Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 1, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar . [Exit LEPIDUS] ANTONY: This is a slight, unmeritable man, Meet to be sent on errands. Is it fit, The three-fold world divided, he should stand One of the three to share it? OCTAVIUS: So you thought him, And took his voice who should be pricked to die, In our black sentence and proscription. ANTONY: Octavius, I have seen more days than you: And though we lay these honors on this man. To ease ourselves of divers sland’rous loads, He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, To groan and sweat under the business, Either led or driven as we point the way; And having brought our treasure where we will, Then take we down his load, and turn him off, Like to the empty ass, to shake his ears And graze in commons. What does this interaction reveal about Antony’s agenda?
Answer
A
He plans to remove Lepidus from power once he has served his purpose.
B
He intends to make Lepidus one of the leaders of the divided empire.
C
He plans to have Lepidus tried and executed for his past crimes.
D
He intends to send Lepidus to become a servant for Brutus.
Explanation
Antony compares Lepidus to an ass carrying valuable cargo: Lepidus will bear the burdens of their political business while Antony and Octavius direct him. Once he has brought their “treasure” where they want it, they will remove his load and turn him away. This reveals that Antony plans to discard Lepidus after he has served his purpose, so C is correct.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.