CASSIUS. Brutus hath rived my heart.

Question

A friend should bear his friend’s infirmities,
But Brutus makes mine greater than they are.

BRUTUS. I do not, till you practise them on me.

CASSIUS. You love me not.

BRUTUS. I do not like your faults.

CASSIUS. A friendly eye could never see such faults.

BRUTUS. A flatterer’s would not, though they do appear

As huge as high Olympus.

CASSIUS. Come, Antony and young Octavius, come,
Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius;
For Cassius is aweary of the world,
Hated by one he loves; braved by his brother,
Checked like a bondman; all his faults observed,
Set in a notebook, learned, and conned by rote,
To cast into my teeth. O, I could weep
My spirit from mine eyes!

—The Tragedy of Julius Caeser,
William Shakespeare

Based on this passage, how have conflicts changed Cassius? Choose three options.

Even though they are arguing, Brutus considers Cassius to be honorable free of faults.
The conflict with Brutus makes Cassius seek revenge against the the gods.
The external conflict with Brutus causes Cassius emotional distress.
The conflict with Brutus causes Cassius to experience an internal conflict and considers turning himself over to Antony and Octavius without a fight.
The conflict with Antony and Octavius is creating mounting pressure for Cassius.

Answer 1

Based on the passage, the conflicts have changed Cassius in the following three ways:

1. The external conflict with Brutus causes Cassius emotional distress. - Cassius expresses deep sorrow and frustration over the way Brutus is treating him, indicating that this external conflict significantly impacts his emotional state.

2. The conflict with Brutus causes Cassius to experience an internal conflict and considers turning himself over to Antony and Octavius without a fight. - Cassius speaks of feeling weary of the world and indicates a sense of hopelessness, which reflects an internal struggle with the prospect of betrayal by Brutus and lack of support from those he values.

3. The conflict with Antony and Octavius is creating mounting pressure for Cassius. - Although not explicitly mentioned in the passage, the context of Cassius’s feelings of being “hated” and “braved” suggests increasing pressure from external threats, which further complicates his emotional state and relationships.