Why does Cassius kill himself?

• A. He is betrayed by Brutus
• B. He is ordered by Caesar
• C. He is killed by an assassin
• D. He believes his friend Titinius has been captured by Antony's forces

Answer: (D)

This question is about how a character’s perception of events, shaped by loyalty and pride, drives a drastic action. In the pivotal moment, Cassius receives a report from his slave Pindarus that Titinius has been captured by Antony’s forces. Cassius, already fearing the battle is turning against them, interprets this news as a sign that the conspiracy’s cause is doomed and that he would soon fall into enemy hands or suffer dishonor. Out of a stubborn sense of honor and loyalty to Brutus, he chooses to end his life rather than live with defeat or capture. He thus kills himself by falling on a sword, a consequence of a misread situation rather than any direct order or assault.

This isn’t about being betrayed by Brutus, nor about being ordered or killed by Caesar or an assassin. The decisive factor is the false news about Titinius’s fate and Cassius’s reaction to that rumor, which leads to his tragic end.