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Act 5, scene 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Julius Caesar, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Manhood and Honor
Logic and Language
Public vs. Private
Politics and Morality
Fate
Summary
Analysis
In the midst of the battle, Brutus sends Messala in haste with orders for Cassius’s forces. Octavius’s forces appear to be vulnerable, so now is the time to pour all of Cassius’s forces into the attack.
While this maneuver successfully overcomes Octavius’s troops, it also leaves Cassius vulnerable to Antony's troops. This illustrates the shifting fortunes of the battlefield and supports the larger theme that human choices often yield unforeseen, fateful consequences.
Themes
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