Question

read the excerpt from act 5, scene 5, of the tragedy of julius caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains. excerpt brutus. it is more worthy to leap in ourselves than tarry till they push us. good volumnius, thou knowst that we two went to school together. even for that, our love of old, i prithee, hold thou my sword hilts, whilst i run on it.... so fare you well at once, for brutus tongue hath almost ended his lifes history. night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest, that have but laboured to attain this hour.... i prithee, strato, stay thou by thy lord. thou art a fellow of a good respect. thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it. hold then my sword, and turn away thy face how does the allusion in this excerpt from julius caesar affect the readers understanding of the plot? it implies that the war between brutus and antony is a religious conflict. it makes clear that strato is disloyal to brutus, since he is willing to kill him. it reinforces the notion that brutuss enemies would prevent him from dying honorably. it shows that brutus is afraid he will be worshiped as a hero by the enemy.

Explanation:

Brutus wants to die honorably by running on his sword. The allusion implies that his enemies (like those who would "push us" - likely Antony's forces) would prevent a honorable death if he waited. There's no indication of a religious conflict. Strato is loyal as he is helping Brutus (not disloyal). Brutus isn't afraid of being worshiped but of a dishonorable death.

Answer:

It reinforces the notion that Brutus’s enemies would prevent him from dying honorably.