taJulius Caesar - LITERATURE NOTES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (William Shakespeare)

See Introduction to Shakespeare
SUMMARY
This play is one that contains political intrigue and drama. It opens with a
group of commoners celebrating Julius Caesar's triumphant return to
Rome. This is met with scorn by some Tribunes, who tell them to leave the
area. This is the premise to scenes that reveal an ambitious Caesar who is
beloved by Roman citizens, but is the envy of many of his friends. It is this
envy that leads a group of conspirators, one of them being his best friend, to
plot and execute his murder. This is followed by scenes of war, all in the
name of revenge, for Caesar's murder. The tragedy closes with the deaths of
Portia, Cassius, Titanius and Brutus.
SETTING

The play is set in Rome.

Most scenes occur on a public street, in Brutus' orchard, Caesar's

house and in front of the Capitol.

The scenes of war occur in a camp near Sardis, Brutus' tent, the plains
of Philippi and the field of battle.

The story occurs around 44 B.C.

CONVENTIONS OF A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY

See Introduction to Shakespeare

CHARACTERS
Julius Caesar

He is a Roman statesman and general.

He is very powerful and ambitious.

He is respected, so much so that he is offered the thrown three times

by Marc Antony.

The common people love him and the tribunes are afraid of his power
and ambition.

Many Roman nobles and senators also fear his ambition because they
want Rome to remain a republic.

He is wise, because he does not trust Cassius.

He is arrogant because he disregards Calpurnia's warning about his

possible death based on pride.

He is easily flattered, as is seen when Decius easily persuades him

that Calpurnia's dream reveals his upcoming triumph.

He is very superstitious. Examples of this can be seen when he tells

Calpurnia to let Antony touch her while he's running his race because this
can relieve her of her fertility issues.

He is husband to Calpurnia.

Marcus Brutus [Brutus]

A trusted friend to Julius Caesar.

Ironically, he is one of the main members of the conspirator's against

Julius Caesar.

He loves Caesar, but believes that he is bad for Rome due to his
ambitious nature.

He is respected and loved by everyone.

Caesar admires him and he is respected by his enemies; Antony and

Octavius.


He is very noble, as can be seen in the fact that he could not take
money from the poor, but had to ask Cassius for money to pay his soldiers.

He is brother-in-law to Cassius.

He is husband to Portia.

He loves his wife and respects her wishes, as is seen when he confides
in her, and grieves her death.
Cassius

He is brother-in-law to Marcus Brutus.

He is a very passionate person, quick to anger and very proud.

He has a strong personality, but he always concedes to Brutus' wishes.

He is very perceptive because he did not trust Antony to speak at

Caesar's funeral.

He is one of the conspirators.

Marcus Antonius (Antony)

Initially he was seen as a fun loving individual who was very loyal to Caesar.
The conspirators, therefore, did not see him as a threat.
He changes to a calculating ruler who can heartlessly kill in the name of
justice and revenge.
He is an excellent orator who fires the crowd to a frenzy at Caesar's funeral.

Calpurnia

Wife of Caesar.

She has a bad dream regarding Caesar going to the Capitol on the
Ides of March and begs him to stay home with her, he does not listen.
Portia

Brutus' wife.

There is a lot of love between them.

Brutus listens to her and shares his secrets with her.

She commits suicide near the end of the play.

Artemidorus

A friend of Ceasar.

He tries to warn him about the treachery of his friends.

Soothsayer

He warns Caesar about the Ides of March.

Caesar disregards the warning.

Cinna

A poet

Pindarus

Servant of Cassius.

He assists Cassius to commit suicide, then ran away.

Senators

Cicero
Publius
Popilius Lena
Tribunes
Flavius
Marullus
Conspirators against Julius
Caesar

Marcus Brutus [Brutus]

Cassius

Friends of Brutus and

Cassius

Servants of
Brutus

Casca
Trebonius
Legarius
Decius Brutus [Decius]
Metellus Cimber
Cinna
Lucilius
Titanius
Messala
Young Cato
Voluminius

Varro
Clitus
Claudius
Strato
Lucius
Dardanius

SUMMARY
Act 1
Scene 1
Flavius and Marulus encounter some mechanicals [skilled citizens] on the
street who are rejoicing in Caesar's triumph as they said in w make holiday
to see Caesar, and to rejoice in his triumph.. Marulus asks them to
disburse because they did the same for Pompey, Caesar's defeated rival.
They agree to continue freeing the streets of revellers because they do not
want Caesar to feel that he is more important than them.
Scene 2
Caesar arrives with his wife and friends and a soothsayer tries to get his
attention. The soothsayer tells him to beware the Ides of March [March
15th]. He calls the soothsayer over to him and leaves with him. Brutus and
Cassius remain behind and discuss Brutus' unfriendly mood. Brutus shares
the fact that he is worried that the people will choose Caesar as their king
and Cassius reveals that he has the same fear. Cassius says that Caesar is
weak and shares two stories that revealed details of him saving Caesar's life;
when he saves him from drowning and took care of him when he had a
fever. He contrasts this with the fact that Caesar is now so powerful. Caesar
re-enters and observes Cassius, revealing his distrust of him. Brutus
observes Caesar's angry look and Casca explains that Mark Antony offered
Caesar the throne three times and he refused, realizing that the people did

not want him to accept it. Caesar was so angry that he fell down in a fit in
the market place. Satisfied with the explanation, Brutus sets a date to meet
Casca and Cassius. Flavius and Marulus were put to silence (punished) for
pulling scarfs off Caesars images. Cassius reveals that he is aware that
Caesar dislikes him and reveals his plan to throw letters in the window of
Brutus' house, written in different hand writings, speaking of Caesar's
ambition and declaring how Caesar's name is valued.
Scene 3
Casca tells Cicero that Caesar will arrive at the Capitol tomorrow. Cicero
leaves and Cassius enters. He discusses Caesar's rise to power with Casca in
a treacherous manner. He describes the storm, and the terrible things that
he has seen, and asserts that these are signs of some great evil that is
coming towards Italy. It is a warning to Rome that one man is too powerful.
He discloses that the senators will establish Caesar as king tomorrow, he
will rule over all the Roman empire, except for Italy itself. Casca says that
he will kill himself if this happens. He agrees to join with Cassius in plotting
Caesar's downfall. Cassius reveals that he, and a few noble minded Romans,
are to meet at Pompey's theatre. Cinna enters and Cassius sends him on an
errand to deliver the letters that Brutus is suppose find. Cinna was then
expected to meet them at Pompey's porch. Casca and Cassius then go to
meet Brutus at his house.
Act 2
Scene 1
Brutus' first soliloquy reveals that he has nothing against Caesar, but will
plot his downfall because it would be for the good of Rome. He believes that
ambition and power will change Caesar for the worst. Lucius delivers a
letter for Brutus to read and informs Brutus that the Ides of March is the
following day. He leaves, then re-enters to inform Brutus that Cassius and
some other men are at the door. Brutus and his fellow conspirators proceed
to discuss possible new recruits. The meeting ends with Brutus deciding to
take it upon himself to attempt to sway Caius Ligarius over to the
conspirators' side. They all leave and Portia enters. She is concerned about
her husband's odd behaviour, but before Brutus could explain himself they
are interrupted by Caius Legarius. He promises to give her a full
explanation at another time. He turns his attention to Caius Legarius, who
tells Brutus that he will follow him blindly to do whatever deed he bids.
Scene 2

The storm is raging and Caesar orders his servant to offer a sacrifice to the
gods and return to report if the results are good. Calpurnia begs her
husband to stay home because she is fearful that he might die today. He
tells her that he must face all his challenges, for death will come when it
must. The servant returns with the news that the results of the sacrifice
were not favourable, and Calpurnia, again, begs him to stay home. Caesar
relents at this point. Decius arrives to escort Caesar, but Caesar tells him to
report to the Council that he does not wish to come. Decius asks for a
reason, lest he be laughed at when he delivers the message. Caesar tells him
about Calpurnia's dream. She dreamt that she saw Caesar's statue running
with blood, like a fountain, and many Romans were washing their hands in
it. Decius, through the use of flattery, then interprets this dream to mean
that Rome will be strengthened by Caesar's deeds. He then gives the news
that the Senate intends to crown Caesar as king today. It is on this premise
that Caesar decided to go to the Capitol. The conspirator's arrive to escort
Caesar and he makes a special request that Metellus and Trebonius stand
near him.
Scene 3
Artemidorus reads a paper that warns Caesar about the treachery of his so
called friends. He intends to wait on a street, near the Capitol, for Caesar to
pass. He will deliver his message at this point.
Scene 4
Portia sends Lucius on an errand to observe Brutus and Caesar, and to
bring word about them back to her. A soothsayer passes Brutus and Portia's
house and she questions him. She learns that he intends to await Caesar's
passing in order to warn him of his impending doom.
Act 3
Scene 1
Artemidorus approaches Caesar but is ignored, as is the soothsayer. Brutus
is approached by Popilius Lena saying that he hopes that Brutus is
successful. Metellus Cimba, along with the other conspirators, then request
that Publius Cimba be called back from exile. Caesar rejects the plee and all
the plotters stab him. They then immediately install Brutus as their leader.
Marc Antony sends a message, via his servant, requesting an audience with
Brutus to understand the circumstances behind Caesar's death. Brutus
grants the audience and Cassius reveals that he does not trust Antony.
Antony enters and is flattering to both Caesar and Brutus when he declares

that if they mean to kill him, they must do it now because it will be at the
hands of powerful men and it will be in the presence of Caesar. Brutus and
Cassius assure him that they do not intend to kill him, but to accept him.
Brutus requests that Antony wait for an explanation behind Caesar's
assassination. Antony then requests the privilege of speaking at Caesar's
funeral ceremony and Brutus agrees to this. Cassius, however, warns
Brutus that this might not be wise. Brutus then amends his decision and
gives Antony permission to speak on the basis that he first, does not blame
the conspirators for Caesar's assassination, second, say good things about
Caesar, and third, say that he speaks because he was granted permission to
do so. Antony agrees. His ensuing soliloquy, however, reveals ulterior
motives. Antony declares that civil war will break out in Italy until Caesar's
enemies are destroyed.
Scene 2Cassius and Brutus speak separately to the crowd, and they
respond favourably. Brutus points out that he loved Caesar, but killed him
because he was too ambitious. Mark Antony then speaks to the crowd and
they respond favourably as well. Anthony first appeals to the reason of the
crowd by questioning Caesar's ambitious nature. He gives multiple
examples of Caesar being the very opposite of ambitious. First, Caesar gave
all his spoils of war to Rome, second, he sympathized with the poor in time
of famine and third, he refused the crown three times. Brutus switches to
appealing to the emotions of the crowd by showing them Caesar's mantle,
which was filled with holes from the stab wounds that the conspirators
inflicted. He then reads Caesar's will and the crowd rushes away to burn
and kill. Antonius is told, by a servant, that Octavius Casear is at Caesar's
house, so he goes to meet him there.
Scene 3
Cinna, the poet, encounters the crowd that has been riled up by Mark
Antony. The crowd interrogates Cinna and they kill him 'for his bad verses'.
Act 4
Scene 1
Antony, Octavius and Lepidus (triumvirate) are identifying the men that
are to die as enemies of Caesar. They send Lepidus for the Caesar's will,
which Antony does not intend to follow. He does not intend to give the
people what Caesar intended them to have. Antony explains to Octavius
that they will use Lepidus for as long as it suits them, then strip him of his
power. They intend to gather their forces to defeat Brutus and Cassius.

Scene 2
Brutus and Lucius discuss Pindarius' 'cooling' attitude towards Lucius.
Cassius and some soldiers enter and Cassius confronts Brutus about
something that Brutus has done to upset him.
Scene 3
Cassius explains that Brutus has punished one of his supporters for taking
bribes, which is why he was upset with him. The two men quarrel and
exchange hurtful words. Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes for official
positions, and Cassius retaliates with the statement that he is the more
experienced soldier. Brutus then accuses Cassius of refusing him money
when he needed it and Cassius reveals that he believes that Brutus loves
even a dead Caesar, more than he ever loved Cassius. At this juncture they
make up. The poet enters to part their quarrel and is asked to leave in a
harsh manner. When the poet exits, Brutus reveals to Cassius that Portia is
dead. Both men then disagree on whether or not they should go to Philippi.
They eventually decide to march to Philippi. The ghost of Caesar then visits
Brutus and tells him that he will see him at Philipipi.
Act 5
Scene 1
Antony and Octavius argue about their plan of attack. They meet Brutus
and Cassius on the battlefield to parley, or talk. A verbal battle of wits
ensues. Octavius makes it clear that he will have his revenge, and Cassius
reveals trepidation about the battle to Brutus. Cassius and Brutus say their
farewells to each other. Brutus says that he is prepared for the outcome,
whatever it may be.
Scene 2
Brutus' forces attacks Octavius' forces. Brutus is victorious.
Scene 3
Cassius,on the other side of the field, is loosing the battle. He is surrounded
by Cassius' forces. Titanius, who believes that Brutus attacked too early, is
sent to see what is happening on the other side of the battlefield. Pindarus
tells Cassius that he saw Pindarus being taken by the enemy. Caassius,
based on this piece of information, asks Pindarus to kill him. He helps
Cassius to kill himself and runs away. Titanius and Messala discover

Cassius' body and Titanius is so grief striken that he kills himself. Brutus is
also grief stricken when he is led to Brutus' body and decides to launch a
second attack on the enemy forces.
Scene 4
A battle ensues between the two enemy forces and Brutus and his men
appear to be loosing.Lucius pretends to be Brutus and is captured. Antony
spares his life.
Scene 5
Brutus commits suicide in order to escape capture. Antony and Octavius
show their respect for him by speaking about how noble he was.
THEMES
Free will versus fate
Public versus private life
Friendship
Women in society
Power
Superstition
Ambition
Love