definitionspride – satisfaction taken in an achievement (connotation of complacency)

ACT ONE

act 1, scene 1Caesar is returning to Rome after defeating Pompey. The Plebeians are celebrating his victory. Flavius and Murellus chastise the Plebeians for their lack of loyalty to Pompey. Murellus and Flavius decide to remove the decorations from the statues

1.1.71-77Flavius: “These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch. Who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness.”Flavius feels that there is a need to reduce the power that Caesar has (‘wings’) so that he would not turn too powerful and tyrannical (‘fly an ordinary pitch’ x ‘soar above the view of men, keep us all in servile fearfulness’)

act 1, scene 2A soothsayer warns Caesar about the Ides of March but Caesar ignores the warning. Cassius finds Brutus alone and talks to him. Cassius finds out that Brutus does not want Caesar to be king, and begins trying to turn him against Caesar. They make plans to meet again to talk about the issue.

Caesar asks Mark Antony about Cassius. He mentions that he thinks Cassius looks like someone overly ambitious

Casca meets Brutus and Cassius and tells them that Caesar was offered the crown thrice but rejected it all three times, before having an epileptic fit. When all other character leave, Cassius says that he intends to forge letters describing the good opinion the people of Rome have of Brutus and hinting at Caesar’s excessive ambition. He plans to throw the letters in through Brutus’ window.

1.2.9-10Antony: “I shall remember: when Caesar says, ‘Do this’, it is perform’d”Antony’s strong loyalty towards Caesar

1.2.18Soothsayer ( Caesar): “Beware the Ides of March”

1

1.2.24Caesar: “He is a dreamer, let us leave him”Caesar dismisses the warning

1.2.36-47Brutus: “Vexed I am, of late with passions of some difference, conceptions only proper to myself, which give some soil to my behaviours, […] poor Brutus, with himself at war, forgets the shows of love to other men.”Brutus explains to Cassius that he had not been friendly as he had been worried about something

1.2.78-62Cassius: “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 wish’d that noble Brutus had his eyes.”Cassius begins flattering Brutus and mentions the respect that he gets from the people. This will show up more later

1.2.79-80Brutus: “What means this shouting? I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king.”Cassius: “Ay, do you fear it?”Brutus first admits that he fears that Caesar would become king in Rome (thus obtaining incomparable power)

1.2.85-89Brutus: “If it be aught toward the general good, set honour in one eye and death in the other and I will look on both indifferently. For let the gods so speed me as I love the name of honour more than I fear death”Brutus expresses his view on honour: that honour is an unconditional priority and must bring benefits to the general public instead of for oneself

1.2. (CASSIUS’ MASTERS OF THEIR OWN FATE MONOLOGUE)95-99Cassius: “I had as life not be as live to be in awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar, so were you; we both have fed as well, and we can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he”Cassius mentions that Brutus and him have qualities that are comparable, if not superior to Caesar (as he will further elaborate on the Tiber-swimming incident)115-118Cassius: “And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature and must bend his body if Caesar carelessly but nod on him”

2

Even after being evidently physically superior to Caesar, Cassius still holds less power than him and must support him, only to get no attention by Caesar135-141Cassius: “He doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonourable graves. Men at some times are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings”Cassius comments that [even when Caesar shows evidence of inferiority] everyone else blindly submits to him, which Cassius recognizes as dishonourable as he feels that man should take control of their fates142-143, 159-161Cassius: “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar’? Why should that name be sounded more than yours?”Cassius: “There was a Brutus once that would have brook’d the eternal devil to keep his state in Rome as easily as a king.”Cassius compares Brutus to Caesar and finds him as worthy as Caesar, thus implying that Caesar does not deserve such power. Cassius also comments that Brutus could not tolerate such potential tyranny or it would be dishonourable

1.2.192-214 (CAESAR’S FATTER SPEECH)Caesar: “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look”Caesar: “I do not know the man I should avoid so soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; he is a great observer and he looks quite through the deeds of men. […] Such men as he be never at heart’s ease whiles they behold a greater than themselves, and therefore are they very dangerous.”Caesar feels that Cassius appears to be very ambitious and to a certain extent scheming to achieve his goals

1.2.236-243Casca: “I saw Mark Antony offer him a crown – yet ‘twas not a crown neither, ‘twas one of these coronets – and, as I told you, he put in by once, but for all that, to my thinking he would fain have had it. Then he offered it to him again; then he put it by again; but to my thinking he was very loath to lay his fingers off it. And then he offered it the third time; he put it the third time by, and still he refused it, [and] the rabblement hooted.”Casca describes the performance that Caesar and Antony gave to the public: that Antony offered Caesar the crown but he rejected it thrice, though Casca mentions that he thought Caesar would definitely have wanted the crown.256-260, 262-265, 270-273

3

Casca: “If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them, as they use to do the players in the theatre, I am no true man.”Casca: “Before he fell down, when he perceived the common herd was glad he refused the crown, he plucked ope his doublet and offered them his throat to cut.”Casca: “Three or four wenches where I stood cried, ‘Alas, good soul’, and forgave him with all their hearts. But there’s no heed to be taken of them: if Caesar had stabbed their mothers they would have done no less.”He further compares the instance to a theatrical performance, where the players are applauded and jeered at according to the audience pleasure, deducing that Caesar’s act was merely a performance, to appeal to the crowd and eventually did fully convince the public that he was a humble leader

1.2.282-284Casca: “Murellus and Flavius, for pulling scarves off Caesar’s images, are put to silence”Casca reveals that Murellus and Flavius have been taken away for blemishing Caesar’s public image, showing the power that Caesar had and how he maintained his power, potentially becoming a true tyrant

1.2.305-320 (CASSIUS’ NOBLE-MINDS SOLILOQUY)Cassius: “Brutus, thou art noble; yet I see thy honourable metal may be wrought from that it is dispos’d. Therefore it is meet that noble minds keep ever with their likes; for who so firm that cannot be seduc’d?”Cassius reveals his pragmatic nature and distrust in pure ideals to keep a man firm, thus explaining that noble people should always stick together, justifying his later manipulation of BrutusCassius: “I will this night, in several hands, in at his windows throw, as if they came from several citizens, writings, all tending to the great opinion that Rome holds of his name, wherein obscurely Caesar’s ambition shall be glanced at.”Caesar reveals his plan: to throw into Brutus’ windows a few letters (that would appear to be written by citizens), praising Brutus but subtly criticizing Caesar’s ambition.

act 1, scene 3There is a terrible storm filled with supernatural omens. Casca tells Cassius he will join the conspiracy (it is interesting that Casca converts to using verse in his dialogue in this scene). Cassius reveals that many noblemen have decided to join the cause. Cassius tells Cinna to throw the forged letters in through Brutus’ window

4

1.3.11-13Casca: “Either there is a civil strife in heaven, or else the world, too saucy with the gods, incenses them to send destruction”Casca: “When these prodigies do so conjointly meet let not men say, ‘These are their reasons, they are natural’, for I believe they are portentous things unto the climate that they point upon”Casca describes the storm and the portents that he experienced, implying that these events could be prophesizing a future event.

1.3.62, 68-71Cassius: “But if you would consider the true cause [of these portents], you shall find that heaven hath infus’d them with these spirits to make them instruments of fear, and warning unto some monstrous state. Now would I, Casca, name to thee a man, most like this dreadful night, […] a man no mightier than thyself, or me, in personal action, yet prodigious grown and fearful, as these strange eruptions are.”Cassius draws the link between the portents and Caesar (though it is interesting to note: is nature grieving for Caesar’s potential death, or is it troubled for Caesar’s potential tyranny?)

1.3.80-84Cassius: “For Romans now have thews and limbs like to their ancestors’. But, woe the while, our father’s minds are dead and we are govern’d with our mothers’ spirits; our yoke and sufferance show us womanish”Cassius comments Caesar is continually able to rule over Rome because Romans have turned [stereotypically] like woman who would not take action against tyranny

1.3.85-88, 89-90, 96-100Casca: “Indeed, they say the senators tomorrow mean to establish Caesar as a king, and he shall wear his crown by sea and land, in every place save here in Italy”Cassius: “I know where I will wear this dagger then: Cassius from bondage will deliver Cassius. […] Life, being weary of these worldly bars, never lacks power to dismiss itself. If I know this, know all the world besides, that part of tyranny that I do bear I can shake off at pleasure.”After Casca reveals that the senators will crown Caesar king, Cassius responds that he would rather free himself from this tyranny with death

1.3.103-105, 109-111Cassius: “And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf but that he sees the Romans are but sheep; […] what trash is Rome, what rubbish and what offal, when it serves for the base matter to illuminate so vile a thing as Caesar?”

5

Cassius once more comments that the only reason why Caesar can obtain such incomparable power is because Romans have turned to sheep, offering Caesar their support and letting him garner power

1.3.121-124Cassius: “Now know you, Casca, I have mov’d already some certain of the noblest-minded Romans to undergo with me an enterprise of honourable dangerous consequence”Cassius reveals that he has already won over some noble men to form the conspiracy

1.3.142-145, 154-156Cassius: “Cinna, take this paper and look you lay it in the praetor’s chair, where Brutus may but find it; and throw this in at his window.”Cassius: “Three parts of him is ours already, and the man entire upon the next encounter yields him ours.”Cassius’ instructions in convincing Brutus whom he recognized had already been mostly convinced about Caesar’s ambition

1.3.157-160Casca: “O, he sits high in all the people’s hearts, and that which would appear offence in us, his countenance, like richest alchemy, will change to virtue and worthiness.”Casca recognizes that with Brutus as the figurehead of the conspiracy, the conspiracy will appear noble and justified as Brutus’ public persona is recognized by the public to hold these characteristics

ACT TWO

act 2, scene 1Brutus makes the decision to kill Caesar. His decision is reinforced by the letters forged by Cassius. The conspirators join Brutus in his house and they decide to let Antony live after Caesar is killed. Portia approaches Brutus after the conspirators leave and asks him to confide in her. He says that he will. Brutus talks to Ligarius who also promises to be part of the conspiracy

2.1.10-34 (BRUTUS’ SOLILOQUY)Brutus: “It must be by his death. And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general. […] It is the bright day that brings forth the adder that craves wary walking. Crown him that, and then I grant we put a sting in him, that at his

6

will he may do danger with. The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power. And to speak truth of Caesar I have not know when his affections sway’d more than his reason. But ‘tis a common proof that lowliness is young ambition’s ladder, whereto the climber-upward turns his face; but when he once attains the upmost round he then unto the ladder turns his back, looks into the clouds, scorning the base degrees by which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Then lest he may, prevent.”Brutus has already made the decision that Caesar has to die for his ambition, but he continues constructing a hindsight argument based upon his conclusion. He notes that the public’s acceptance of Caesar causes him to grow (in a sense) sly and evil, and should he obtain the crown, he would abuse it and harm people. Brutus then pauses to reflect upon the fact that he does not know Caesar (who he is close to) to be swayed by his emotions and selfish desires, but quickly overrides his counter-example with a generalization that most people will show such signs to appear humble to climb the ladder of social status, before they dispense with these attitudes and turn into tyrants, exercising authoritative power over those which gave him the power. He then applies this generalization upon CaesarBrutus: “And since the quarrel will bear no colour for the thing he is, fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented, would run to these and these extremities. And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg, which hatch’d would as his kind grow mischievous, and kill him in the shell.”Brutus admits that his argument does not stand when referring to the current state of Caesar, but he reinforces his argument with the fact that Caesar could very potentially become a tyrant, and thus this induces him to ‘fashion it thus’ and predict the tyranny of Caesar, thus justifying his cause of killing Caesar

2.1.46-58 (BRUTUS’ LETTERS)When Brutus receives incomplete letters saying “Shall Rome, etc. Speak Strike, redress!”, Brutus: “Thus must I piece it out: Shall Rome stand under one man’s awe? What, Rome? My ancestors did from the streets of Rome the Tarquin drive, when he was call’d a king. […] Am I entreated to speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise: if the redress will follow, thou receivest thy full petition at the hand of Brutus”Brutus interprets from the incomplete letters that the Romans think that Caesar would become a potential tyrant should he be granted the power of a king, and that they wish for Brutus to redress this issue before it realizes in Rome. Brutus is then fully convinced that he should take firm action against Caesar as only such would he fulfill his loyalty to his nation

2.1.61-69

7

Brutus: “Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar I have not slept. Between the acting of a dreadful thing and the first motion, all the interim is like a phantasma or a hideous dream…”Brutus reveals his internal turmoil over the decision that he made to kill Caesar

2.1.77-82Brutus: “O conspiracy, sham’st thou to show thy dang’rous brow by night, when evils are most free? O then by day where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough to mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy, hide it in smiles and affability”Brutus comments on the terrible nature of the conspiracy [if not hid with a justified public image] after hearing from Lucius that the conspirators have come to visit him

2.1.114-140 (BRUTUS’ OATH SPEECH)Brutus: “No, not an oath! […] What need we any spur but our own cause to prick us to redress? What other bond than secret Romans that have spoke the word and will not palter? And what other oath than honesty to honesty engag’d that this shall be or we will fall for it? […] To think that our cause or our performance did need an oath, when every drop of blood that every Roman bears, and nobly bears, is guilty of a several bastardy if he do break the smallest particle of any promise that hath pass’d from him.”When Cassius wants the conspirators to take an oath for their cause, Brutus retorts that the conspirators, being noble Roman men should not need an oath to bind them to their cause, but rather their duty itself demands them to stick to their cause as it is a noble cause

2.1.162-183 (BRUTUS’ SACRIFICERS SPEECH)Brutus: “Our course will seem too bloody, […] for Antony is but a limb of Caesar. Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. […] Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds. […] This shall make our purpose necessary, and not envious; which so appearing to the common eyes, we shall be called purgers, not murderers.”When Cassius suggests that Antony should be killed as well to prevent him from injuring the conspiracy, Brutus replies that killing Antony would make the conspiracy appear unjustified, rampageous and not glorious (both in the public persona sphere and the honour sphere), and that killing Antony was unnecessary as he does not wield much power independent of Caesar

2.1.193-211Cassius: “But it is doubtful yet whether Caesar will come forth today or no, for he is superstitious grown of late, […] and the persuasion of his augurers may hold him from the Capitol today”

8

Decius: “Never fear that. If he be so resolv’d, I can o’ersway him. […] Let me work: for I can give him humour the true bent, and I will bring him to the CapitolCassius fears that Caesar will not go to the Capitol (and disrupt their plans of murder), but Decius reassures him that he can convince Caesar to come by methods of manipulation

2.1.224-227Brutus: “Good gentlemen, look fresh and merrily: let not our looks put on our purposes, but bear it as our Roman actors do, with untir’d spirits and formal constancy”Brutus is very conscious of the conspiracy’s public image and ensures that the conspiracy will appear to be a good thing to the public

2.1.241-247, 255-256Portia: “When I ask’d you what the matter was, you star’d upon me with ungentle looks. I urg’d you further, then you scratch’d your head and too impatiently stamp’d with your foot. Yet I insisted, yet you answer’d not, but with an angry wafture of your hand gave sign for me to leave you. […] Dear my lord, make me acquainted with your cause of grief”Brutus ignores Portia and does not wish to reveal his grievances to her, choosing to prioritize Rome over his private relationship, or in this case, Portia.

2.1.298-302Portia: “Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose ‘em. I have made strong proof of my constancy, giving myself a voluntary wound here, in my thigh. Can I bear that with patience and not my husband’s secrets ?”Portia successfully convinces Brutus to reveal his secrets

act 2, scene 2Caesar has the priest make a sacrifice and the offering is revealed to be missing a heard, believed to be a bad omen. Calpurnia has a prophetic dream that is foreboding, dissuading Caesar from going to the Senate. However, Decius reinterprets the dream in a positive way and subtly questions Caesar’s actions as a Roman male, coaxing Caesar into going to the Senate. The conspirators come to Caesar’s house and they drink wine together before going off

2.2.1-6Caesar: “Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight. Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, ‘Help ho, they murder Caesar!’ Who’s within? […] Go bid the priests do present sacrifice and bring me their opinions of success”Caesar exhibits his private fear and superstition

9

2.2.10-12Caesar: “Caesar shall forth. The things that threaten’d me ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see the face of Caesar they are vanished.”A show of overconfidence by Caesar, fearless and one who cannot be harmed (one can smell the blatant juxtaposition)

2.2.27-33Caesar: “What can be avoided whose end is purpos’d by the mighty gods? Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions are to the world in general as to Caesar”Calpurnia: “The heavens themselves [only] blaze forth the death of princes.”Caesar: “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste of death but once. […] Death, […] will come when it will come.”When Calpurnia further discourages Caesar from going out due to her prophetic dream, Caesar replies her that if negative events should occur, then there is no way to stop them. He further suggests that the omens could point towards any person other than Caesar. Calpurnia then explains that omens would only be prophecies unto important people (and thus in this context, Caesar). But Caesar dismisses her concerns, instead preferring to face up to whatever bad things may occur to him as he regards himself as a courageous man

2.2.38-48Servant: “They would not have you stir forth today. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, they could not find a heart within the beast.”Caesar: “The gods do this in shame of cowardice. Caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at home today for fear. No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he […] and Caesar shall go forth.”Yet again, another show of overconfidence and Roman masculinity by Caesar. Caesar re-interprets the portents by the augurers that if he would not go to the Senate, then he would be like the animal who did not have a heart [of courage] within him

2.2.71-82 (MANY LUSTY ROMANS SPEECH)Caesar: “The cause is in my will. I will not come. […] Calpurnia […] dreamt tonight she saw my statue, which like a fountain with an hundred spouts did run pure blood, and many lusty Romans came smiling and did bathe their hands in it. And these does she apply for warnings and portents, […] and on her knee hath begg’d that I will stay at home today.”After Calpurnia got on her knees to beg Caesar to stay at home, Caesar agrees, and gives Decius, who came to fetch him to the Senate, Calpurnia, as the reason for his absence at the Senate

10

2.2.83-90 (DECIUS’ REINTERPRETATION)Decius: “This dream is all amiss interpreted, it was a vision fair and fortunate, [signifying] that from you great Rome shall suck reviving blood and that great men shall press for tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance”Decius reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream, stating that it signifies that Romans would be revived by Caesar’s rule, and that noble men would strive to get their heraldic colours, souvenirs and badges (the blood) to show that they are the servants of Caesar

2.2.92-101 (DECIUS’ TRUMP CARD)Decius: “The Senate have concluded to give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come their minds might change. Besides, it were mock apt to be render’d for someone to say, ‘Break up the Senate till another time, when Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.’ If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper, ‘Lo, Caesar is afraid’?”Decius tells Caesar that the Senate intends to crown him that day and the crown would not be his if he didn’t go on that day. He further tugs at Caesar by subtly questioning Caesar’s decision to stay at home as befitting of a Roman man, as he is willing to give in to a paranoid woman

act 2, scene 3Artemidorus reads aloud a letter that he wrote to warn Caesar about the conspirators. He reveals his plan to attempt to pass the letter to Caesar in the guise of a suit

no notable quotes

act 2, scene 4Portia is worried about the outcome of the conspiracy. She sends Lucius to the Senate but refuses to tell him why. She meets the Soothsayer who reveals that he will try to warn Caesar

no notable quotes

11

ACT THREE

act 3, scene 1Artemidorus tries to give Caesar his letter of warning, saying “read mine first, for mine’s a suit that touches Caesar nearer”, but Caesar refused to read the letter because he believes “what touches [him] [him]self shall be last serv’d”. The conspirators ask Caesar to pardon Publius Cimber, and when he refuses to do so (still quite very obsessed with himself), the conspirators proceed to stab him to death. The conspirators then proceed to wash their hands in Caesar’s blood. Right. There is an increased occurrence of socio-political terms like “liberty”, “freedom” and all. Then, Antony comes in to express his grief over Caesar’s death but pretends to accept Brutus’ explanation. He asks the conspirators to allow him to praise Caesar during his funeral, but Caesar expresses the dangers of doing so, but Brutus (being Brutus) decides to allow it because he thought it would do the conspiracy more advantage than wrong. He then gives Antony explicit instruction about what he should say. When the conspirators leave, Antony reveals his anger and pledges revenge for Caesar. And along the way destroying Italy. Really, he says that.

3.1.6-8Artemidorus: “O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a suit that touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.”Caesar: “What touches us ourself shall be last serv’d.”Caesar exhibits a certain loyalty to Rome by preferring to settle the nation’s affairs first (at the Senate), rather than ones that are closer to him

3.1.39-48Caesar: “Be not fond to think that Caesar bears such rebel blood that will be thaw’d [by] sweet words, low-crooked curtsies, and base spaniel fawning. If thou (Metellus) dost bend, and pray, and fawn for

12

[Publius Cimber], I spurn thee like a cur out of my way. Know that Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause will he be satisfied.”When Caesar is being addressed by Metellus Cimber for a petition to release his brother, Publius Cimber, Metellus started by praising Caesar. Caesar then responds that he will not be swayed by flattery and will always remain right

3.1.60-62Caesar: “I am as constant as the northern star, of whose true-fix’d and resting quality there is now fellow in the firmament.”Caesar displays his constancy as part of his public image

3.1.77Caesar: “Et tu, Brute? – Then fall, Caesar!”Caesar expresses his shock at the fact Brutus, who had been so close to him, was part of this conspiracy. The use of “then” implies that Caesar was only willing to give in to the conspiracy passively and die because he finds out his close friend, Brutus, had betrayed him. Rather tragic when you consider Caesar was just praising Brutus a few seconds ago (“Doth not Brutus bootless kneel”)

3.1.78-79, 82-83Cinna: “Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead! Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets”Brutus: “People and senators, be not affrighted; fly not; stand stiff; ambition’s debt is paid!The conspirator’s view upon the success of the conspiracy (as compared to Antony’s later description

3.1.105-107Brutus: “Let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood up to the elbows and besmear our swords.”Fulfillment of Calpurnia’s dream

3.1.148-151, 153-154Antony: “O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well! […] There is no hour so fit as Caesar’s death’s hour.”Antony pretends to be on the side with the conspirators

3.1.194-204Antony: “That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ‘tis true. If then thy spirit look upon us now, shall it not grieve thee […] to see Antony making his peace [with] thy foes […] in the presence of thy corse? […] Pardon me, Julius!”Antony expresses certain grief over Caesar

3.1.220Antony: “Friends am I with you all, and love you all.”

13

Antony officially states that he is on the side of the conspirators

3.1.228-249Antony: “[I am] suitor that I may produce his body to the market-place, and in this pulpit, as becomes a friend, speak in the order of his funeral.”Brutus: “I will myself into the pulpit first and show the reason of our Caesar’s death [and speak that] we are contented Caesar shall have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. It shall advantage more than do us wrong.”Brutus: “Mark Antony, here take you Caesar’s body. You shall not in your funeral speech blame us, but speak all good you can devise of Caesar […] else you shall not have any hand at all about his funeral.”Mark Antony requests to make a funeral oration in his capacity as a friend, to duly honour Caesar. Although Cassius thinks that the people may be moved by that which Antony might utter [against the conspirators], Brutus quickly dismisses it, as he trusts Antony and that Caesar should deserve an honourable funeral, with the added benefit that it would make the conspiracy still appear glorious and honourable to the public

3.1.254-275 (ANTONY’S SOLILOQUY)Antony: “O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers. […] Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophesy – […] a curse shall light upon the limbs of men: domestic fury and fierce civil strife shall cumber all the parts of Italy.”Antony reveals that he actually passionately hates the conspiracy for having killed his friend, and proceeds to pledge to avenge Caesar, even if it would consume Italy in war. (Showing the value of loyalty to friends over loyalty to country, albeit only in the instance of Caesar)

3.1.295-296Antony: “Thou shalt discourse to young Octavius of the state of things.”Antony orders his servant to keep Octavius updated.

act 3, scene 2Brutus makes an oration at Caesar’s funeral explaining the reasons of the killing. Antony then brings Caesar’s body to the pulpit and shows the Plebeians the marks on Caesar’s cloak and body, and proceeds to argue that Caesar was not ambitious, causing the Plebeians to turn against the conspirators. Antony leaves the pulpit to join Octavius and Lepidus in Caesar’s house

3.2.13-33 (BRUTUS’ FUNERAL ORATION)

14

Brutus gives a funeral oration explaining the reasons behind the conspirators killing Caesar. Brutus gives a reasoned argument to the public, phrasing his speech in prose instead of the verse he usually uses. He argues that it was not that he detested Caesar, but that he decided to prioritize bringing benefits to Rome. He mentions that if Caesar were to be let to live, he would become a tyrant and exercise and oppressive rule over the people. However, any Roman should prioritize his country, thus, Brutus explains that it was his duty to kill Caesar, for he loves his country and does not wish for it to suffer

3.2.14-16Brutus: “Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour that you may believe.”Although Brutus makes an attempt to convince the audience with Logos, he commits the fallacies of circular reasoning and ad hominem

3.2.19-24Brutus: “If then [you all] demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen?”Brutus’ central premise (mentioned above)

3.2.68-69Third Plebeian: “Nay, that’s certain: we are blest that Rome is rid of him”The Plebeians’ reaction to Brutus’ speech: convinced

3.2.72-249 (ANTONY’S FUNERAL ORATION)Antony uses verse to make his argument, so it induces more pathos from the Plebeians to override the logos from Brutus. Antony claims that Caesar showed no ambition at all, as seen from bringing many captives home to Rome and filling the treasury with the ransoms for the captives (no-link alert) and rejecting the crown thrice. He then tells the Plebeians that Caesar left a will to the Romans. He then calls the Plebeians around Caesar’s corpse and romanticizes the killing of Caesar, implying the cruelty that the conspirators showed to Caesar, especially Brutus who, so close to Caesar, had instead betrayed him. He then subtly moves the Plebeians to mutiny against the conspirators, and gives last mention of Caesar’s will which was intended to bless the Romans with many gifts

3.2.76-78Antony: “The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious; if it were so, it was a grievous fault.”94-97

15

Antony: “You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?”103-104Antony: “O judgement, thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason!”179-184, 195“Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar lov’d [Brutus]! This was the most unkindest cut of all. For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms, quite vanquish’d him. […] Here is himself, marr’d as you see with traitors224-227“There were an Antony [who] would ruffle your spirits [and] move the stones of Rome to rise and mutiny”

3.2.228-268 Plebeians: “We’ll mutiny, […] seek the conspirators [and] with the brands fire the traitors’ housesThe Plebeians reaction to Antony’s speech: mutiny

act 3, scene 2Cinna gets ganged

ACT FOUR

act 4, scene 1

16

The new triumvirate, composed of Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus plan their strategy against the conspirators. When Lepidus leaves, Antony reveals how regards Lepidus in the triumvirate, one who is only made use of

4.1.12-15Antony: “This is a slight, unmeritable man, meet to be sent on errands; is it fit, the threefold world divided, he should stand one of three to share it?”Antony’s bad impression of Lepidus

4.1.19-23Antony: “Though we lay these honours on this man to ease ourselves of divers slanderous loads, he shall but bear them as the ass bears gold, to groan and sweat under the business, either led or driven, as we point the way”Antony expresses the manner in which he wishes to manipulate Lepidus

act 4, scene 2Cassius arrives at the camp near Sardis where Brutus is and they begin to quarrel

4.2.23-27Brutus: “Hollow men, like horses hot at hand, make gallant show and promise of their mettle. But when they should endure the bloody spur they fall their crests, and like deceitful jades sink in the trial.”Brutus criticizes Cassius, possibly for being inconsistent and lacking in the original fervor that the conspirators held whilst killing Caesar

4.2.41-45Brutus: “Cassius, be content, speak your griefs softly, I do know you well. Before the eyes of both our armies here – which should perceive nothing but love from us – let us not wrangle.”Brutus still remains conscious of the public image Cassius and him would put up if they were to argue hot-headedly in front of their troops

act 4, scene 3Cassius and Brutus have a bitchfight until Brutus tells Cassius that Portia is dead (can I call ‘guilt-trip’). The armies then march off to Philippi (we will know that that was a horrible decision), but Brutus sleeps first. Caesar’s ghost appears to him4.3.9-12, 22-28Brutus: “Cassius, you yourself are much condemn’d to have an itching palm, to sell and mart your offices for gold to undeservers.”Brutus: “Shall one of us, that struck the foremost man of all this world, […] contaminate our fingers with base bribes and sell the

17

mighty space of our large honours for so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog and bay the moon than such a Roman.”The entire bribery incident + Brutus’ view on honour – not to be corrupted by material desires

4.3.147-158Brutus: “No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. […] Speak no more of her. In [wine] I bury all unkindness”Messala: “Even so, great men great losses shall endure”

18