ACT IV Analysis

Cassius
That you have wronged me doth apear in this:
You have condemned and noted Lucius Pella
For taking bribes here of the Sardians
Wherein my letters, praying on his side
Because I knew the man, were slighted off

Brutus
You wronged yourself to write in such a case

Cassius
In such a time as this is not meet
That every nice offense should bear his comment

Brutus
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself
Are much condemned to have an itching palm,
To sell adn mart your offices for gold
To undeservers

TRANSLATION:
Cassius
You have wronged me in this way,
you have comdemned Lucius Pella
for being bribed
and then you ignored the letters i sent
which stated i would speak on the mans behalf

Brutus
It was incorrect for you to side with such a man

Cassius
We are not in such a predicament
That we have to punish every citizen

Brutus
I know some things about you
and you are known to be greedy
even so much that you would sell offices
to people who have not earned them


ANALYSIS:
In this scene, Brutus is confronting Cassius over the rumors and the actions Cassius has taken in soiling the purity of Rome. Brutus, even after having assassinated Caesar wants for the effort to have ended in a purification of Rome. He, in his honor, wants for all the men in power to be honroable men as well. This was his reason for killing Caesar, and this is still his reason as he attempts to reconstruct a new government. This scene shows that Brutus has not faltered in his ideals at all, in that he still expects all the men in Rome to have high moral standing and to act honorably. Cassius on the other hand is obviously acting without honor, in his illegal and black market dealings. He therefore had to be reprehended.