Julius Caesar: Act 4, Scene 2 Summary

Plot Summary / Storyline

• At Brutus' camp near Sardis, Brutus meets Lucilius, who says Cassius is polite but not as warm as before.
• Cassius arrives with his army, and there is clear tension between him and Brutus.
• They decide to talk inside Brutus' tent, away from their soldiers, so the army will not see them argue.

Commentary on Act 4, Scene 2

The cool behaviour of Cassius towards Lucilius hints that the friendship and unity among the conspirators is weakening.

Brutus' insistence that they argue in private shows his sense of discipline and honour: he does not want soldiers to lose confidence by seeing their leaders quarrel.

This scene prepares the audience for the serious disagreement that follows and shows that the enemy is not only Antony and Octavius but also division inside Brutus' own camp.

Dramatically, it marks a shift from public speeches and mobs in Rome to private conflicts and military planning among the conspirators.