Who declares 'I was not born to die on Brutus' sword'?

• A. Brutus
• B. Octavius
• C. Cassius
• D. Antony

Answer: (B)

This line tests your ability to identify who is speaking and what their words reveal about their goals and stance in the unfolding power struggle. The speaker is Octavius, Caesar’s named heir and future ruler. By saying he was not born to die on Brutus’ sword, he asserts his own survival and determination to seize control rather than be killed or defined by Brutus’s actions. It shows a calculating, ambitious mindset focused on legitimizing his position and defeating Brutus so Caesar’s legacy can live on through him. This contrasts with Brutus’s sense of noble duty, Cassius’s manipulative ambition, and Antony’s rage and memory of Caesar. The line fits Octavius’s voice and arc as the figure who will press forward to establish his authority.