Caesar Act 4: Lepidus, Tent scenes, and ghosts

4.1

The triumvirate forms. Just to be sure everyone is going to be loyal to the cause, lepidus and antony call out relations that were conspirators, both agree those conspirators will still die. Poor Lepidus. As soon as he leaves Antony reveals that he thinks this man is essentially a pack horse, a means to an end, a slight unmeritable man, Here's what I can't decide: does this scene make me hate the play more because the Antony that seemed so sympathetic is as big a jerk as caesar, comparing men to animals? or is it brilliant because it makes the audience root for the conspirators again? 

So is my horse, Octavius; and for that
I do appoint him store of provender:
It is a creature that I teach to fight,
To wind, to stop, to run directly on,
His corporal motion govern'd by my spirit.
And, in some taste, is Lepidus but so;
He must be taught and train'd and bid go forth;
A barren-spirited fellow; one that feeds
On abjects, arts and imitations,
Which, out of use and staled by other men,
Begin his fashion: do not talk of him,
But as a property

The whole thing just depresses me. Someone once said that Caesar, like Timon, shows the bleak outcomes when no strong women step in to the story line. but I don't know if that's enough to make me like the play and i'm not even sure that description is accurate. It seems to oversimplify an awful lot. The scene ends with antony and octavius preparing for the upcoming battle and Octavius has this chilling line: 

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear,

Millions of mischiefs.

4.2

This scene continues on the theme of Octavius' last line- Brutus makes it clear that things are a bit tense between him and Cassius. The audience knows that things are starting to fall apart. Brutus tells his soldiers:

There are no tricks in plain and simple faith;
But hollow men, like horses hot at hand,
Make gallant show and promise of their mettle;

When Cassius arrives and he and Brutus begin to have a direct confrontation, Brutus plays the parent role and suggests he and Cassius sorts this out in the private of their tent, not in front of all their soldiers who I am sure are already thinking why the hell are we following these people?!

4.3 

The final scene in this Act. I love this scene. It is always dynamic and I think this scene is why most people would love to play Cassius.

The trouble stems from Cassius not getting the pardons he wants for his friends and Brutus wanting to be spotless in his acts (lest his murder come back to haunt him, right? oh self righteousness). There are so many beautiful moments and images in this scene but one of the most famous and a personal favorite: 

I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,

Than such a Roman.

There's something funny in this charged scene struggling for power, trying to maintain an alliance. the little petty moments amid the discussion of huge things at stake. This may be my favorite part:

BRUTUS

You say you are a better soldier:
Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I shall be glad to learn of noble men.

CASSIUS

You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
Did I say 'better'?

BRUTUS

If you did, I care not.

Don't we all have those little moments in squabbles? I love it. and of course Cassius is the first one to actually say  Caesar's name even though they've been alluding to him this whole time, which is such a sucker punch moment. i love that in a way this very much looks like the structure of a lover's spat. (That is in no way meant to say that i think you should play cassius and brutus as lovers) It isn't until Cassius pulls a Richard III and tells Brutus to stab him and end his misery that the two reconcile. Shortly after this a poet comes in and asks them to reconcile with an admittedly horrible couplet. But Brutus' response to this poet invading their camp is:

I'll know his humour, when he knows his time:
What should the wars do with these jigging fools?
Companion, hence!

Does art have a place in war? Isn't that when its needed most? Maybe not according to the men leading the way into battle... things to think on, no?

Brutus then lets us know he's been in a bad mood because PS his wife is dead. she "Swallowed fire" because she couldnt deal with the anxiety Brutus put her through/probably knew he was going to lose this battle. It is strange that Messala comes in and delivers this same news of Portia's death. Can someone clarify this for me? any ideas? what does it do for the scene?

after that they talk battle and whether the enemy should meet them or they should meet the enemy. brutus wins the argument and they decide to march towards Antony's armies.

After most of the others leave, Brutus has little lucius play him an song and sing. unnerving and perfect at this point in the play. the boys own music puts him to sleep and Brutus has a vision of Caesar's ghost saying he'll see him at the battlefield (not great news, right?) and the others in his tent cry out in their sleep without knowing it closing out this act with a very shaken Brutus.