Question

CASSIUS. But ere we could arrive the point proposed,

Caesar cried ‘Help me, Cassius, or I sink!’

Ay, as Aeneas our great ancestor

Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder

The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber

Did I the tirèd Caesar.

–The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,
William Shakespeare

How does this allusion help contribute to the meaning of the play? Choose three options.

It shows that Cassius is jealous of Caesar and believes himself to be stronger than Caesar.
It teaches the audience about the Trojan horse.
It contributes to the meaning of the drama by showing that Caesar is an old weak man who is not respected by people of Rome.
It enables a better understanding of Cassius because he says he is like the great Aeneas
It connects the context of the play to the myth of a great hero that Cassius admires.

Answer 1

Correct choices: 1, 3, and 4.

- 1 (Cassius is jealous of Caesar and believes himself stronger): The anecdote and comparison to Aeneas emphasize Cassius’s resentment and claim that he once “carried” Caesar, implying he is superior.
- 3 (Caesar is shown as old/weak and not respected): The scene portrays Caesar as tired, sinking, and dependent, supporting the play’s theme that Caesar is mortal and not fit to be worshiped as a ruler.
- 4 (It enables a better understanding of Cassius): By likening himself to Aeneas, Cassius reveals his self-image, pride, and manipulative tendency to frame events to his advantage.