Act 1, Scene 4 Summary

The scene switches to Caesar's house in Rome, where we find Octavius Caesar reading a letter, and discussing Mark Antony's exploits in Egypt with Lepidus, a high-ranking Roman official. Lepidus seems unwilling to conclude that Antony is wasting his career in leisure at Cleopatra's palace; but Caesar is far more critical. A messenger reports that discontented men are rallying to the cause of Pompey, who controls the Roman naval fleet and is set for confrontation with Caesar. The men complain of Antony's absence.

Act 1, Scene 4 Analysis

This scene alters our perspective, allowing us to appreciate, from the Roman point of view, how distanced is Antony's standard of personal honor from the order in Rome. Lepidus draws Caesar towards harsher criticism of Antony by coyly suggesting that his faults do not outweigh his qualities. This reveals the subtle, calculating activity of the...