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Lepidus is the third member of Antony and Octavius’s triumvirate, and he assumes this position with little effort. Lepidus only appears in two scenes and he only has a handful of lines, but he plays an essential role in Julius Caesar because he allows the audience to get a sense of Rome’s politics. In 4.1, the triumvirate meet to discuss who should be punished in the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination. The scene initially looks like a meeting between equals, but Antony soon sends Lepidus on an errand and, in his absence, complains to Octavius about sharing their power with Lepidus, who he does not deem worthy of such an honor. He essentially says Lepidus has a weak sense of self and lacks conviction. However, Antony does not see this as a total loss, because it means that he can train Lepidus like an “ass” or “horse” to follow his every command (4.1.33), likening Lepidus to little more than a tool to be used. This brief interaction enables the audience to see just how easily power corrupts those in charge—Antony is already looking to surround himself with people, like Lepidus, who will do his bidding without challenging him, and who pose no threat to his own political ambitions, as Lepidus himself has none.
