BBC Shakespeare Unlocked

Julius Caesar Notes

Act 1 Scene 2:
Character & Motivation:
Brutus is a stoic: one that keeps his emotions to himself
Cassius has witnessed Caesar taking power for himself
Cassius uses emotional blackmail to bring Brutus back into
conversation you bear too stubborn and strange a hand with your
friend that loves you.
Cassius points out the reasons why Caesar must die
Roman men had to die with an honourable name- you needed to be
ambitious, but not for yourself, it had to be for the republic
Cassius begins a plan of action to rid Rome of Caesar thus
maintaining the republic
Cassius was trying to get close enough to Brutus to align him to
bring up the issue of Caesar (I have not the love from your eye)
Cassius uses Circumlocution (to speak around an issue) to imply
that Caesar must die & that Brutus should rule
Brutus gives away his fear that more honours (more power from the
cheering of the crowds) are being bestowed upon Caesar
Cassius realizes he and Brutus are on the same page, thus he is
able to safely proceed in convincing Brutus to rid Rome of Caesar
Brutus values honour above all else- hence Cassius must convince
Brutus that it is dishonorable not to kill Caesar
Cassius uses plosive language We petty men who peep about to
imply that he and Brutus are cowards if they do not get rid of
Caesar
Act 3 Scene 1: Unlocking the murder scene
Caesar is acting in an extremely pompous way- he continuously
implies he is something more than just a man, hes extraordinary
your pleas may move some ordinary man I could be well moved
if I were as you are Men are flesh and blood and apprehensive
Casca stabs Caesar from behind in the back- this is extremely
dishonorable. It was believed if you stab someone you must do it
from the front and look him or her in the eye.
Metatheatre: How many ages since this scene will be re-enacted
Cassiuss kneeling is a very shrewd political move by him- he bows
almost to the ground. This seems almost ridiculous to Caesar,
inspiring in him a contemptuous response.
Cassiuss kneeling inspires a reaction in Caesar that supports
Cassiuss claims of Caesar being a tyrant. It is set up so that
Caesars killing is justified.
Cascas stab from behind emphasises Caesars power
Et to Brute? Then fall Caesar! This highlights that Caesar loved
Brutus so much that if Brutus believes he should die then he
accepts this
Act 3 Scene 2: The Orations (Speeches) Scene
Brutus uses logos- logic in his speech while Antony uses ethos
(spirit, mood, feeling, ethics etc.) & pathos (tragedy, pitifulness)
Exploring rhetoric:
Brutus uses ethos in the beginning of his speech- he first states hes
a man of honour Believe me for mine honour However he
mainly uses logos. His lines are well balanced but not emotive- his
speech is honest.
Mark Antony immediately takes the pathos side of things- his
speech consists of long lines and uses visceral language as he talks
about wounds speaking. His emotive language works on the crowd.
Antony attempts to breakdown ambition to make the crowd
question whether Caesar really was ambitious as Brutus stated.
Brutuss language is in prose (prosaic) while Antony speaks in
blank verse, using elevated, poetic language, emphasisisng its
pathos.
Brutuss language in prose further alludes to his character as a stoic
Brutus states he killed Caesar to set the people free- its not that he
didnt like Caesar but he loved the people more. He admits the
truth, which is political suicide Not that I loved Caesar less, but
that I loved Rome more
Antony repeatedly asks rhetoric questions, causing the audience to
think for themselves
Brutus talked at the people, while Antony talks to/with the people,
allowing more of a connection