JULIUS CAESAR

William Shakespeare

ACT I, SCENE I A Street in the City of Rome.

Flavius. Get away from here. Go to your houses, you idle fellows; go r.cme. Do you think that today is a holiday? It
is really strange that you should treat this day as a holiday. It is a working day. Are you not aware at on a working
day you should not walk about in this manner, without wearing some kind of sign to show the profession to which
you belong? You are all members of the working class; and you are therefore required to show by some sign the
nature of the work which you do. {Then, turning to ; ie particular fellow) You tell me what your occupation is.

First Citizen. Well, sir, I am a carpenter.

Marullus. If you are a carpenter, you should be wearing you leather apron and carrying your foot-rule. Where are
those signs of you profession? What are you doing here in your best clothes? {Turning to another fellow in ihe
crowd) You, sir, what is your occupation?

Second Citizen. To tell you the truth, sir, as compared to the skilled workers, I am, as you would say, a mere cobbler.

Marullus. But what exactly is your occupation? Give me a straightforward reply.

Second Citizen. My occupation, sir, is one which, I hope, I may follow without any feeling of guilt. Truly, sir, my
occupation is to repair the worn-out soles.

Marullus. You rogue, I am asking you what your occupation is. You mischievous* rogue, let me know what your
occupation is.

Second Citizen. No sir, I entreat you not to feel annoyed with me. At the same time, I assure you, sir, that if you feel
annoyed I would be able to mend you.

Marullus. What do you mean by saying that? You say that you would mend me, you insolent fellow. What do you
mean by that?

Second Citizen. Well, sir, I meant to say that I would cobble you. (I meant to say, sir, that I would mend you in the
same way as I mend worn-out soles of shoes).

Flavius, You mean that you are a cobbler or a mender of worn-out shoes. Is that so?

Second Citizen. It is true, sir, that I earn my livelihood by means of a tool which is called the awl. I never interfere
with the affairs of traders or with the affairs of women. I only ply the awl which is my tool. To tell you the truth, sir, I
restore old shoes to their original condition just as a physician restores a patient to health. When old shoes are
about to give way and become unserviceable, I mend them and make them usable again. Rich and fine-looking
persons wear shoes made of ox-hide; and all such persons have been wearing shoes mended by me with my skill.

Flavius. What I ask you is why you are not doing your professional work in your shop today. Why are you leading
these fellows through the city streets?

Second Citizen. Truly speaking, sir, I am making them walk through the streets so that their shoes may wear out
and so that they may then come to me to have them repaired. By this method I shall get more work to do, and shall
add to my income. However, joking apart, sir, we are observing a holiday today in order to see Caesar, and to
express our joy at his entry into the city at the head of a procession to celebrate his victory.
Marullus. What justification is there for you to feel any pleasure on this occasion? Is Caesar returning home after
winning any new battle or conquering any new country? Does he bring with him any kings whom he has defeated in
war and who have promised to pay him an annual tribute? Has he enslaved any kings whom he is bringing with him
as his prisoners chained to his chariot-wheels?

No, such is not the case. O, you stone-hearted Romans who are worse than inanimate things! You cruel Romans,
have you forgotten Pompey? Many and frequent were the occasions when you climbed up to the walls of this city,
to the towers, to the windows, and, yes, to the chimney-tops, with your little children in your arms, and sat there all
the day long, waiting patiently and eagerly to see the great Pompey pass through the streets of this city of Rome.
And, on those occasions, when you saw his chariot appearing in the street below, you started shouting to applaud
him. All the people shouted together so loudly and with such vigour that the banks of the river Tiber flowing below
trembled on hearing the- echoes of your shouting and your applause which filled the hollows between the banks of
the river.

Yet today you, the same people, have come out of your homes in your best clothes and have chosen this particular
day as a holiday when you would scatter flowers in the path of the man who has killed the sons of Pompey and who
comes in a triumphal procession. Go away from here. Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, and pray to the

gods to refrain from imposing upon you the terrible punishment which must descend upon you for showing such
ingratitude (to Pompey).

Flavius. Go away, my good countrymen, go away. And, in order to show that yoa are sorry for the wrong step which
you have taken today, ask all the common people of your class to join you; and then take all of them to the banks of
the river Tiber, There you should all start weeping with regret at having treated this day as a holiday. Let your tears
fall into the water of the river, and keep shedding tears till the level of the water has risen to a high point with
those tears. Let your tears raise the level of the water to such an extent that the water, rising from its present low
level, touches the highest point of the banks.

The citizens go away.

Flavius (speaking to Marrullus). See that even the meanest fellow among those people has felt moved by our
words. They have gone away; and they have been rendered speechless on account of the sense of guilt which we
have aroused in them. Now you go in the direction of the Capitol; and I shall go the other way. Remove the scarves
and ribbons from the statues if you find the statues decorated with these signs of rejoicing.

Marullus. Would it be appropriate for us to do so? You know that today is a festival to be celebrated in honour of
the god of fertility; and, therefore, it may be thought wrong on our part to remove the decorations from the statues
in the city.

Flavius. That makes no difference to our purpose. Let no statues be decorated with any ornamental signs of
Caesar's victory. I shall go through the town and drive away the ordinary, common people from the streets. You
should do the same wherever you find the people crowded together. Now is the right time for us to pull out the
growing feathers from Caesar's wings. If we do so now, we can prevent his feathers from growing bigger, and we
can thus prevent him from flying too high. If we do not take this step, he would fly so high that he would become
invisible to the people; and he would then be in a position to keep all of us in a state of slavish fear. We should not
allow him to become so powerful as to tyrannize over us

Julius Caesar
Act I, scene ii
 It is the first time Caesar appears at the stage .
 While the opening scene illustrates Caesar’s popularity with the masses, the audience’s first direct encounter with him
presents an omen of his imminent fall.
 Caesar’s order to Antony alerts us to the reality that he and his wife have been unable to produce a child.
 The conversation between Brutus and Cassius reveals the respective characters of the two men, who will emerge as
the foremost conspirators against Caesar.
 Cassius compounds Caesar’s weak physical state. Caesar observes both Cassius’s private and public personas and
notices a discord.
 Antony, dressed to celebrate the feast day, readies himself for a ceremonial run through the city.
 Caesar urges him to touch Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, as he runs, since Roman superstition holds that the touch of a
ceremonial runner will cure barrenness.
 Antony agrees, proclaiming that whatever Caesar says is certain to become fact.
 The Soothsayer calls out from the crowd to Caesar, telling him to beware the Ides of March. (The “ides” refers to the
fifteenth day of March in the ancient Roman calendar.)
 Caesar pauses and asks the man to come forward; the Soothsayer repeats himself.
 Caesar ultimately dismisses the warning, and the procession departs. Brutus and Cassius remain.
 Cassius asks Brutus why he has not seemed himself lately. Brutus replies that he has been quiet because he has been
plagued with conflicting thoughts.
 But he assures Cassius that even though his mind is at war with itself, he will not let his inner turmoil affect his
friendships.
 Cassius and Brutus speak together. Cassius asks Brutus if Brutus can see his own face;
 Brutus replies that he cannot.
 Cassius then declares that Brutus is unable to see what everyone else does, namely, that Brutus is widely respected.
 Noting that no mirror could reveal Brutus’s worthiness to himself,
 Cassius offers to serve as a human mirror so that Brutus may discover himself and conceive of himself in new ways.
 Brutus hears shouting and says that he fears that the people want to make Caesar their king.
 When Cassius asks, Brutus affirms that he would rather that Caesar not assume the position.
 Brutus adds that he loves Caesar but that he also loves honor, and that he loves honor even more than he fears
death.
 Cassius replies that he, too, recoils at the thought of kneeling in awe before someone whom he does not consider his
superior, and declares, “I was born as free as Caesar, so were you. / We both have fed as well, and we can both /
Endure the winter’s cold as well as he.
 Cassius recalls a windy day when he and Caesar stood on the banks of the Tiber River, and Caesar dared him to swim
to a distant point.
 They raced through the water, but Caesar became weak and asked Cassius to save him.
 Cassius had to drag him from the water.
 Cassius also recounts an episode when Caesar had a fever in Spain and experienced a seizure.
 Cassius marvels to think that a man with such a feeble constitution should now stand at the head of the civilized
world.
 Caesar stands like a Colossus over the world, Cassius continues, while Cassius and Brutus creep about under his legs.
 He tells Brutus that they owe their underling status not to fate but to their own failure to take action.
 He questions the difference between the name “Caesar” and the name “Brutus”:
 why should Caesar’s name be more celebrated than Brutus’s when, spoken together, the names sound equally
pleasing and thus suggest that the men should hold equal power?
 He wonders in what sort of age they are living when one man can tower over the rest of the population.
 Brutus responds that he will consider Cassius’s words.
 Although unwilling to be further persuaded, he admits that he would rather not be a citizen of Rome in such strange
times as the present.
 Meanwhile, Caesar and his train return.
  Caesar sees Cassius and comments to Antony that Cassius looks like a man who thinks too much; such men are
dangerous, he adds.
 Antony tells Caesar not to worry, but Caesar replies that he prefers to avoid Cassius:
 Cassius reads too much and finds no enjoyment in plays or music—such men are never at ease while someone greater
than themselves holds the reins of power.
 Caesar urges Antony to come to his right side—he is deaf in his left ear—and tell him what he thinks of Cassius.
 Shortly, Caesar and his train depart.
 Brutus and Cassius take Casca aside to ask him what happened at the procession.
 Casca relates that Antony offered a crown to Caesar three times, but Caesar refused it each time.
 While the crowd cheered for him, Caesar fell to the ground in a fit.
 Brutus speculates that Caesar has “the falling sickness.
 Casca notes, however, that Caesar’s fit did not seem to affect his authority:
 although he suffered his seizure directly before the crowd, the people did not cease to express their love.
 Casca adds that the great orator Cicero spoke in Greek, but that he couldn’t understand him at all, saying “it was
Greek to me” .
 He concludes by reporting that Flavius and Murellus were deprived of their positions as civil servants for removing
decorations from Caesar’s statues.
 Casca then departs, followed by Brutus.
 Cassius, alone now, says that while he believes that Brutus is noble, he hopes that Brutus’s noble nature may yet be
bent:
 For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” he asks rhetorically .
 He decides to forge letters from Roman citizens declaring their support for Brutus and their fear of Caesar’s ascent to
power; he will throw them into Brutus’s house that evening.

Act1 Scene II
1.Who was Calphurnia?

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2.What are physical weakness that Cassius state?

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3.Whom did Caesar say to run to touch naked runner? why?

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4.Who was Antony?

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5.Who was Soothsayer? What did he say?

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6.What is Ides of March?

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7.What complaints did Cassius make against Brutus?

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8.What did Brutus say about Caesar?

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9.What did Cassius say about himself?

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10.What comments did Caesar make about Cassius?

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11.Who was Casca?

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12.What did Casca say about Caear's possession?

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13.Who was Cicero?

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14.What happened to Flavius and Marullus?

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15.What did Cassius decide to do?

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Julius Caesar
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT

ACT 2 SCENE II ,III AND SCENE IV

CLASS: VIII

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Julius Caesar
Act I, scene iii

 Casca and Cicero meet on a Roman street.

 Casca says that though he has seen many terrible things in the natural world, nothing compares to the frightfulness of
this night’s weather.
 He wonders if there is strife in heaven or if the gods are so angered by mankind that they intend to destroy it.
 Casca relates that he saw a man with his hands on fire, and yet his flesh was not burning.
 He describes meeting a lion near the Capitol: bizarrely, the lion ignored him and walked on.
 Many others have seen men on fire walking in the streets, and an owl, a nocturnal bird, was seen sitting out in the
marketplace during the day.
 When so many abnormal events happen at once, Casca declares, no one could possibly believe that they are natural
occurrences.
 Casca insists that they are signs of danger ahead.
 Cicero replies that men will interpret things as they will: “Indeed it is a strange-disposed time;
 But men may interpret things after their fashion,
 Clean from the purpose of the things themselves”.
 Cicero asks if Caesar is coming to the Capitol the next day;
 Casca replies that he is.
 Cicero departs, warning that it is not a good atmosphere in which to remain outside.
 Cassius enters.
 He has been wandering through the streets, taking no shelter from the thunder and lightning.
 Casca asks Cassius why he would endanger himself so.
 Cassius replies that he is pleased—he believes that the gods are using these signs to warn the Romans about a
“monstrous state,” meaning both an abnormal state of affairs and an terrible government .
 Cassius compares the night to Caesar himself, who He also calls Caesar “unusual grown, / And fearful, as these strange
eruptions are”
 Casca reports to Cassius that the senators plan to make Caesar king in the Senate the following day.
 Cassius draws his dagger and swears to the gods that if they can make a weak man like Caesar so powerful, then they
can empower Cassius to defeat a tyrant.
 He declares that Rome must be merely trash or rubbish to give itself up so easily to Caesar’s fire.
 Casca joins Cassius in his censure of Caesar, and Cassius reveals that he has already swayed a number of high-powered
Romans to support a resistance movement.
 A conspirator named Cinna enters.
 Cassius now revealed his latest scheme in his plot to build opposition against Caesar: the conversion of Brutus.
 Cassius gives Cinna the letters he has forged to place in Brutus’s chair in the Senate, and others to throw through
Brutus’s window and place on Brutus’s statue.
 Cassius claims that Brutus has already come three-quarters of the way toward turning against Caesar; he hopes the
letters will bring him the rest of the way around.
 Casca comments that the noble Brutus’s participation in their plot will bring worthiness to their schemes, for “he sits
high in all the people’s hearts,
 And that which would appear offence in us
 His stand for, like richest alchemy, Will change to virtue and to worthiness”

Act I, Scene III

Q.1.Where do Cicero and Casa meet?

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Q.2.What terrible things did Casca see on the streets?

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Q.3. Who said: When so many abnormal events happen at once, no one could possibly believe that they are natural

occurrences?

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Q.4.How is the weather today?

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Q.5.What did Cicero advise Casca?

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6.Is Caesar coming to Capitol tomorrow?

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7.Cassius is not afraid of the bad weather rather presented himself to storm .Why?

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8.Who has also become like evil storm /fire in which the Roman would fall and die?

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9.Who said: But alas for the times! we have the minds of our mothers, Not of our fathers;Our acceptance of a dictator shows us

to be like women, not men?

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10.Who is going to crowned tomorrow?

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11.What did Cassius pray to the Gods?

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12. Who said: I know he would not be a wolf If he didn't see that the Romans are only sheep; He would not be a lion if the

Romans were not hinds?

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13.How does Cassius motivate/criticize Casca?

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14.Who has persuaded some noblemen? Where are they waiting for him?

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15.Who will meet Cassius afterwards one by one?

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16.Who said : if you could Only persuade the noble Brutus to join us-?

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17.What did Cassius give to Cinna ?What did he tell him to do ?

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18.Who were Decius Brutus and Trebonius there?

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19.Who went to Cassius house to look for?

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20.What were reasons of dragging Brutus in the conspiracy?

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Act I, Scene 3
[Thunder and lightning. Enter, from opposite sides, Casca, with his sword drawn, and Cicero.]
Cicero.
Good evening, Casca. Did you take Caesar home? Why are you out of breath? And why are you
staring like that?
Casca.
 Doesn't it disturb you when the natural order of things Shakes like something that is unstable? O,
Cicero, I have seen storms when the scolding winds Have torn the knotty oaks, and I have seen The
ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam To raise itself to the level of the threatening clouds; But
never till tonight, never till now, Did I go through a storm dropping fire. Either there is a civil war
in heaven,
Or else the world, too disrespectful of the gods, Makes them angry enough to destroy it.
Cicero.
Why, did you see anything that was strange?
Casca.
A common slave--you know him well by sight-- Held up his left hand, which gave off flames and
burned Like twenty torches put together; but his hand, Not feeling the fire, remained unscorched.
Also--I haven't put my sword away since this happened-- At the Capitol I met a lion, Who glared at
me, and walked by in a bad temper Without bothering me. And there were huddled together In a
heap a hundred pale women, Changed by their fear, who swore they saw Men, covered with fire,
walk up and down the streets. And yesterday the owl, a night bird, sat At noon in the marketplace,
Hooting and shrieking. When strange events like these Happen at the same time, no one should say,
"There are explanations, these are natural events," For I believe they are bad omens For the place
where they happen.
Cicero.
Indeed, the times are strange. But people can interpret events the way they want to, No matter what
actually causes the events. Is Caesar coming to the Capitol tomorrow?
Casca.
He is, because he asked Antonius To give you the message that he would be there tomorrow.
Cicero.
Goodnight then, Casca. It is not a good idea to walk Under this disturbed sky.
Casca.
Farewell, Cicero.
[Exit Cicero.]
[Enter Cassius.]
Cassius.
Who's there?
Casca.
A Roman.
Cassius.
You must be Casca, by your voice.
Casca.
Your ear is good. Cassius, what kind of a night is this!
Cassius.
A very pleasant night for honest men.
Casca.
Who has ever seen the heavens threaten like this?
Cassius.
Those who have known that the earth is full of faults. As far as I'm concerned, I have walked around
the streets, Offering myself to the dangerous night, And, with my coat open, Casca, as you see,
Have exposed my chest to the thunder and lightning; And when the zigzag blue lightning seemed to
open The breast of heaven, I presented myself Right where it aimed and flashed.
Casca.
But why did you tempt the heavens so much? Men are supposed to fear and tremble When the most
mighty gods use signs to send Such frightening messengers to scare us.
Cassius.
You are dull, Casca, and those sparks of life That every Roman should have you either lack, Or
else you don't use. You look pale, and stare, And show fear, and are amazed, To see the strange
 impatience of the heavens. But if you would consider the true cause Of all these fires, of all these
gliding ghosts, Of birds and animals that change their natures; Of foolish old men and children who
can predict the future; Of all these things that change from their regular behavior, Their natures, and
established function, To unnatural behavior, why, you will discover That heaven has given them
these supernatural powers To make them bring fear and a warning Of some evil condition. Now I
could, Casca, give you the name of one man Who is very much like this dreadful night That
thunders, lightens, opens graves, and roars Like the lion in the Capitol; A man no mightier than you
or I In his personal actions, but who has become enormous And threatening, just like these strange
happenings are.
Casca.
It is Caesar that you mean. Isn't it, Cassius?
Cassius.
Let it be whoever it is. Modern Romans Have muscles and limbs like our ancestors. But alas for the
times! we have the minds of our mothers, Not of our fathers; Our acceptance of a dictator shows us
to be like women, not men.
Casca.
Indeed, they say that the senators Plan to make Caesar king tomorrow, And he will rule over sea
and land Everywhere except here in Italy.
Cassius.
I know where I will wear this dagger then; I will free myself from slavery. In this way, you gods,
you make the weak strong; In this way, you gods, you defeat tyrants. Neither a stone tower, nor
walls of beaten brass, Nor an airless dungeon, nor strong links of iron, Can imprison a strong spirit;
Life, when it is tired of these worldly bars, Always has the power to allow itself to leave. If I know
this, the rest of the world knows, The part of tyranny that I endure I can shake off when I choose to.
[Thunder still.]
Casca.
So can I. So every slave in his own hand holds The power to end his captivity.
Cassius.
So why is Caesar a tyrant then? Poor man! I know he would not be a wolf If he didn't see that the
Romans are only sheep; He would not be a lion if the Romans were not hinds. People who want to
quickly build a huge fire Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome, What rubbish and what
garbage, when it acts As the kindling to light up Such a disgusting thing as Caesar! But, O grief,
Where have you led me? I, perhaps, am saying this In front of a willing slave. In that case I know I
will have to answer for my words. But I am armed, And dangers don't matter to me.
Casca.
You are speaking to Casca, and to the sort of man Who is not a tattle-tale. Stop, my hand. Form a
group to correct all these wrongs, And I will go as far As anyone else.
Cassius.
You have a deal. Now you should know, Casca, that I have already persuaded A certain few of the
noblest-minded Romans To attempt with me an enterprise Of honorable-dangerous importance;
And I know, right now they are waiting for me At the entrance to Pompey's Theater; because now,
on this frightening night, No one is stirring or walking in the streets, And the condition of the sky
Looks like the work we have ahead of us, Bloody, full of fire, and terrible.
[Enter Cinna.]
Casca.
Stand hidden for awhile, for here comes someone in a hurry.
Cassius.
It's Cinna. I know the way he walks. He is a friend. Cinna, where are you going in such a hurry?
Cinna.
To find you. Who's that? Metellus Cimber?
Cassius.
No, it is Casca, who is now part Of our plan. Are they waiting for me?
Cinna.
I am glad of it. What a frightening night this is! Two or three of us have seen strange sights.
Cassius.
Are they waiting for me? Tell me.
Cinna.
Yes, they are. O Cassius, if you could Only persuade the noble Brutus to join us--
Cassius.
Be satisfied. Good Cinna, take this note And put it in the judge's seat, Where Brutus will find it, and
throw this one Through his window. Stick this one with wax On old Brutus' statue. When you've
done all of that, Go to Pompey's Porch, where you will find us. Are Decius Brutus and Trebonius
there?
Cinna.
Everyone except Metellus Cimber, and he went To look for you at your house. Well, I'll hurry To
place these papers where you told me.
Cassius.
When you finish, go to Pompey's Theater.
[Exit Cinna.]
Come, Casca, you and I will still before morning See Brutus at his house. Three-fourths of him
Belongs to us already, and the whole man Will be ours after we next meet him.
Casca.
O, the people love him, And something which would seem offensive if we did it, His face like
magic, Will change so it becomes good and worthy.
Cassius.
Him and his importance and the reason we need him You have figured out. Let's go, For it is past
midnight, and before day comes We will wake him up and make sure he is ours.
Julius Caesar

Act 2 Scene I
 Brutus paces back and forth in his garden.
 He asks his servant to bring him a light and mutters to himself that Caesar will have to die.
 He knows with certainty that Caesar will be crowned king; what he questions is whether or not Caesar will be
corrupted by his power.
 Although he admits that he has never seen Caesar swayed by power in the past, he believes that it would be
impossible for Caesar to reach such heights without eventually coming to scorn those lower in status.
 Brutus compares Caesar to the egg of a serpent “which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous”; thus, he
determines to “kill him in the shell.
 Brutus’s servant enters with a letter that he has discovered near the window.
 Brutus reads the letter, which accuses him of sleeping while Rome is threatened: “Brutus, thou slept.
 Awake, and see thyself” Brutus interprets the letter as a protest against Caesar:
 Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe?” .
 Believing the people of Rome are telling him their desires through this single letter, he resolves to take the letter’s
challenge to “speak, strike, redress”.
 A knock comes at the door. Brutus’s servant announces Cassius and a group of men—the conspirators. They include
Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius.
 Cassius introduces the men, then draws Brutus aside.
 The two speak briefly before rejoining the others. Cassius suggests that they swear an oath, but Brutus demurs.
 They have no need of oaths, he says, since their cause should be strong enough to bind them together.
 The group discusses whether it should try to bring the esteemed Cicero into the conspiracy, for he would bring good
public opinion to their schemes,
 but Brutus dissuades them, pointing out that Cicero would never follow anyone else’s ideas.
 Cassius then suggests that they would do well to kill Antony in addition to Caesar, but Brutus refuses, saying that this
would make their plan too bloody.
 According to Brutus, they only stand against the spirit of Caesar, which he wishes could be destroyed without the
necessity of killing the man himself.
 He says that they should kill him boldly, but not viciously, so that they might be perceived as purging the state rather
than as murderers.
 Cassius replies that he still fears Antony, but Brutus assures him that Antony will be rendered harmless once Caesar is
dead.
 Cassius states that no one knows whether Caesar will come to the Capitol that day, since the warnings of augurs (seers
or soothsayers) after this brutal evening might keep him at home.
 But Decius assures the others that he will be able to convince Caesar to ignore his superstitions by flattering his
bravery.
 The conspirators depart, Brutus suggesting that they try to behave like actors and hide their true feelings and
intentions.
 Brutus’s wife, Portia, enters the garden.
 She wonders what has been worrying Brutus, for his behavior has been strange.
 He says that he has felt unwell.
 She asks why he refuses to tell her his concerns, insisting that, as his wife, she should be told about his problems and
assuring him that she will keep his secrets.
 Brutus replies that he wishes he were worthy of such an honorable wife.
 They hear a knock at the door, and Brutus sends her away with a promise to talk to her later.
 Ligarius enters, looking sick.
 He says he would not be sick if he could be sure that Brutus was involved in a scheme in the name of honor.
 Brutus says that he is. Ligarius rejoices and accompanies Brutus offstage to hear more of the plan.
Julius Caesar
Act 2 Scene I

 Brutus contemplates the conspiracy in his garden late into the night. He has reached the conclusion that Julius Caesar
must die. Brutus can't justify Caesar's death by any personal acts of Caesar's; Caesar has just got to go for the public
good.
 Brutus reasons that, although Caesar isn't bad now, getting a crown would change his nature. Brutus admits he's seen
no evidence that ambition would change Caesar, but he reckons it isn't worth taking the chance.
 Thus Brutus decides action must be taken now, as Caesar is like a serpent's egg – dangerous once hatched.  (Time to
make an omelet.)
 While doing all this thinking, Brutus sends his servant Lucius to light a candle in his room. Lucius returns with a letter
he's found (Cassius's invention). The letter says Brutus should recognize his own noble nature and do something
before Rome falls to the tyranny of a monarch. Brutus is taken in and promises that, for Rome's sake, he won't fail.
 Lucius then confirms that it's the Ides of March (the fateful day Caesar had been warned about). After this healthy bit
of foreshadowing for the audience, Brutus admits he's been kept up every night since Cassius planted the fear of
tyranny in his mind.
 The group of conspirators then shows up at Brutus's door to try to win Brutus over to their cause. They're all disguised
and looking shady.
 Cassius introduces all the conspirators, and Brutus asks to hold everyone's hand for the Roman version of Kumbaya
over their murdering plan.
 Cassius suggests they swear an oath to their cause, which Brutus opposes violently. They are Romans, and Romans
don't do oaths – they're just true to their word, even if that word is murder.
 Then they all have a little debate about whether to include Cicero, but it's decided he'd never be a follower and
shouldn't be invited to join Team Secret Conspiracy.
 It's important here to note that the minor conspirators are easily swayed one direction or another regarding whether
Cicero should be asked to join, at first thinking he'd be great and then insisting he's totally unfit. They're easily
persuaded.
 Cassius then suggests they also kill Antony (Caesar's young friend) while they're at it, though Brutus thinks this would
be overkill. (Get it? Ugh.) He talks about how they should murder Caesar nobly, carving him up like a dish for the gods,
not like a "carcass fit for hounds." The conspirators should think of the murder as an act of sacrifice for the state and
not as a bloodbath.
 Brutus also contends that because Antony is like Caesar's arm, once they kill Caesar, Antony will be powerless. An arm
without a head can do nothing, and Brutus is sure they have nothing to fear from Caesar's friend.
 Trebonius, another conspiratorial lackey, suggests that Antony will be sad after the murder but will eventually laugh
about the whole thing. (Right.)
 The clock strikes 3 (actually, ancient Rome had no clocks, but Shakespeare wasn't much of a historian), and they agree
to part. Before they do, Cassius points out that Caesar has been cautious lately because of all the bad omens floating
about. Cassius further worries that Caesar's prophets might convince him to take a sick day from the Capitol.
 Decius tells everyone not to worry; he'll show up at Caesar's place in the morning to make sure Caesar goes the
Capitol. He can sway Caesar easily with fairy-tale interpretations of whatever worries Caesar.
 In fact, everyone will meet at Caesar's to make sure he shows up at the Capitol for the murder. It's a team effort.
Cassius prompts them to be "good Romans" and keep their word.
 Brutus tells them to make sure they don't look like suspicious murderers. Brilliant!
 After everyone leaves Brutus, his wife, Portia, whom he left in bed, shows up to have a little husband-wife chat. The
other night Brutus gave her a mean look at dinner and dismissed her when she wanted to talk about what was
bothering him. (Apparently the plan to murder Caesar didn't make it into pillow talk.) Portia pleads with him to tell her
what's making him so unhappy.
 Brutus claims he's just a bit sick, and Portia says that pacing about at all hours of the night is surely not the best cure.
She points out it must be a sickness of the mind that plagues him. Brilliant!
 She says she has a right to know who the masked men who were just at their house in the middle of the night were.
 Portia claims she does more than simply serve Brutus, and she asks that he confide in her as a beloved wife rather
than ignore her like a kept woman. Though she knows she's a woman, she's his wife and the daughter of noble Cato,
and she can keep a secret, no matter what it is.
 Brutus then asks the gods to make him worthy of such a noble wife. Just then, there's a knock at the door. Brutus
sends Portia back to bed, promising to tell her everything later.
 Caius Ligarius, a guy who one of the conspirators wanted to bring onto the team, has shown up. Although he's sick, he
says he's filled with spirit after hearing of the killing plan. The two walk and talk about the murder afoot.
Answer the following questions:

Q.1.How does Brutus reach to his decision to kill Caesar?

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Q.2.What did Lucius get at the window?

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Q.3.What did the letter indicate Brutus to do ?

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Q.4.Who came to meet Brutus ?

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Q.5.Why did Brutus disagree to have an oath?

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Q.6.What did Cassius tell about Antony?

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Q.7.Why did Brutus disagree to kill Antony?
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Q.8.How did Portia claim as Brutus' wife to know about the secret of murdering?
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Q.9.Who was sent to bring Caesar?

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Julius Caesar
ACT 2, SCENE 2

 Caesar's also up late, pacing around in his nightgown, lightning and thunder as the backdrop. His wife
Calphurnia has cried out "Help, ho! They murder Caesar" three times in her sleep, which he's taken as a bad
sign.
 Caesar tells a servant to order the priests to make a sacrifice and see if they can rustle up a good omen.
 The now-awake Calphurnia approaches Caesar and demands that he not leave the house that day. Caesar
of course refuses her. He claims that danger can't look him in the eye. (It's like he invented Chuck Norris!)
 Still, Calphurnia is pretty dead-set against Caesar leaving. She's not a superstitious lady, but she's seen lions
walking around, the dead rising from their graves, and warriors in the sky, and she's dreamt of the Capitol
covered in blood. All of this makes her worry.
 Caesar points out that the gods will get their way, no matter what he does. Here he delivers the famous
line, "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the Valiant never taste of death, but once." He sees no
reason to fear death, since death comes to everyone in the end.
 Caesar then gets word that the sacrifice didn't go so well: the beast they killed didn't have a heart! Caesar –
maybe arrogant, maybe brave – takes this to mean that he would have no heart (or courage) if he stayed
home today. He then claims he's more dangerous than danger itself (very Johnny Bravo).
 Calphurnia pleads with Caesar to stay home. If anyone asks, he can say it's his wife that kept him home so
he won't look like a coward for not showing up at the Capitol. He doesn't agree until she's gotten down on
her knees. He decides to humor her and have Antony cover for him with some excuse about feeling ill.
 It's about morning now, and Decius shows up as promised to take Caesar to the Capitol. Calphurnia asks
Decius to tell the Senate that Caesar is sick. Caesar points out that he's conquered nations and is not
worried about some old senators knowing why he had to stay home.
 Caesar tells Decius to just tell the Senate he won't come – they don't deserve any more of an explanation
than that. Still, Caesar says, because he loves Decius, he'll tell him the real reason he's staying
home. (Definitely a bad move.)
 He confides in Decius that Calphurnia had a dream in which Caesar's statue poured blood from a hundred
spouts, like a fountain, and that happy Romans surrounded the statue bathing their hands in the blood.
 Decius is a quick thinker, and he knows he's got to get Caesar to the Capitol to kill him. So he deliberately
misinterprets the dream. He says that of course Caesar had blood spilling all over happy Romans. Decius
claims the dream means Rome will be revived by Caesar's blood, and everybody will want a little bit of that
wonderful infusion. (Decius really means that Rome will be sustained by Caesar's spilled blood – not his
current, happily circulating blood.)
 To end all discussion on the topic, Decius offers Caesar the cherry on top: today the Senate is planning on
crowning Caesar king, and if he doesn't show up they might change their minds. They'll make fun of him for
being a scaredy-cat and staying home because of his wife's dreams. Decius claims he only says these things
out of love.
 Caesar takes the bait, calls Calphurnia foolish, and heads off with Decius to the Capitol.
 It's 8 in the morning by this time, and all the other conspirators have gathered at Caesar's house to make
small talk as promised.
 Caesar invites them all to have a friendly morning drink with him before they go, and Brutus privately
laments that Caesar can't tell that his supposed friends are his soon-to-be murderers.
Summary Act 2 Scene III

 Artemidorus enters a street near the Capitol reading from a paper that warns Caesar of danger and that
names each of the conspirators.
 He intends to give the letter to Caesar and he reasons that Caesar may survive if the fates do not ally
themselves with the conspirators.

Summary Act 2 Scene IV

 Portia, Brutus's wife, is a mess. She tells Lucius, the servant, to run to the Capitol, then yells at him for not
leaving, even though she hasn't yet given him any instruction on what to do when he gets there.
 Portia is worried, but she doesn't even know what Lucius should look for. Brutus didn't look well when he
left the house that morning, and she decides Lucius should look after her husband and see what Caesar is
up to and whom he's surrounded by. Though she hasn't heard the murder plan directly from Brutus's
mouth, it's clear she suspects something awful.
 Portia then starts with a fright, thinking she has heard a noise, though Lucius claims he's heard nothing.
 A soothsayer (they pop up a lot in ancient Rome) arrives at Brutus's house to tell Portia that Caesar hasn't
come to the Capitol yet. The soothsayer hopes to meet him on the way there, with an offer to befriend him.
 Portia worries about this and asks whether something is being plotted against Caesar – why does he need
more friends? The soothsayer says he hasn't heard of anything, but he fears something will happen.
 The soothsayer heads off in hopes of finding a place to speak with Caesar himself and not be crushed by the
crowd.
 Portia grows even more faint. She asks that heaven speed Brutus in his "enterprise." Worrying that Lucius
has overheard her, she covers herself with a paltry lie, pretending that the "enterprise" is some small
request Brutus has made that Caesar won't grant. She does know something, and she's not saying what.
 Finally Portia tells Lucius to tell Brutus that she's "merry," and that she'd like Lucius to bring back news of
Brutus. She clearly isn't merry, dear reader, and seems to suspect the worst.
Julius Caesar

Act 2 Scene II

Answer the Following Questions:

Q.1.Why did Caesar order to sacrifice a goat?

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Q.2.What did his wife dream?

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Q.3.How did Caesar defend his wife's claim?

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Q.4.What was his wife's logic to stay home without being coward?

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Q.5.Who came to take Caesar at the Capitol?

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Q.6.What did Caesar tell Decius to tell to the Senate?

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Q.7.How did Decius explain the meaning of the dream ?

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Q.8.How does Decius convince Caesar to take him to Senate?

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Q.9.Why did all the Senator gathered at the front of Caesar's house?

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Julius Caesar
Act 2 Scene III
Q.1.Who was Artemidorus?

Ans:___________________________________________________________________________________________

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Q.2.What was written in his letter?

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Act 2 Scene IV
Q.1.Who was Lucius?

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Q.2.How did Portia represent herself in the act 2 scene iv?

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Q.3.Why did she send Lucius at the Capitol?

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Q.3.What advices did she give to Lucius?

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JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 3, SCENE 1
SUMMARY

 The crowd of traitorous senators and a bunch of hangers-onsurround Julius Caesar just outside the Capitol.
Decius, a traitor, offers a "suit" or a request from Trebonius to Caesar.
 After a vague but ominous interaction between Caesar and the soothsayer, Artemidorius pleads with
Caesar to read his suit (letter) first, as it's dearest to Caesar. (This note tells Caesar of the plot and names
the conspirators.) Caesar, the picture of humility, says that, because he puts the affairs of Rome before his
own, he'll read Artemidorius's suit last. Artemidorius presses him, and Caesar brushes him off: "What, is the
fellow mad?"
 Before Caesar has time to consider that he's committed the biggest mistake of his life, he is hustled to the
Capitol by Cassius. Cassius says Caesar shouldn't just give audience to every Tom, Dick, and Roman in the
street – he needs to hurry to the Capitol.
 As Caesar enters the Capitol, Senator Popilius wishes Cassius good luck in "today's enterprise."
 Naturally, the conspirators flip out a little bit – Popilius, who is now chatting up Caesar, seems to know
about the plot. Brutus, calm and collected, assures everyone that they're just scaring themselves. Popilius
smiles with Caesar, who looks unconcerned, so he clearly hasn't just heard about the murder plot.
 Meanwhile, Trebonius is busy luring Antony away, and the plan is falling into place. Metellus will come up
close to Caesar, pretending to have some request, and everyone will gather around him to fall into killing
position. Cinna says Casca will strike first.
 The team breaks and hustles as Caesar calls the Senate to order.
 Metellus is the first to come before Caesar, and he begins to kneel, but Caesar cuts him off. Pretentiously
referring to himself in the third person, Caesar says such stooping might appeal to lesser men, but it won't
sway him. Caesar declares that Metellus's brother (whom Metellus is making a request on behalf of) will
remain banished. Further, no amount of begging and pleading will shake the great Caesar, it only makes
him scorn the beggar. (Caesar, in his arrogance, definitely makes it harder to be sympathetic towards him
here.)
 As Metellus is making his plea for his brother Publius, Brutus joins in and kisses Caesar's hand, which totally
surprises Caesar. Cassius falls to Caesar's feet.
 As Caesar is surrounded, he declares he definitely won't change the law to accommodate Publius. He
declares himself to be "as constant as the northern star." While every man might be a fiery star, all the stars
move except the northern one. Caesar identifies with that star, so he's not about to change his mind.
 The conspirators press on, and Caesar demands that they go away, saying that their pleading is as useless
as trying to lift up Olympus, mountain of the gods.
 Caesar is shocked when Brutus decides to kneel. Suddenly Casca rises to stabs Caesar. Brutus stabs him too.
 Caesar's last words are some of literature's most famous: "Et tu, Brute? [You too, Brutus?] – Then fall,
Caesar!" It seems Caesar is willing to fall if one of his most noble friends, Brutus, would betray him.  This is
moving, even after the whole, "I'm the most special star in the whole galaxy" speech.
 Immediately after Caesar falls, Cinna proclaims, "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" and tells everybody to
run and spread the message in the streets.
 Brutus realizes that all the other folks standing around in the Capitol watching Caesar bleed might be a bit
shocked. He tells them to stay and relax, as "ambition's debt is paid," meaning Caesar's death is the cost
and consequence of Caesar's ambition.
 Casca directs Brutus and Cassius to the pulpit, probably to address the crowd, when Brutus notices he can't
find Publius. Cinna points out that Publius is looking shocked by the great mutiny, and Metellus urges the
conspirators to stand together in case Caesar's friends in the Capitol want to start a fight.
 Brutus then challenges everyone to come back to their senses. No one wants to hurt anybody, and he
hopes no one wants to hurt them. Brutus, maybe sensing that the plan to become heroes for killing Caesar
has not come to pass, adds that only the men who've done this deed will bear its consequences.
 Trebonius enters to confirm the worst: Antony has run to his house, shocked by the act, and people are
shrieking in the street like it wasDoomsday.
 Brutus then basically says: "We all know we'll die eventually, and life is just the process of waiting for the
days to pass before it happens." (Maybe Brutus should get a hobby, or a support group.) Brutus goes on to
suggest that, as Caesar's friends, they've done him a favor by shortening the period of time he would've
spent worrying about death. Interesting logic.
 Weirdly, Brutus then calls everyone to bathe their hands up to their elbows in Caesar's blood and to cover
their swords with it, so they can walk out into the streets and the marketplace declaring peace, freedom,
and liberty in the land. (This is notably reminiscent of Calphurnia's dream.)
 Cassius says he's sure this bloodbath will go down in history as a noble act, and everyone agrees that Brutus
should lead the procession into the street, as he has the boldest and best heart in Rome.
 Just then, Antony's servant enters, causing the marching band of merry, bloody men to take pause.
 Antony has sent word with his servant to say Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest, and, further, that
while Antony loves Brutus and honors him, Antony also feared, loved, and honored Caesar. Antony thus
pledges to love Brutus if he can get some assurance that it's safe to come around for a visit sometime and
hear the story of why Brutus thought it was OK to kill their leader. Regardless, he'll be faithful to Brutus
from now on.
 Brutus tells Antony's servant that his master will be safe if he comes to the Capitol. Brutus is sure glad they
can all be friends again.
 Cassius, however, is still suspicious of Antony, and as the resident expert in treachery, he's usually right
about spotting it in others.
 Antony shows up and makes a great show over Caesar's body, weeping and wailing. He worries aloud about
who else will be killed over some secret grudge the conspirators might hold.
 Antony then pleas with the conspirators to kill him right now if they want him dead, as to die by swords still
fresh with Caesar's blood would be the greatest death ever, hands down.
 Brutus then pleads with Antony that, though the conspirators' hands are bloody, their hearts are pitiful.
After all, someone needed to do this terrible deed for Rome, to drive out fire with fire. Brutus promises
Antony he will only met with love.
 Brutus promises to soon explain the reason they've killed Caesar. Right now, though, they've got to go out
and quiet the public, which is a bit frightened of the men who stopped for a quick dip in Caesar's blood.
 Antony says he has no doubt that Brutus probably had some very good reason to kill Caesar, and he shakes
bloody hands with the conspirators all around. He then looks on Caesar's corpse and begins a long-winded
speech in praise of Caesar, whom he has betrayed by becoming loyal to his murderers.
 Cassius interrupts this dramatic posturing and flat-out asks whether Antony is with them or against them.
 Antony says he was committed to the conspirators, but then he notices Caesar's corpse again (still lying on
the ground at their feet), and the plan to be down with the murderers suddenly looks a little less savory.
Still, Antony will remain their friend if they can provide some reason to believe Caesar was dangerous.
Brutus promises they can and must.
 Antony's only other little request is that he be allowed to take the body to the marketplace and to speak at
Caesar's funeral.
 Brutus, ever trusting, readily gives in to Antony's request, but Cassius senses foul play and pulls Brutus
aside.
 Cassius warns Brutus to bar Antony from speaking at Caesar's funeral, as he's likely to say things that will
incite the people against the conspirators.
 Brutus will solve this problem by going to the pulpit first and explaining in a calm and rational manner his
reasons for killing Caesar. (Rationality always goes over well with angry mobs, right?) Brutus will explain
that the conspirators have given Antony permission to speak (meaning he's not an adversary), and that
Caesar will have all the lawful burial ceremonies. Brutus is certain this will win them good PR all around.
 Just to make sure, Brutus makes Antony promise not to say anything inflammatory at Caesar's funeral.
Instead of blaming the killers, he should speak of Caesar's virtue by focusing more on Caesar's life than his
death.
 Antony promises and is left alone to give a little soliloquy, in which he reveals that he fully intends to incite
the crowd to bloody murder against the conspirators. In fact, there'll be so much blood and destruction
that Caesar might show up from hell with the goddess of discord at his side, and mothers will smile to see
their infants torn limb from limb. (Ew.) Well, the man has a plan.
 Just then a servant arrives with the news that Octavius is on his way. Octavius is Julius Caesar's adopted son
and heir, and Caesar had recently sent him a letter asking him to come to Rome.
 Antony tells the servant to hold Octavius where he is, just seven leagues from Rome, as it's not safe for him
in the city yet. He says Octavius should come after Antony has had a chance to give his speech and kick-
start the mob rioting.
 The servant lends Antony a hand to carry Caesar's body out of the Capitol.
JULIUS CAESAR

ACT 3, SCENE 2

 Brutus and Cassius hit the streets, surrounded by crowds of common folks. So many people are clamoring
to hear them that Cassius takes one group off while the others stay to listen to Brutus speak.
 Brutus ascends to the pulpit and the crowd falls silent. He delivers an earnest, honest, and simple speech.
 First, he says that the people should trust his honor, which they know to be true. He asks if anyone can say
they loved Caesar more than he did. No one can.
 Brutus says he rose against Caesar not because he didn't love him, but because he loved Rome more. If
Caesar were still living, they'd all be slaves. While Caesar was a lot of good things, he had to die for his
ambition. To have let him live would be to submit to slavery, and that's downright un-Roman.
 Brutus asks whether anyone doesn't love Rome and freedom, and of course the answer is no. So obviously
Caesar had to die.
 Everybody is buying this, but then Antony shows up with Caesar's body. Brutus introduces Antony to the
crowd and closes his speech by restating that he slew his best friend for Rome's sake and that he will turn
the same dagger on himself if his country ever needs his death. (Sounds like foreshadowing.)
 Everyone is so happy with Brutus that there are some calls to give him a statue among his ancestors and to
make him the new Caesar. (These folks are really missing the democratic message of his speech.) Brutus
politely dismisses himself and asks everyone to stay and listen to Antony's speech.
 The crowd is firmly behind Brutus, and they shout out that Caesar was a tyrant and Brutus has done them
all a favor.
 Then Antony takes over, with the famous speech beginning: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your
ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred
with their bones; so let it be with Caesar."
 The crowd is as good as sold there, but Antony manages to stealthily bring it around to the opinion that
Caesar has been killed wrongfully. He begins by insisting that Brutus and the other murderers are
honorable, but then proceeds to slowly undermine that statement by pointing out how their chief gripe
against Caesar, his ambition, could not be true. Antony gives examples of how Caesar loved his people,
bringing in money to the country, weeping with the poor, and even refusing the crown three times. Clearly,
he suggests, Caesar wasn't ambitious at all, but was devoted and loving to his citizens.
 Antony uses a little reverse psychology on the crowd, getting them to clamor to hear Caesar's will by
insisting that they shouldn't hear it. He descends to read them the private document but gets sidetracked
by mourning over Caesar's body.
 Again Antony insists Brutus is honorable, but then points out the gash Brutus made in his friend's bloody
body. Antony repeats this pattern over and over, until all are in agreement to burn, slay, and otherwise do
not-so-nice things to Brutus and the other conspirators.
 They're so caught up and ready to go a-rioting that they forget about Caesar's will. Antony has to remind
them that they wanted to hear it.
 After the mob gets the news that Caesar left them some nice gardens and 75 drachmas each, they decide to
cremate Caesar in the holy place and burn down the traitors' houses with the same fire. (Even the mob has
a sense of poetic justice.)
 As the mob sets off to carry out the chaos and killing, Antony delights that his plan has worked.
 He then gets the news that Octavius has come to Rome with Lepidus. Both men are waiting for him at
Caesar's house. Good fortune is upon them, as they'll be the new triumvirate (the three-man team that
ruled Rome).
 We learn that Brutus and Cassius have fled the city like madmen.
JULIUS CAESAR

ACT 3, SCENE 3

SUMMARY

 The poet Cinna, who is traveling the streets, gets caught up by the mob.
 After asking him a few questions, they confuse him with Cinna the conspirator.
 He pleads that they've got the wrong guy, but the mob has no mercy.
 They decide to tear him to pieces anyway for his bad poetry.
 As they drag him offstage, they list the names of the conspirators whose houses they're off to pillage and
burn.

JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 5, SCENE 3

 Cassius and Titinius watch the battle from another part of the field.
 When Cassius's standard-bearer (the guy who carries his battle flag) tried to run away, Cassius killed him and
took up the flag himself. This guy is merciless!
 Titinius doesn't comment on this behavior but points out that Brutus came down on Octavius's army too
early. Though they were initially weaker, Octavius's men now appear to be overtaking Brutus's, and Antony
is enclosing Cassius's. The situation is looking pretty dire for Cassius and Brutus.
 Pindarus comes to Cassius and Titinius with the news that Antony has invaded Cassius's tents. He tries to get
Cassius to run away, but Cassius is distracted by a set of troops in the distance.
 Cassius sends Titinius off on horseback to see whether the troops are friends or enemies. He also sends
Pindarus higher up the hill to watch and report on Titinius's progress.
 Cassius notes to himself that his birthday is a good day to die, his life having come full circle.
 Cassius is resigned to his fate, but he still fights on. Pindarus reports on Titinius play by play. A horde of
horsemen has surrounded Titinius. Now they've overtaken him. And now they're shouting with joy. It looks
like the worst has happened.
 Cassius calls for Pindarus to stop watching. He laments that he's such a coward to have sent his best friend
Titinius to his death. Pindarus returns to Cassius's side, and Cassius speaks to him.
 Cassius reminds Pindarus how he took him prisoner at Parthia and spared his life on the condition that he do
whatever Cassius asked him to. Cassius then tells Pindarus how to make himself a free man: he should kill
him with the very blade he used to kill Caesar.
 Pindarus stabs Cassius, who dies declaring that Caesar is avenged by the same sword that killed him.
 Pindarus, now hovering around Cassius's body, claims that this wasn't the way he wanted to gain his
freedom, and that if he had his own will (and hadn't been Cassius's servant), he wouldn't have done it. He
declares that he'll run far away so no Roman will ever see (or enslave) him again.
 Messala then enters the scene with Titinius (who – surprise! – is not dead), announcing the new state of the
battle: they're basically even on both sides. Brutus has overtaken Octavius's forces, while Antony's forces
have beaten Cassius's men.
 The men are stoked to tell Cassius that all isn't lost, but then they see his dead body, which is in no condition
to accept good news.
 Titinius realizes that Cassius must have misunderstood what had happened on the hilltop.
 Messala is more Action Jackson than super-sleuth; he goes off unhappily to inform Brutus of Cassius's death.
Meanwhile, Titinius is left to find Pindarus.
 It doesn't matter where Pindarus is, and Titinius doesn't even look for him. Instead, Titinius explains what
actually happened in the scene that Cassius killed himself over. Titinius was indeed overtaken, but by friends
of Brutus and Cassius on horseback. The shouts Pindarus heard were shouts of joy for Cassius's side. They
overtook Titinius to put a wreath of victory on his head, which Brutus then wanted the rider to give to
Cassius.
 Titinius still has the doomed crown, which, in a dramatic moment, he places on dead Cassius's head.
 Titinius then cries, "By your leave, gods! – this is a Roman's part," and proceeds to stab himself with
Cassius's sword. Titinius dies beside his friend.
 Messala and Brutus arrive just in time to find that Titinius has played Ultimate Mourning and killed himself.
 Brutus cries out, "Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet!" (He might be suggesting that the ghost is out
convincing people to kill themselves, or he might be talking about his effect on the conspirators'
consciences.)
 Brutus laments that two of Rome's bravest men should lie here this way. He prophetically calls Cassius "the
last of all the Romans," meaning the last of the old school Romans that prefer death to subjugation. Brutus
says he knows he ought to cry over Cassius, but now is not the time for crying.
  In the meantime, they decide not to hold the funerals in the camp, as funerals are no way to boost troop
morale. Still, it's only 3 o'clock, which means there's time to try their luck against the enemy again, in the
hopes something might be accomplished before dinnertime. Brutus gathers his remaining friends for the
fight.

JULIUS CAESAR

ACT 5, SCENE 4

 Everyone goes out onto the battlefield in a blaze of glory. Young Cato runs around shouting his name as a
challenge to anyone who stands for tyranny and against the Roman Republic.
 Lucilius is running around pretending to be Brutus.
 Some enemy soldiers unceremoniously kill Young Cato. They're ready to kill Lucilius too, but he says he's
Brutus, and they should be honored to kill him.
 The soldiers take him prisoner and are excited to show off their catch to Antony. (They really believe he's
Brutus.)
 The captive Lucilius tells Antony that no one will ever take Brutus alive. Lucilius promises that when
Antony finds Brutus, whether alive or dead, he'll still be Brutus, with the same noble character and
unchanged by these events.
 Antony tells his overeager soldiers that this guy isn't Brutus, but he's no less worth capturing. Antony orders
the soldiers to keep Lucilius safe and to be kind to him, as he'd rather have such men for friends than
enemies.
 Antony then sends some folks off to find out whether Brutus is alive or dead. He goes to Octavius's tent to
hear news of how things are going.

JULIUS CAESAR

ACT 5, SCENE 5

 Elsewhere in the field, Brutus stops and asks his remaining friends to rest on a rock.
 He calls Clitus aside and asks him to do something in a whisper. Clitus declines to do the mystery deed,
saying he'd rather kill himself.
 The process is repeated with Dardanius. The two men, Clitus and Dardanius, reveal to each other that Brutus
has asked them to kill him.
 They share the news while Brutus tears up a little bit.
 Brutus calls Volumnius over now and tells him that Caesar's ghost has appeared to him twice, once at night
and once again in the fields of Philippi. Brutus knows his hour has come and he would rather leap into the pit
than loiter around and wait for his enemies to push him in.
 He asks Volumnius to kill him, since they were old friends from school. Volumnius points out that this is the
very reason he can't do it.
 Just then the alarums (call to arms) are sounding, so Clitus urges everyone to get away before the enemy
arrives.
 Brutus speaks to his men valiantly. He says that even though he has lost to Antony and Octavius, he will find
more glory in this day than either of them can hope to achieve through their vile conquest of Rome. As the
alarums continue to sound out, Brutus tells everyone to flee and promises to follow after everyone else has
left.
 The only man left with Brutus now is Strato, who's slept through all the speeches and sadness. Strato has
woken up just in time to be asked to hold Brutus's sword while he runs into it. Strato thinks this is a good
idea and asks only to shake hands with Brutus before doing the deed.
 Brutus' final words assure that what he does now is twice as pure as what he did to Caesar, who is avenged
by this act: "Caesar, now be still, I kill'd not thee with half so good a will."
 Antony, Octavius, and their armies, along with the captive Lucilius and Messala, now approach the site of
Brutus's death.
 Messala asks Strato where their master is, and Strato says that Brutus is free.
 Only Brutus overcame Brutus, Strato says, and Brutus himself is the only one who gained honor in his death.
 There's a bit of a conference, and Octavius will entertain all the men who nobly served Brutus.
 Brutus's enemies are a lot friendlier to him now that he's dead. Antony declares Brutus the "noblest Roman"
of them all, as he alone among the conspirators killed Caesar not out of envy but out of concern and care for
the public good.
 Octavius says Brutus will be buried as an honorable soldier, and his body will stay in Octavius's tent for the
night.
 After that, they agree it's time to celebrate and share "the glories of this happy day."
 (If you want to know what happens to Antony, read Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.)