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All Site ContentJulius CaesarAct 4Scene 2
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Brutus’ Stoicism
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Act 4,
Scene 2
Lines 240-247

An explanation of Brutus’ stoicism in Act 4, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Julius Caesar.

Messala

Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell,
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.

Brutus

Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.
With meditating that she must die once,
I have the patience to endure it now.

Messala

Even so great men great losses should endure.

Cassius

I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.

Brutus says that we all must die. He knows Portia would have to die sometime, and knowing this gives him the strength, as a Stoic, to endure her loss without undue negative emotion. Messala is impressed with Brutus' seemingly incredible calm acceptance of his wife's death, but we know from Brutus' prior conversation that he has known of her death for some time.