Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

CASSIUS - There is my dagger, And here my naked breast, within, a heart, Dearer than Plutus mine, richer than gold, If that thou be'st a Roman, take it forth,

1. What do these lines reveal about the speaker's mood? What were Cassius' complaints against Brutus before this extract? (Analysis & Understanding)
2. What does Cassius mean to say when he says his heart is "Dearer than Plutus mine"? Who is Plutus? Why does Cassius compare his heart to Plutus mine? (Understanding & Application)
3. Why had Cassius, according to Brutus, denied giving gold to him? How did Cassius justify this accusation made to him by Brutus? (Analysis)
4. How does Brutus try to pacify Cassius and end the quarrel? How would you have ended the quarrel? Write your answer in two sentences. (Analysis & Application)
5. Who enters the scene? Why has the person come here? How does Brutus react to the person's intrusion? (Recalling & Understanding)

Answer 1

1. These lines show that Cassius is deeply hurt, emotional and desperate. Before this, he complained that Brutus had insulted him, questioned his honour and treated him harshly despite their friendship.
2. Cassius means that his heart is more precious than all the wealth in Plutus’ mine. Plutus is the god of wealth. Cassius compares his heart to Plutus’ mine to show that his love and loyalty towards Brutus are richer and more valuable than gold.
3. Brutus says that Cassius had refused to send him money to pay his soldiers. Cassius denies this and explains that he never refused the money; he says the messenger must have made a mistake.
4. Brutus pacifies Cassius by softening his tone and accepting his friendship again. He tells him that he was only speaking in anger and they reconcile. 
5. A poet enters the scene because he has heard that Brutus and Cassius are quarrelling and wants to make peace between them. Brutus is annoyed by the interruption and tells him to leave because the matter is private.