Question

Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.

[BRUTUS.] Messala, I have here receivèd letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Come down upon us. . . .

MESSALA. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.

BRUTUS. With what addition?

MESSALA. That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus
Have put to death an hundred senators.

BRUTUS. Therein our letters do not well agree.
Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.

CASSIUS. Cicero one!

MESSALA. Ay, Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.

What is the central idea of this excerpt?

the impact of fate
the extent of loyalty
the ruthlessness of power
the importance of compromise

Answer 1

Answer: C:the ruthlessness of power

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

the ruthlessness of power

Step-by-step explanation:

The senators who conspired against the life of Julius Caesar did this by power. However, one thing that Shakespeare wanted to emphasize in this play is that power is something cruel and vengeful and that senators would pay for what they did. In this passage, the cruelty of power is shown, with the death of the senators and Cicero among them, proving that power when in the wrong hands is cruel and destructive.