Act IV

In Act IV of Julius Caesar, characters call upon the images of animals to depict a lower ranking of another person. Antony doubts that Lepidus is worthy of being a major military and political leader, confiding in Octavius that “This is a slight, unmeritable man,/ Meet to be sent on errands…” (4.1.14-15). Antony then compares Lepidus to a donkey, “He shall but bear them as the ass bears gold” (4.1.24), implying that he accepts their biddings without thought, and to follow whatever Antony and Octavius command of him. Octavius claims that Lepidus is a “tried and valiant soldier” (4.1.32), to which Antony replies, “So is my horse” (4.1.33). Antony continues that Lepidus is trained and follows orders, again simple things an animal can do, especially a horse used in battle. Despite Ocatvius’s protests, Antony derides Lepidus as a viable military and political leader by continually alluding to animals, their obedience and lower standing compared to humans. Antony sums up his argument, stating the Lepidus is even lower than animals, telling Octavius, “Do not talk of him/ But as a property” (4.1.43-44).