Julius Caesar: Study Questions with Answers

Act 1
1) Why are the tribunes Flavius and Marullus so upset at the opening of the play?
The tribunes are angry that the working class citizens of Rome gather to celebrate Caesars victory, while
forgetting Pompey, the Roman hero (and a part of the First Triumvirate that ruled Rome) who was killed in
battle alongside Caesar. Their hostility toward Caesar serves to introduce the deep political divide that will
become the central issue of the play.
2) What holiday are the Roman masses celebrating at the time of Caesar's return?
Caesar's triumph coincides with the feast of Lupercal, which was celebrated on February 15th. The
festivities were in honor of Lupercus, the god of nature (Pan in Greek mythology).
3) Describe Caesar's encounter with the soothsayer.
As Caesar passes through the crowd the soothsayer cries out to him, warning him to "beware the ides of
March." Caesar dismisses the soothsayer as a dreamer and continues on. Caesars encounter with the
soothsayer foreshadows his assassination in the senate in 3.1. Note that in the ancient Roman calendar
the "ides" was the fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other
months. Gaius Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC.
4) What is most significant about the meeting between Cassius and Brutus in 1.2.?
Cassius presents his best argument to convince Brutus, his close friend and brother-in-law, to conspire
with him to assassinate Caesar. Brutus reveals he has concerns about the state of the Republic, but will
not commit outright to join with Cassius.
5) How does Cassius trick Brutus into joining the conspirators?
Cassius fabricates a petition, pretending it is from the angry citizens demanding Caesar's removal, and he
throws it in Brutus's window. The welfare of Rome drives Brutus, and Cassius knows Brutus will give the
people what they desire.
Act 2
1) How does Portia prove she is worthy to hear the plans of her husband, Brutus?
Portia cuts herself in the thigh and suffers the pain of both the wound and the infection it causes in
silence. Her show of bravery and self-control convinces Brutus she is "stronger than her sex" (2.1.296)
and he agrees to confide in her, only to be interrupted before he has a chance.
2) After an ominous dream, Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay away from the senate and, at first, he agrees.
What changes his mind?
Decius, a conspirator whose role it is to guarantee Caesar is in the Capitol that day, favorably interprets
Calpurnia's dream and then chides Caesar for yielding to his wife's whims. Decius adds that the senate is
planning again to offer Caesar a crown, and Caesar gives in to vanity. He leaves Calpurnia and
accompanies Decius to the Capitol.
Act 3

1) What is the significance of Caesar's dying words, "Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!"?
The conspirators gather around Caesar and he sees his trusted friend Brutus among them. Stunned that
Brutus is among his assassins, Caesar cries out, "and you too, Brutus?" This famous line is important
because it sets Brutus apart from the other conspirators. There is no doubt that Brutus's self-serving and
ambitious accomplices have committed an indefensible act, but with Caesar's final utterance we
recognize that the self-sacrificing and noble Brutus has perpetrated the same heinous crime his
motivation is rendered immaterial. For this moment, Brutus the idealist becomes Brutus the murderer.
2) Who turns the people of Rome against Brutus?
After Brutus addresses the Plebeians, successfully assuring them that Caesar's murder was necessary to
preserve their freedoms (3.2.13-37), Antony delivers his cleverly crafted speech in defense of Caesar.
While making sure not to condemn Brutus and the conspirators, he argues that Caesar had no plan to
turn Rome into a dictatorship. He reminds the crowd that Caesar was offered a "kingly crown" (3.2.102)
three times and refused each time.
3) Describe the encounter between Brutus and Caesar's ghost.
Cassius retires for the evening and Brutus calls two of his servants, Claudio and Varro, to stay with him
through the night. The boys quickly fall asleep and Brutus starts to read. With the flicker of the candle
Brutus's eyes are distracted upward, to see the ghost of Caesar standing beside him. The ghost tells
Brutus that they will meet again at Philippi and vanishes.
Act 5
1) Cassius asks Brutus what he plans to do if they should lose the battle. What is Brutus's response?
Brutus says that, since he finds the act of suicide cowardly and vile (5.1.104), he will have little choice but
to be patient and yield to whatever fate dictates (5.1.106-08). He adds that he will never return to Rome
as a prisoner. That Brutus nevertheless dies by his own hand at the end of the play adds to his tragedy.
2) How does Cassius die?
Cassius knows that he too will soon be captured by Antony and Octavius, and will certainly be dragged
through the streets of Rome in chains. He orders Pindarus to hold his sword while he impales his chest
on the blade.
3) Explain the significance of Antony's final speech, beginning with the line, "This was the noblest Roman
of them all" (5.5.68).
Antony's speech serves to restore Brutus to the position of tragic hero. Antony can see in Brutus the
morality he does not himself possess - the capability to act selflessly for the common good. Brutus's pride
and political naivety have led to his destruction, but his ideals are etched into the memory of his
enemies. s Brutus and Cassius discuss the coming battle strategy, they disagree :
Brutus and Cassius are discussing whether to wait for Antony and Octavius in Sardis or march to meet
the opposing army in Philippi. Cassius prefers to wait and keep his men fresh, but Brutus thinks that
the enemy is gaining in power every day and therefore must be stopped as soon as
possible. Cassius finally agrees with him and leaves for his tent to rest before leaving in the morning.
Cowardice is portrayed as a major defect..... none of these men want to be remembered or perceived as
cowards. Thus, their actions, might sometimes be seen as foolhardy or reckless, but in their own eyes
there are no other choices. Caesar, for instance, refuses to take precautions. In Act II, he goes out among

the crowd after many warnings that there are those who plot against him. Caesar, a proud man, refuses to
heed these warnings, as his decision to stay might label him a coward by his peers...... this

Why does brutus decide to leave antony unharmed

Brutus is generally a man of honor. Killing Caesar was an emotionally excruciating decision for him. He
loved Caesar but felt Rome was more important. Brutus has no appetite to kill anyone else. Brutus does
not want to be seen as a murderous butcher:
Our plan will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius, To cut off the head, and then hack off the arms
and legs, Like anger in death and jealousy afterwards, Because Antony is but a limb of
Caesar. Lets be sacrificers, but not butchers.
Brutus is concerned with his status and legacy as a friend to Rome rather than a conspirator. Even in
death, Antony commends Brutuss character:
This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators, except him, Did that they did
out of jealousy of great Caesar; Only he, in a general-honest thought And common good to
all, made one of them.
action would be death in itself. Thus, he goes to the sentate rather than be seen as afraid.
"Cowards die many times befor their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once."

foreshadow
Caesar has been warned by prophets (seers, augurs) that he should not go to
the capital today because it would not be good for him. The people cannot
know what is going to happen; still, there is something on the horizon and
the people have a bad feeling about it.
we see forshadowing as early as act 1 scene II when Ceasar speaks with to
Anthony and says to be wary of Cassius because of his "lean and hungry
look" and because "he thinks too much"
There is also when his death is predicted by many ; Calpurnia, The
soothsayer and Artemidorus

Julius Caesar
portia and calpurnia conversations their husbands serve as warning Brutus and caesar response
to their wives reveal about their characters

Calpurnia has a dream in which she sees a statue of Caesar bleeding from multiple wounds, and begs
him to stay at home the day he is killed. Caesar ignores her and goes to the Senate House anyway.
Calpurnia's warning to Caesar is yet another sign that Caesar choses to dismiss. Portia proves her
courage and strength by stabbing her thigh with a dagger in order to force Brutus to tell her about the plot
to kill Caesar. Both wives need to use extreme actions or imagery to council their husbands. This speaks
to the hubris than men in power feel when it comes to their decisions about power and their own
vulnerabilities.
Julius Caesar
What three decisions are made, in which Brutus has his way?

Brutus decides that Caesar must be killed. His reasons for reaching this conclusion are that Caesar is
abusing his power and that has ascended far too quickly.
Brutus agrees to join the men in their murderous quest.Brutus convinces the other men to leave Cicero
out of the plot, and also convinces them that Marc Antony should not be killed along with Caesar.
It is the idea of Caesar that remains important after his death. Caesar's identity still resonates with the
plebeians. Antony takes full advantage of his speech and informs the crowd that Caesar was a selfless
man who cared for Rome above everything. The highlight of his speech is when he pulls out Caesar's will
and reads from it, telling the citizens that Caesar has given every Roman a part of his inheritance, in both
land and dachmas. The plebeians now believe Caesar to have been great and good, seize his body and
vow revenge upon Brutus and the rest of the conspirators. Their rioting develops into pure anarchy.
Antony comments that he has done his part in creating social upheaval, and now must wait to see what
happens. Brutus and Cassius are forced to flee the city,