Question

read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3, of the tragedy of julius caesar.
brutus. messala, i have here received letters,
that young octavius and mark antony
come down upon us. . . .
messala. myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.
brutus. with what addition?
messala. that by proscription and bills of outlawry,
octavius, antony, and lepidus
have put to death an hundred senators.
brutus. therein our letters do not well agree.
mine speak of seventy senators that died
by their proscriptions, cicero being one.
cassius. cicero one!
messala. ay, cicero is dead.
what is the central idea of this excerpt?
○ the power of love
○ the value of peace
○ the ruthlessness of power
○ the importance of compromise

Explanation:

The excerpt focuses on Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus using their power to execute dozens of senators (including Cicero) via proscription, showing how power is used cruelly and without mercy to eliminate opposition. The other options do not align: there is no focus on love, peace, or compromise here.

Answer:

the ruthlessness of power