Question

Read the excerpt from act 5, scene 3, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.

MESSALA. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears. I may say, "thrusting” it,
For piercing steel and darts envenomed
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.

TITINIUS. Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

[Exit MESSALA]

Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends, and did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything!
But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow.
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
By your leave, gods,—this is a Roman’s part:
Come, Cassius’ sword, and find Titinius’ heart.

What moral dilemma does this excerpt express?

Titinius feels guilty that Cassius is dead, and decides he must kill himself.
Brutus feels guilty that Cassius is dead, and decides to give him a garland.
Messala has to decide whether to tell Brutus about Cassius or to kill Pindarus.
Titinius has to decide whether to tell Brutus about Cassius or to kill Pindarus.

Answer 1

The first option is the answer: Titinius feels guilty that Cassius is dead, and decides he must kill himself.

How I built the conclusion:

Firstly, the act starts with a conversation between Messala and Titinius. Then, Messala EXITS, so a monologue by Titinius starts (Since he's the only one in the scene, there's no need to identify the speaker, as there was previously when Messala was also present).

Since he's alone, and speaking with a sorrow tone when he starts to 'talk' to Cassius, it can be assumed that Cassius is dead. And apparently, Brutus had previously instructed Titinius to give a garland (the wreath of victory) to Cassius. (The notice of Cassius death is probably the report that would thrust Brutus' ears, and what Messala left to tell him, in the first place). Finally, he decides he will still accomplish his mission (Brutus' bidding) by also dying (as giving Cassius his garland in the afterlife).

So with the gods' leave (in this context, permission), he meets his Roman's part (separation from Rome - material world). And he finally conclude the deed by 'inviting' Cassius' sword to find Titinius' heart (his own heart - thrusts a sword into his chest).