Note to JULIUS CAESAR, 4.3.184, 'Nothing, Messala'

A minute or two ago Brutus told Cassius that Portia had "swallow'd fire" and so died. Now he tells Messala that he has had no news of his wife. Some scholars say that Shakespeare must have re-written the scene, first having Brutus tell Cassius of Portia's death, then changing his mind and having Messala deliver the news. According to this theory, both versions of the news of Portia's death got into the text because the printers of the First Folio didn't know that the first was meant to be dropped. Other scholars say that what we see is exactly what Shakespeare meant. According to this theory, Brutus, in a private moment, tells Cassius that Portia has died, but then displays proper Roman Stoicism to Messala, thus giving a good example to a subordinate, who responds as he should: "Even so great men great losses should endure."



"Le Suicide de Porcia"
by
Pierre Mignard