SERVILIA: In a Roman battle formation, the strongest forces were normally positioned on the right side, under the command of the senior officer. Being the older experienced general, Antony naturally assumed that his army would be on the right.

RALPH: But the young Octavius asserts himself over Antony, insisting that his army be placed on the right.

SERVILIA: It’s interesting that four lines later Antony addresses him not as Octavius, but as Caesar. For the next 400 years, the word Caesar will be more than a family name; it will be the title of the Roman emperor.

RALPH: In terms of history, the power struggle between Antony and Octavius is far from over—and so Shakespeare is giving us a sense of that here—but in the play, they’re going to get along as well as they can until Brutus and Cassius are defeated.