This question is incomplete. Here is the complete question:
Read the excerpt from act 4, scene 3, of Julius Caesar.
BRUTUS. No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead.
CASSIUS. Ha! Portia?
BRUTUS. She is dead.
CASSIUS. How scaped I killing when I crossed you so?
O insupportable and touching loss!
Upon what sickness?
BRUTUS. Impatient of my absence,
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong—for with her death
That tidings came. With this, she fell distraught,
And, her attendants absent, swallowed fire.
Why is this excerpt an example of situational irony?
Cassius does not believe that Portia is dead.
Brutus does not believe that Portia is dead.
Portia's death is unexpected because Brutus tried to protect her.
Cassius's response is unexpected because Brutus tried to protect him.
Answer:
The correct answer is "Cassius's response is unexpected because Brutus tried to protect him."
Explanation:
Let's start by clarifying what situational irony is.
Situational irony is what is used in literature for those situations where something totally different happens from what the audience expects to happen. There is the irony.
In this excerpt this happens in Cassius' amazement at Brutus, who did not kill him when he was actually expected to.
Given this information we can say that the correct answer is "Cassius's response is unexpected because Brutus tried to protect him."
