In this passage, Brutus is persuading Cassius to mobilize their troops at this instant, instead of waiting for Antony to attack their base in Sardis. Brutus states that the magnitude and morale of his and Antony’s forces are at the absolute apex, and their conflict has culminated into an inevitable, end-all warfare. Brutus utilizes the antithesis of “height” and “decline” to accentuate the intensity and urgency to which the conflict peaked at, conveying that it can now only move towards a resolution. Brutus metaphorically describes this situation as the interaction of “tides,” which represents opportunities of momentary existence. They potentially serve as a decisive driving force for success, and Brutus insists that striking Antony immediately is one of such opportunities. Brutus strengthens his claims by describing his…show more content… This is because, once a tide is taken, the destination to which the declining waves lead to cannot be altered by any artificial means. That is, the aftermath of any action is purely dictated by fate. Nevertheless—and perhaps being cognizant that the consequences may not be in his favor—Brutus establishes a strong sense of urgency in making the first move in the battle. Brutus’s willingness to pursue to the quickest ending of the conflict is apparent throughout his reasoning; he states that it is the “voyage of their life” that is suspended on the tides. In other words, Brutus pressure Cassius into his proposal by stating that missing out on the crucial opportunity will mar their entire lives, let alone their endeavors of seizing back Rome. This belief is also evident in his saying that his forces are “ripe.” Not only does “ripe” suggest that it is the most appropriate time to strike Antony’s force, it also implies that the “cause”—their morale—and war efforts will soon be spoiled if it is left unused—just like “ripe”
