Julius Caesar is a classical tragedy. It reveals the dangers of political turmoil.
👉Act 1
Scene 1 - Rome. A street.
It is the feast of Lupercal (a Roman holiday) on 15 February 44BC. The citizens are enthusiasts to celebrate Caesar's triumph over Pompey. The tribunes Marullus and Flavius notice the fickle nature of the crowd who were once loyal to Pompey and now are cheering for Caesar. They particularly reproach the cobbler and the carpenter.
COBBLER
Truly, sir, to wear out their shoes to get myself into more work. But indeed, sir, we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.
MURELLUS
Marullus and Flavius are determined to 'disrobe the images' of Caesar and bring down the decorations meant to honour him.
In short, they target the commoners who are celebrating Ceasar's triumphant return to Rome.
They exit.
👉Act 1
Scene 2. A Public Space
Caesar enters with his ceremonial procession with his wife Calpurnia, Mark Antony, senator Cicero, Brutus and his wife Portia, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Flavius and Marullus. Caesar asks Antony to touch Calpurnia in a fertility rite.
A soothsayer comes into view and urges Caesar to
"Beware the ides of March",
but Caesar ignores his prediction by saying:
"He is a dreamer; let us leave him; pass".
Trumpets play. Everyone exits except Brutus and Cassius.
CASSIUS
I have heard
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age’s yoke,
Have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes.
Brutus and Cassius discuss Caesar's increasing power.
BRUTUS
wherefore do you hold me here so long?
What is it that you would impart to me?
If it be aught toward the general good,
Set honor in one eye and death i' th' other,
And I will look on both indifferently,
For let the gods so speed me as I love
The name of honor more than I fear death.
...
CASSIUS
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brutus and Caesar—what should be in that “Caesar”?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name.
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well.
Weigh them, it is as heavy. Conjure with 'em,
“Brutus” will start a spirit as soon as “Caesar.”
Now in the names of all the gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed!
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!
When went there by an age, since the great flood,
But it was famed with more than with one man?
When could they say till now, that talked of Rome,
That her wide walks encompassed but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed, and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man.
Oh, you and I have heard our fathers say,
There was a Brutus once that would have brooked
Th' eternal devil to keep his state in Rome
As easily as a king.
When Brutus and Cassius were talking, they heard noise from the crowd three times. Later they asked Casca about the matter and Casca informed that Caesar was offered the crown by Antony thrice but he denied and as he refused it, the commoners hooted and clapped their chapped hands. Further, Brutus said that Caesar has epilepsy, a disease where you fall down. When Caesar gains consciousness, he apologises to the crowd if he had hurt them before, this made the commenters proud of their leader. Brutus asks to meet Cassius again the next day and leaves him alone. Cassius concludes that he must help his own cause with a little trickery. He will fabricate a petition, pretending, it is from the angry citizens, demanding Caesar's deposition.
👉Act 1.
Scene 3. The same. A street. (a great storm in the dark night)
After a month passes, one evening on the Ides of March, Casca meets Cicero on street and informs him about the bizarre sights he foresaw. Later Casca meets Cassius and informs the same, to which Cassius considers the clear signal or omen of doom. The Storm can be considered as a warning against Rome being ruled by Caesar.
Casca and Cassius meet Cinna and they make their way to Brutus' home to continue pursuading him to join them. They believe if Brutus joins the conspiracy, it will be seen as a noble enterprise and his involvement will change the crime to virtue in their hearts.
👉Act 2.
Scene 1. Rome Brutus's Orchard
"The Ides of March"
BRUTUS
It must be by his death, and for my part
I know no personal cause to spurn at him
But for the general. He would be crowned.
Brutus' servant Lucius brings the false petition that Cinna has planted in the house. Brutus reads the letter and, just as Cassius had hoped, it arouses Brutus' passions.
Lucius again informs that his brother-in-law Cassius is at door. He is accompanied by CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS, CINNA, METELLUS, and TREBONIUS.
Brutus, without taking an oath, agrees to lead all in the assassination plot. According to him, the worthiness of their cause bonds them together. To avoid bloodshed, Brutus suggests not to kill MarkAntony and not to involve Cicero. As they begin to plan the murder, Brutus insists that they do not harm Antony otherwise their course will seem too bloody. Decius promises to ensure Caesar that he visits the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Poria enters and presents her anxiety. She pleads to her husband to make her acquainted with the scene. She deserves to know what is Brutus up to and cuts her thigh to which Brutus promise her to tell everything once he finishes the act.
Ligarius, another conspirator, promises Brutus that he will do anything Brutus asks, and they leave together to commit the act.
In this scene, Brutus' character is highlighted.
👉Act 2.
Scene 2. Caesar's House
"The Ides of March"
The storm continues to rage and the augurers warn Caesar of bad omens.
CAESAR
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”—Who’s within?
...
CAESAR
Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne'er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
...
CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
Calpurnia dreams of Caesar's murder and pleads him not to go to the Capitol. Caesar finally agrees.
CAESAR
Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
However, Decius persuades Caesar to come to Senate. In this act, Decius's art of persuading is reflected. A pure political point of Decius’s flattering and his reinterpretation of an omen changes Caesar’s mind.
DECIUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
CAESAR
And this way have you well expounded it.
BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, CINNA , and PUBLIUS enters. They greet each other and Caesar and all exists.
👉Act 2.
Scene 3. A Street near Capitol
"The Ides of March"
Enter Artemidorus, reading a letter.
Artemidorus plans to pass a letter to Caesar revealing the conspiracy plan of his assassination.
👉Act 2.
Scene 4. A Street (another part near Brutus' House)
"The Ides of March"
Portia is worried and sends Lucius to the Senate to inform her about the situation and if Brutus is well or not. She is desperately anxious. She sees the soothsayer who comes once again to warn Caesar. Portia goes back to her house.
👉Act 3.
Scene 1. Rome. Before the Capitol. The Senate sitting above.
"The Ides of March"
The soothsayer meets Caesar who warns him that the Ides of March is not over yet. Artemidorus insists Caesar to read the letter which he has written, as it will affect Caesar directly. A good-natured Caesar tells him that if it is pertaining to him, he can read it later at leisure. Trebonius lead Antony away from the scene.
In Senate, everyone approaches Caesar to hear their petition. Metellus asks for the repeal of his banished brother. The other conspirators kneel in his support but Caesar is firm.
Casca stabs him along with other conspirators. Brutus stabs last. Caesar breathes his last with words-
"Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar."
Watching this, all flee. The conspirator washes their hands with Caesar's blood. They plan to officially announce their act and their freedom motives. Antony convinces them to let him speak too. Brutus, against Caesar's advice, permits Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral. Antony vows revenge on Caesar's body. Antony speaks-
"Over thy wounds now do I prophesy—
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men."
Antony knows that Caesar had asked Octavious to come to Rome and Octavious's servant informs Antony that Octavious is on his way to Rome. Antony asks the servant to report everything to Octavious.
👉Act 3.
Scene 2. The Forum
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS with the PLEBEIANS
Brutus addresses the public and informs them about his love for Caesar. Though he loved him, he had to kill Caesar to preserve their country's Liberty. All praise, but they stay there to hear Antony. Antony makes an ironic speech and repeats the words "Ambition, Ambitious and honourable" for Brutus, making it absolutely clear that Caesar was wounded. Antony informs about Caesar's will and enlightens the swayed audience. Here are some verses of Antony's address-
"The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones.
...
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And, sure, he is an honorable man.
...
"You all did love him once, not without cause.
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me.
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me."
...
"O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong—
Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong. I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable men."
The audience says "The conspirators are traitors!" The crowd of the audience turns into mob and disperse to attack the traitors.
"Mischief, thou art afoot."
👉Act 3.
Scene 3. A Street
The Plebeians run after Cinna, the poet. Even though Cinna insists that he is not among the conspirators, the mob kills him and hurries towards burning the conspirators house.
👉Act 4.
Scene 1. A house in Rome
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus discusses about the Romans (conspirators) to be executed. The list includes Antony's nephew and Lepides's brother- they improve the list. They send Lepidus away to fetch Caesar's will.
After his departure, Antony explains to Octavius that Lepidus is only there to be “led or driven, as we point the way.” Both set about mustering allies and troops to meet those being raised by Brutus and Cassius.
In this scene, Antony's character emerges, not as Caesar's friend, but as a politician.
👉Act 4.
Scene 2. Sardis Camp. Brutus' tent.
Brutus and Lucius enters. Along enters Lucilius and army, Titinius, and Pindarus. They meet at Brutus' camp. Cassius is at a distance so Lucilis reports his activities. Meanwhile, when Cassius arrives, everyone from their troops exists. Brutus and Cassius engage in an argument that results in a kind of disagreement between them.
👉Act 4.
Scene 3. Brutus' tent.
At a very private conference, Brutus accuses Cassius of betraying the conspiracy's ideals by accepting bribes. Cassius tells Brutus not to bait him anymore, for Cassius is a soldier and will fight. They argue and insult each other. Cassius offers his dagger to Brutus and asks to stab him, declaring,
“Strike as thou didst at Caesar; for I know
When though didst hate him worst,
thou loved’st him better
Than ever thou loved’st Cassius”
Eventually, they make up their quarrel, Brutus reveals how he is affected by Portia's death. Brutus explains that his temper stems from grief—Portia is dead. She killed herself by swallowing coals when she feared that Antony and Octavius would defeat Brutus. Cassius is horrified; Brutus doesn’t want to discuss it further. They drink wine in honour of their reconciliation.
👉Act 5.
The leaders of the upcoming battle meet and exchange insults with one another. Brutus and Cassius reflect on how this battle will mark the end of the events that were put in action by their decision to kill Caesar.
Brutus enters with several friends; battle-weary, they sit down together to rest. Tearfully, Brutus speaks to three different companions—Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius—asking each of them in turn to kill him. To Volumnius, Brutus explains that Caesar’s ghost has appeared to him again, and that he knows his hour has come. They each refuse his request, urging him to keep running from the enemy. Brutus declines and bids each of them farewell, explaining that now he only desires rest. Finally, he asks Strato to hold Brutus’s sword while Brutus runs upon it. Strato agrees, and Brutus kills himself, saying,
"Caesar, now rest. I killed you half as willingly as I kill myself.”
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