.] Caesar, now be still;

I kill’d not thee with half so good a will. [Dies].

Answer 2

The correct answer is Brutus is more matter-of-factly about his own death than he is about Portia’s