Julius Caesar

by: William Shakespeare

A Synopsis

Characters in the Play Servant to Antony

Servant to Octavius
JULIUS CAESAR
CALPHURNIA, his wife Officers and soldiers in the armies of Brutus
Servant to them and Cassius
LUCILIUS
MARCUS BRUTUS TITINIUS
PORTIA, his wife MESSALA
LUCIUS, their servant VARRO
CLAUDIUS
Patricians who, with Brutus, conspire Young CATO
against Caesar STRATO
CAIUS CASSIUS VOLUMNIUS
CASCA LABEO
CINNA FLAVIUS
DECIUS BRUTUS DARDANUS
CAIUS LIGARIUS CLITUS
METELLUS CIMBER
TREBONIUS A Carpenter
A Cobbler
Senators A Soothsayer
CICERO ARTEMIDORUS
PUBLIUS First, Second, Third and Fourth Plebeians
POPILIUS LENA CINNA the Poet
PINDARUS, slave to CASSIUS, freed upon
Tribunes Cassius’ death
FLAVIUS First, Second, Third and Fourth Soldiers in
MARULLUS Brutus’ army
Another Poet
Rulers of Rome in Act 4 and Act 5 A Messenger
MARK ANTONY First and Second Soldiers in Antony’s army
LEPIDUS Citizens, Senators, Petitioners, Plebeians,
OCTAVIUS Soldiers
About the Author: William Shakespeare – The Bard of Avon

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. No one knows the

exact date when he was born but church records show that Shakespeare was baptized on April
26, 1564. At that time babies were immediately baptized usually three days after they were born
because of high infant mortality rate, therefore other scholars believe that Shakespeare was born
on April 23, 1564. Shakespeare was the third among the eight children of John Shakespeare and
Mary Arden. The Shakespeare family was a covert Catholic and hid this identity during their
time when most Catholics were persecuted.
Shakespeare was said to be educated at the King’s New School in Stratford where he
learned Latin and the classical authors like Virgil, Ovid etc. at the age of 18 Shakespeare was
married to Anne Hathaway who was 26 years old. Their marriage bore three children namely,
Sussana and twins Hamnet and Judith.
Shakespeare was a part of the acting company, Lord Chamberleins’s men which later on
became King’s men. By 1592 Shakespeare gained prominence in London as both an actor and a
playwright. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays including Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Julius
Caesar, Othello etc. and also wrote 154 sonnets. Shakespeare died on the same date they say he
was born, on April 23, 1616.

A Synopsis of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Act 1, Scene 1

In Rome the people are taking a holiday to celebrate the triumphant return of Julius Caesar. The
tribunes Marullus and Flavius try to shame the people in returning to their places of work by
reminding them how much they loved Caesar rival Pompey, whom Caesar has destroyed and
whose sons have just been defeated by Caesar.

Act 1, Scene 2

A soothsayer advises Caesar that the fifteenth of March will be a dangerous day for him. When
Caesar and others exit, Cassius and Brutus remain behind. Cassius urges Brutus to oppose Caesar
for fear that Caesar may become king. After Brutus and Cassius talk with Casca about Mark
Antony’s public offer of the crown to Caesar, Brutus agrees to continue his conversation with
Cassius the next day. Cassius, alone at the end of the scene, expresses his surprise that Brutus,
who is one of Caesar’s favorites, is willing to conspire against Caesar and decides to take
immediate advantage of this willingness.

Act 1, Scene 3
Casca meeting Cicero describes the marvels visible in the streets that night and suggests that the
marvels foretell important events to come. Cicero having left, Cassius arrives to persuade Casca
to join the conspiracy to liberate Rome from the threat of Caesar’s kingship. When Cinna joins
them, Cassius sends him to leave letters where Brutus may find them and be persuaded that his
opposition to Caesar is desired by many.

Act 2, Scene 1

Brutus anxiously ponders joining the conspiracy against Caesar. When he is brought one of the
unsigned letters that Cassius had left for him to find, Brutus decides to act. Visited by the
conspirators, he agrees to join them but rejects their plan to kill Mark Antony as well as Caesar.
When the other conspirators have left, Portia, Brutus’ wife, begs of him an explanation for his
sudden change of mood, which Brutus’ promises to give her. Brutus, joined by Caius Ligarius,
departs for Caesar’s.

Act 2, Scene 2

It is now the fifteenth of March. Calphurnia, Caesar’s wife, persuades him to stay home because
she fears for his safety. Decius Brutus, arriving to accompany Caesar to the Capitol, convinces
him that the senators plan to crown Caesar that day but that they may never renew their offer
should they accept he is afraid. He is joined by Brutus and the rest of the conspirators, as well as
Mark Antony.

Act 2, Scene 3

Artemidorus waits in the street for Caesar in order to give him a letter warning him of the
conspiracy against him.

Act 2, Scene 4

Portia, who now has been told of the conspirators’ plan to kill Caesar, waits anxiously for news
of their success. She meets the Soothsayer, who still fears for Caesar and wants to warn him.

Act 3, Scene 1

In the street, Caesar brushes aside Artemidorus attempt to warn him of the conspiracy. Once
inside the Senate House, the conspirators gather around Caesar under the guise of pleading for
the return of an exile. Beginning with Casca they all stab Caesar to death and bathe their arms
and hands in his blood. When Mark Antony sends Brutus the message that Antony will follow
Brutus as Antony followed Caesar, Brutus gives Antony permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
In spite of pretending to support Brutus, Antony plans to use this opportunity to turn the Roman
people against Brutus, Cassius and the other conspirators.

Act 3, Scene 2

Brutus explains to the people that the cause of Caesar’s assassination was the persecutionof the
Roman Republic from Caesar’s ambition to be king. Then Mark Antony, bringing in Caesar’s
body, addresses the people. He refuses Brutus charge of ambition against Caesar, displays
Caesar’s wounds, and tells the people that Caesar had made them all his heirs. Inflamed by
Antony’s words, the people set off to attack the conspirators. A servant then informs Antony that
Octavius Caesar, Antony’s ally has come to Rome and that Brutus and Cassius have been forced
to flee.

Act 3, Scene 3

Cinna the poet is attacked and killed by the Roman mob because his name is the same as that of
one of the conspirators.

Act 4, Scene 1

Antony, Lepidus and Octavius meet to condemn to death those who they fear may oppose them.
Sending Lepidus for Caesar’s will, Antony expresses contempt for Lepidus and plans with
Ocatvius to raise an army to fight the troops of Brutus and Cassius.

Act 4, Scene 2

Brutus and Cassius each feel wronged by the other. They prepare to withdraw from their view of
their armies to resolve their dispute privately in Brutus’ tent.

Act 4, Scene 3

Brutus and Cassius exchange accusations in Brutus’ tent. They grow angry with each other but
are quickly reconciled, and Brutus tells Cassius of Portia’s death. With Titinius and Messala they
plot their military strategy. Brutus overrides Cassius’ objections and insists they march to
Philippi to challenge Mark Antony and Octavius. As Brutus sits up reading in his tent after the
meeting, he is visited by the Ghost of Caesar, who threatens to visit Brutus against Philippi.

Act 5, Scene 1
The opposing armies confront each other at Philippi. Before the battle, Brutus and Cassius
exchange insults with Antony and Octavius. Cassius is troubled by an omen of defeat, and he and
Brutus say farewell in case they die as a result of the upcoming battle.

Act 5, Scene 2

Brutus sends Messala to throw all Brutus’ legions into the battle

Act 5, Scene 3

Cassius mistakenly believes that the battle has been lost and that Titinius has been taken captive,
and so Cassius orders his slave Pindarus to kill him. When Titinius returns, he outs his wreath of
victory on Cassius’ head and kills himself. Brutus orders his legions into battle to conquer the
still undefeated Antony.

Act 5, Scene 4

Brutus forces are defeated in the second battle. Lucilius calls attention to himself and away from
Brutus by announcing himself to be Brutus. Lucilius is captured, but Antony spares him.

Act 5, Scene 5

Brutus begs four of his followers to assist him in his suicide. All but the fourth decline. Brutus
kills himself. Antony praises Brutus as the only honorable conspirator, and Octavius orders
Brutus’ funeral rites.