Julius Caesar: Act 4, Scene 1

Drama | Class 10 | ICSE Syllabus | Julius Caesar | Short Explanation

Context: What happened previously

In Act 3, after the murder of Julius Caesar, his loyal friend Mark Antony stirred up the Roman crowd with a speech and turned them against the conspirators. The whole country is burning with rage. The Romans have lost the power of reason. They killed Cinna, the poet, just because his name resembled with one of the conspirators.

Cinna the poet being attacked by the mob just because his name resembles with one of the conspirators.

On the other hand, the conspirators (led by Brutus and Cassius) are on the run, the mob is rioting. Civil war has broke out in Rome.

Meanwhile, the new power players in Rome are — Octavius Caesar, who is Caesar’s adopted heir, Mark Antony, and Lepidus.

The ne trio against the conspirators- Octavius Caesar, who is Caesar’s adopted heir, Mark Antony, and Lepidus.

Summary

The scene opens in Rome, with Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus meeting together.
They review a “list” of names of men who must die as part of their take-over of power. Lepidus agrees, even to allowing his own brother’s death for their cause.

Antony, Octavius and Lepidus making a list of the names of the conspirators.

Antony sends Lepidus on an errand to fetch Caesar’s will, with the intent of changing how much of the legacies in that will will actually go to the people of Rome, redirecting some to their own use.
Once Lepidus leaves, Antony speaks with Octavius and reveals his low opinion of Lepidus: he sees him as weak, useful for errands, but not worthy of equal power. He uses a metaphor: “my horse” vs. “Lepidus.”

Antony ordering Lepidus to fetch Caesar's will

Octavius on the other hand, defends Lepidus’s record as a soldier, but the tone shows there is tension and mistrust within this ‘trio.’
But they finally conclude that their alliance must focus on the bigger threat, and that is: Brutus and Cassius raising forces. They agree to combine their power and prepare for war.

Why this scene matters

The scene highlights themes of power, betrayal, legitimacy, and moral decay — the idea that even those who claimed to act for the good of Rome are themselves becoming tyrants.

It marks the transition: the conspirators who killed Caesar are now being replaced.

It shows that Antony is not just the emotional, loyal friend of Caesar — he is now a cold, calculating politician who is willing to use betrayal, murder, and manipulation.