Julius Caesar Chapter Summary & Analysis - Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

Octavius and Antony are with their army at Philippi. They learn that the enemy forces have arrived and are ready for battle. Antony tells Octavius to secretly take his army up the left side of the battlefield. To Antony's exasperation, Octavius refuses and says he will go up the right side.

Brutus and Cassius enter with their army. The two sides meet to parley, with each side insulting the other. Brutus and Cassius deny they are traitors, while Antony and Octavius accuse them of being the worst kind since they pretended to be Caesar's friends and then betrayed him. The talk achieves nothing and Octavius invites Brutus and Cassius to fight now or when they gain some courage. Octavius and Antony withdraw and wait.

Cassius admits his anxiety about the coming battle. He never used to be a superstitious man, but today there have been ominous signs—ravens, crows, and kites...
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