In this act Brutus and his men are showed most prevalent. His attitude affects every one around him. However no matter how he acted I don’t think that it would change the outcome of the battle. Antony’s strength and moral was much to strong for Brutus to handle and it showed as many of Brutus’s men died. Eventually Antony and his troops got to Brutus, to late to kill him themselves but none the less the deed was done.
Brutus was a very noble character throughout the play. He was so noble in fact that the one trying to kill him complimented his nobility. Antony’s comment was this, “His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, ‘this was a man.’” This shows that even though Antony seemed to rage for revenge on Brutus he respected him. This in itself should show how noble Brutus is. If some one could be so noble to have even their enemy and predator say that indeed they are then they must be. In fact one could say that the whole war and death of the men was caused by him. It almost seems that his death is what ended the war. If his death is what ended the war then he is of very much importance to the entire play. “According to his virtue let us use him, with all respect and rites to funeral. Within my tent his bones tonight shall lie most like a soldier, ordered honorably. So call the field to rest, and let’s away to part the glories of this happy day,” said Octavius after finding Brutus dead. That meant that the war was over. Also Octavius said that Brutus is an honorable man just as Antony and many other men had said before. This is the closing line to the act and play. If Brutus was not noble, why would the entire play end with people saying just how honorable he is? Brutus killing himself may seem selfish and cowardly at first but it proves to be another brilliant idea by the great man. In killing himself he ended the war saving many lives of friends and enemies. Also it let him retain his honor and nobility being that no man could conquer him but himself.
Antony was the true mastermind of the act. AT first the battle seemed to be in favor of Brutus and his men but it was only a trap set by Antony. Octavius appeared to be weakening and Brutus sent in some men to attack. Just as Cassius and his men, the men Brutus ordered to attack, engaged Octavius they were surrounded by Antony and his troops. “O Cassisus, Brutus gave the word to early, who having some advantage on Octavius, took it to eagerly. His soldiers fell to spoil, whilst we by Antony are all enclosed,” is all Titinius could say. Though they managed to retreat safely they attack flustered the men including Cassius to the point that they saw something that didn’t happen. Cassius believed Titanis to be dead so he took his own life which lead to Titinius killing himself. This fear was given to them by Antony’s ambush. Antony struck so much fear in the hearts of his enemies that nearly all of them kill themselves! Though Antony was on hot pursuit of them he didn’t even need to draw his sword for the most part. This shows that Antony is very intimidating as well as intelligent.
Both of these characters play major parts in the play. Antony was the leader of one faction and Brutus the leader of the other. They created perfect rivals in the sense that they were both willing to kill each other but highly respected each other as well. Without these two characters they play would have no tension and not be as interesting. These two characters were the most important characters to the play and the act.