Read the excerpt from act 5, scene 5, of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and the background information on the allusion it contains.

Excerpt:

[BRUTUS.] It is more worthy to leap in ourselves
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
Thou know’st that we two went to school together.
Even for that, our love of old, I prithee,
Hold thou my sword hilts, whilst I run on it. . . .
So fare you well at once, for Brutus’ tongue
Hath almost ended his life’s history.
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
That have but laboured to attain this hour. . . .
I prithee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord.
Thou art a fellow of a good respect.
Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it.
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?

STRATO. Give me your hand first. Fare you well, my lord.

BRUTUS. Farewell, good Strato. . . .
Caesar, now be still:
I killed not thee with half so good a will.

Background information:

The first book of Samuel in the Bible tells the story of Saul, who asks his armor-bearer to kill him when he is faced with defeat by religious enemies. When the man refuses, Saul falls on his sword rather than be captured by people who he is certain would not only kill him but also abuse him.

How does the allusion in this excerpt from Julius Caesar affect the reader’s understanding of the plot?

It implies that the war between Brutus and Antony is a religious conflict.
It makes clear that Strato is disloyal to Brutus, since he is willing to kill him.
It reinforces the notion that Brutus’s enemies would prevent him from dying honorably.
It shows that Brutus is afraid he will be worshiped as a hero by the enemy.