William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar – Plot Summary

Two tribunes (Roman officers), Marullus and Flavius, break up a gathering of Roman citizens who
seek to celebrate Julius Caesar’s triumphant return from war. The victory is marked by public
games in which Caesar’s friend, Mark Antony, takes part. On his way to the arena Caesar is
stopped by a soothsayer who warns that he should ‘Beware the Ides of March.’

The senators (politicians), Caius Cassius and Marcus Brutus, are concerned about Caesar’s
reaction to the power he holds in the Republic. They fear he will accept offers to become Emperor
(as good as a king). Cassius, is jealous of Caesar’s power, while Brutus has a more balanced view
and only wishes to protect the ideology of the Roman Republic- no one person should hold total
power.

On the eve that the consipiracy is born, there is a terrible storm over Rome and strange, ominous
things are seen on the streets. These are considered to be bad omens that show the gods’ anger.

Before the Ides of March, Cassius, Casca, and other conspirators, visit Brutus at night to persuade
him of their views, and they plan Caesar’s death. Brutus is troubled; he loves Caesar, but he is
loyal to the Republic. Despite his troubles, he does not confide in his devoted wife, Portia.

On the Ides (15th) March, Caesar is urged not to go to the Senate by his wife, Calphurnia, who
has had dreams that he will be murdered, and she fears the omens of the overnight storms. After
agreeing not to go, he is later persuaded by one of the conspirators (Decius Brutus) to go. After
ignoring Calpurinia’s concerns, one final person attempts to persuade Caesar not to attend the
Senate, however, Caesar ignores Artemidorus’ note too and when he reaches the Senate, the
conspirators surround Caesar and stab him to death- Brutus gives the final blow.

Against Cassius’s advice, Brutus allows Mark Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral in the market
place after Brutus has addressed the people of Rome. Brutus attempts to explain the conspirators’
reasons for killing Caesar and their fears for Caesar’s ambition. Brutus calms the crowd and they
seem to be on his side, but Antony’s clever and manipulative speech stirs them to rioting and the
conspirators are forced to flee from the city.

Brutus and Cassius gather an army in Northern Greece and prepare to fight the forces led by Mark
Antony, who has joined with Caesar’s great-nephew, Octavius, and with Lepidus. Away from
Rome, Brutus and Cassius are filled with doubts about the future and they quarrel bitterly over
funds for their soldiers’ pay- Brutus accuses Cassius of accepting bribes and suggests that he is
dishonourable. Shortly after, they make up prepare to engage Antony’s army at Philippi. Brutus
stoically receives news of his wife’s suicide in Rome; Portia has killed herself after suffering a
mental breakdown. Later on that night, Brutus sees Caesar’s ghost as he rests. The ghost warns
him that he will ‘see’ Caesar in battle- hinting that Brutus will die at Phillipi.

In the battle, the Republicans (Cassius and Brutus) at first appear to be winning, but when
Cassius’ messenger’s horse seems to be overtaken by the enemy, Cassius fears the worst and
gets his servant, Pindarus, to help him to a quick death. Brutus, finding Cassius’s body, kills
himself; this is the only honourable action left to him. Antony, triumphant on the battlefield,
praises Brutus as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’, and orders a formal funeral before he and
Octavius return to rule in Rome.
Characters: Themes
Power Betrayal
Julius Caesar
Despite several warnings, Caesar is stabbed to death by Ambition Manipulation
the conspirators on the ‘Ides of March’. Conflict Honour
Brutus Fate The role of women
One of Caesar’s closest friends. He’s persuaded to
assassinate Caesar by his brother in law, Cassius.
Violence Loyalty

Cassius Key Spellings and Vocabulary

One of the conspirators. Persuades Brutus to join the
conspirators. Kills himself out of guilt and fear. Ambition Shakespeare
Manipulation Presents
Marc Anthony
One of Caesar’s most trusted friends and advisors. Gives Roman Fool Conveys
Caesar’s funeral speech. Goes to war against Brutus and
Cassius with Caesar’s nephew, Ocatvius. Conspirators Highlights

Octavius
Conspiracy Challenges
Caesar’s nephew. Leads his army in the fight against Act Scene
Brutus and Cassius’ army.
Foreshadowing Implies
Portia
Brutus’ wife. She kills herself by swallowing hot coals. Dramatic irony Suggests
Calphurnia Dignitas Specifically
Caesar’s wife. Has a dream about her husband’s death.
Roman Empire Undoubtedly
Caska
Regicide Elizabethan
One of the conspirators that works closely with Cassius.
He is the first to stab Caesar.

Soothsayer Techniques and Dramatic Conventions

Warns Caesar of his doom: ‘Beware the Ides of March’
Foreshadowing Warning or indication of future events.
Artemidorus When the weather/lighting reflects the
Tries to warn Caesar by handing him a note.
Pathetic fallacy
mood.
Dramatic irony When the audience is aware of something
of which the characters are not.
Cicero Pathos A rhetorical device that aims to convince
Decius Brutus by creating a strong emotional reaction.
Conspirators
Lucius Ethos A rhetorical device that aims to convince
All play a role in by questioning someone’s ethics (morals
Trebonius
Caesar’s death. and beliefs).
Cinna
Logos A rhetorical device that aims to convince
using logic and reasoning.
Messala Sololoquy When a character speaks their thoughts
A messenger in Brutus’ army. aloud on a stage, unaware of any
audience.
Rising action A series of relevant incidents that create
Titinius
suspense, interest and tension in a
An officer in Brutus’ army. narrative.
Denouement The final part of a play, film, or narrative
Strato in which the strands of the plot are drawn
Brutus’ loyal servant. Hold his sword whilst he runs on it. together and matters are explained or
resolved.
Pindarus
Cassius’ slave/servant.
Extract 1- Act 1, Scene 1 (of 3) Summary:
There is a party in the streets of Rome to celebrate
Streets of Rome Caesar’s triumphant return from war.
Two tribunes (officers) of Rome, Marullus and Flavius,
MARULLUS discuss their hatred of Caesar and his growing power and
Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? do their best to disrupt the celebrations.
What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels? Attire: Clothing
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! Intermit: Stop/suspend
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome, Exalted: Glorious
Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft Servile: Enslaved/ Begging
Have you climb'd up to walls and battlements,
To towers and windows, yea, to chimney-tops,
Your infants in your arms, and there have sat Key Knowledge
The livelong day, with patient expectation, Pompey was previously the most powerful man in Rome.
To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome: He was married to Caesar’s daughter, but when she died,
And when you saw his chariot but appear, he betrayed Caesar and this led to a civil war. He was
Have you not made an universal shout, defeated in battle and fled to Egypt where he was
That Tiber trembled underneath her banks, assassinated.
To hear the replication of your sounds
Made in her concave shores?
And do you now put on your best attire? Key Knowledge
And do you now cull out a holiday? A reference to the plague would have frightened
And do you now strew flowers in his way Shakespeare’s audience- 33 years prior to this play’s
That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood? Be gone! release, the Great Plague of London (1665-66) killed a
Run to your houses, fall upon your knees, quarter of London’s population.
Pray to the gods to intermit the plague
That needs must light on this ingratitude.

FLAVIUS Key Knowledge

Go, go, good countrymen, and, for this fault, The River Tiber flows through Rome. It is referenced
Assemble all the poor men of your sort; several times throughout the play.
Draw them to Tiber banks, and weep your tears into the
channel, till the lowest stream
Do kiss the most exalted shores of all.

Exeunt all the Commoners

See whether their basest metal be not moved;

They vanish tongue-tied in their guiltiness.
Go you down that way towards the Capitol;
This way will I
disrobe the images,
If you do find them deck'd with ceremonies. Key Knowledge
The Lupercal was an annual festival in the Roman calendar.
MARULLUS It was celebrated each year, on the 15th of February, to
May we do so? avert evil spirits and purify the city.
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.

FLAVIUS
It is no matter; let no images Shakespeare’s Techniques!
Be hung with Caesar's trophies. I'll about, Shakespeare uses a metaphor to create
And drive away the vulgar from the streets: imagery of Caesar as a bird that is soaring
So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These above all others.
growing feathers pluck'd from Caesar's wing will make
him fly an ordinary pitch, Furthermore, he uses violent verbs to
Who else would soar above the view of men foreshadow the violence of his death later
And keep us all in servile fearfulness. on in the play.
Extract 2 – Act 1, Scene 2 (of 3) Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan:
Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans
A public place Mark him and write his speeches in their books,
Shout. Flourish Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,'
As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me
BRUTUS A man of such a feeble temper should
What means this shouting? I do fear, the people So get the start of the majestic world
Choose Caesar for their king. And bear the palm alone.
Key Knowledge
CASSIUS Shout. Flourish Palm leaves were
Ay, do you fear it? formerly used as
Then must I think you would not have it so. symbols of victory.

BRUTUS Key Knowledge

I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well. The Roman Republic was established in 509 BC when the
But wherefore do you hold me here so long? last king of Rome was overthrown (with help from Brutus’
What is it that you would impart to me? ancestors). The Republic established a democratic society
If it be aught toward the general good, led by chosen political parties (always more than one
Set honour in one eye and death i' the other, person). However, under Caesar’s rule, the fall of the
And I will look on both indifferently, Roman Republic began. Eventually, in 27BC, Rome became
For let the gods so speed me as I love an empire under the rule of Caesar’s nephew, Augustus
The name of honour more than I fear death. (Octavius).

CASSIUS
I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
Summary:
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Cassius, an ambitious politician, attempts to persuade
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
Brutus that Caesar has grown too powerful. He is the
I cannot tell what you and other men
founder of the conspiracy and he knows that he needs
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
Brutus on his side because Roman citizens respect Brutus.
I had as lief not be as live to be
Cassius compares himself to Caesar and even admits that
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
he saved him once. He highlights the many occasions that
I was born free as Caesar; so were you:
Caesar has been weak and suggests that such a man has no
We both have fed as well, and we can both
business in leadership.
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
Impart: Share
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Indifferently: Uncaringly
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Lustre: Shine
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
Feeble: Weak
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Key Knowledge
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas was a Trojan hero, the
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, son of the prince Anchises and the goddess Venus.
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
Cassius is comparing himself to the son of a goddess.
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is Shakespeare’s Technique!
A wretched creature and must bend his body, Shakespeare uses a lexical set of weakness. This highlights
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. Cassius’ manipulative ways as he is trying to show Brutus
He had a fever when he was in Spain, that Caesar isn’t deserving of his power.
And when the fit was on him, I did mark
How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake; Furthermore, Cassius’ uses juxtaposition in this speech
His coward lips did from their colour fly, emphasises the difference in power between him and
And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Caesar (‘a god ’/‘wretched creature)
Extract 3 – Act 1, Scene 2 (of 3
Summary:
Cassius, an ambitious politician, attempts to persuade
BRUTUS
Brutus that Caesar has grown too powerful. He is the
Another general shout!
founder of the conspiracy and he knows that he needs
I do believe that these applauses are
Brutus on his side because Roman citizens respect
For some new honours that are heap'd on Caesar.
Brutus. Cassius compares Brutus’ honour to Caesar’s to
suggest that Caesar is less of a man than Brutus. Cassius
CASSIUS
knows that if Brutus isn’t involved in the conspiracy,
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
they will all be labelled as murderers and put to death.
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Essentially, Brutus is their security and Cassius is using
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
persuasive techniques to manipulate him.
To find ourselves dishonourable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates:
Colossus: Giant statue; god-like
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
Encompass’d: Held
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Brook’d: Tolerated; allowed
Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that 'Caesar'?
Why should that name be sounded more than yours?
Write them together, yours is as fair a name;
Sound them, it doth become the mouth as well;
Weigh them, it is as heavy; conjure with 'em, Key Knowledge
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Caesar. During the Renaissance period, many people
Now, in the names of all the gods at once, looked beyond religion when considering
Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed, what or who was in control of their fate.
That he is grown so great? Age, thou art shamed! Many people believed that their destiny was
Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods! pre-determined (already written) in the stars.
When went there by an age, since the great flood, In this line, Cassius is saying that it is not in
But it was famed with more than with one man? their fate to be ruled by Caesar and that they
When could they say till now, that talk'd of Rome, must act to change it.
That her wide walls encompass'd but one man?
Now is it Rome indeed and room enough,
When there is in it but one only man. Key Knowledge
O, you and I have heard our fathers say, The Roman Republic and Brutus
There was a Brutus once that would have brook'd Brutus’ ancestors helped to overthrow the
The eternal devil to keep his state in Rome last dictator of Rome and established the
As easily as a king. Roman Republic. Due to this, Brutus is
considered to be one of the most honourable
BRUTUS men in Rome.
That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;
What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter; for this present,
I would not, so with love I might entreat you, Shakespeare’s Technique!
Be any further moved. What you have said Cassius’ speech is deliberately full of
I will consider; what you have to say persuasive techniques such as:
I will with patience hear, and find a time
Both meet to hear and answer such high things. • Repetition
Till then, my noble friend, chew upon this: • Rule of 3
Brutus had rather be a villager • Rhetorical questions
Than to repute himself a son of Rome • Parallelism (phrases with a
Under these hard conditions as this time similar grammatical structure)
Is like to lay upon us. • Ethos (A rhetorical technique
that uses ethics to persuade)
CASSIUS • Logos (A rhetorical technique
I am glad that my weak words that uses logic to persuade)
Have struck but thus much show of fire from Brutus.
Shakespeare has included these to
highlight Cassius’ manipulative and
cunning ways.
Extract 4 – Act 1, Scene 2 (of 3) Summary:
Upon seeing Cassius and Brutus, Caesar tells Antony that
CAESAR he fears Cassius. He thinks that Cassius is ambitious and
Antonius! that he likes to scheme. Antony naively says that he doesn’t
think Cassius is a threat.
ANTONY
Caesar? Seldom: Rarely
Mock’d: Tease
CAESAR Scorn’d: Despised; hated
Let me have men about me that are fat;
Sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights:
Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look;
He thinks too much: such men are dangerous.

ANTONY Shakespeare’s Technique!

Fear him not, Caesar; he's not dangerous; Shakespeare uses dialogue to build
He is a noble Roman and well given. tension for the audience. This
conversation between Caesar and
CAESAR Antony is an example of dramatic
Would he were fatter! But I fear him not: irony because Antony says that Cassius
Yet if my name were liable to fear, isn’t a threat, when clearly, he is.
I do not know the man I should avoid Perhaps Shakespeare is suggesting
So soon as that spare Cassius. He reads much; that Antony is naive and that Caesar
He is a great observer and he looks should be more concerned for his
Quite through the deeds of men: he loves no plays, safety, especially considering the
As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music; Soothsayer’s warning (‘beware the
Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort Ides of March’).
As if he mock'd himself and scorn'd his spirit
That could be moved to smile at anything.
Such men as he be never at heart's ease
Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,
And therefore are they very dangerous.
I rather tell thee what is to be fear'd
Than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf,
And tell me truly what thou think'st of him.
Extract 5- Act 1, Scene 3 (of 3)
Summary:
Two conspirators, Cicero and Casca, meet in the capital.
A street.
They discuss all of the strange weather and omens. This
Thunder and lightning. Enter from opposite sides, CASCA,
scene is all about foreshadowing and tension- Shakespeare
with his sword drawn, and CICERO
uses pathetic fallacy to create an ominous atmosphere.
CICERO
Good even, Casca: brought you Caesar home?
Unfirm: Unsteady
Why are you breathless? and why stare you so?
Exalted: High; risen
Tempest: Storm
CASCA
Dropping fire: Lightning
Are not you moved, when all the sway of earth
Civil strife in heaven: War within heaven
Shakes like a thing unfirm? O Cicero,
Incenses: Angers
I have seen tempests, when the scolding winds
Bird of night: Raven/crow
Have rived the knotty oaks, and I have seen
The ambitious ocean swell and rage and foam,
To be exalted with the threatening clouds:
But never till to-night, never till now,
Did I go through a tempest dropping fire.
Either there is a civil strife in heaven,
Or else the world, too saucy with the gods,
Incenses them to send destruction.

CICERO
Why, saw you anything more wonderful?

CASCA
A common slave--you know him well by sight--
Held up his left hand, which did flame and burn
Like twenty torches join'd, and yet his hand,
Not sensible of fire, remain'd unscorch'd.
Besides--I ha' not since put up my sword--
Against the Capitol I met a lion,
Who glared upon me, and went surly by,
Without annoying me: and there were drawn
Upon a heap a hundred ghastly women,
Transformed with their fear; who swore they saw
Men all in fire walk up and down the streets.
And yesterday the bird of night did sit
Even at noon-day upon the market-place,
Hooting and shrieking. When these prodigies Key Knowledge
Do so conjointly meet, let not men say Black birds, particularly crows and ravens, have been
'These are their reasons; they are natural;' considered to be bad omens for hundreds of years. During the
For, I believe, they are portentous things plague, healers would visit the sick wearing a mask that
Unto the climate that they point upon. resembled a crow’s beak. Furthermore, both birds are
omnivores and they eat carrion (dead flesh/meat).

Shakespeare’s Technique!
Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy in this extract by having the stormy
weather reflect the unrest in Rome, especially amongst the conspirators.

Furthermore, there are several references to ominous and violent language

that create rising action in this scene. The audience understands that we are
building to the climax- Caesar’s assassination.
Extract 6- Act 2, Scene 1 (of 4)
Summary:
Rome. BRUTUS's orchard. This is a key moment in the play: Brutus’ soliloquy. A
Enter BRUTUS soliloquy is a technique used by playwrights- a
character speaks their thoughts and feelings aloud
to the audience.
BRUTUS
It must be by his death: and for my part, In this scene, Brutus speaks his thoughts aloud,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him, alone in his garden. He lists the reasons for joining
But for the general. He would be crown'd: the conspiracy and eventually decides that killing
How that might change his nature, there's the question. Caesar is the right thing to do. Brutus thinks that
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder; Caesar will grow too powerful if he is allowed to
And that craves wary walking. Crown him?--that;-- live.
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
That at his will he may do danger with. Spurn: Reject
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins Remorse: Regret
Remorse from power: and, to speak truth of Caesar, Attains: Reaches
I have not known when his affections sway'd Upmost: Highest
More than his reason. But 'tis a common proof, Scorning: Look down upon
That lowliness is young ambition's ladder, Quarrel: Argument
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face; Augmented: Increased; amplified
But when he once attains the upmost round.
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees Key Knowledge
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. Shakespeare’s audience would have been god
Then, lest he may, prevent. And, since the quarrel fearing people. They would have associated a
Will bear no colour for the thing he is, ‘serpent’ with the devil. It can be assumed that
Fashion it thus; that what he is, augmented, Shakespeare is using a biblical allusion and is
Would run to these and these extremities: comparing Caesar to the devil/Satan.
And therefore think him as a serpent's egg
Which, hatch'd, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
And kill him in the shell.

Key Knowledge
Regicide is the act of killing a monarch. Caesar
would have been viewed as a king by the
Elizabethan audience.

In Queen Elizabeth’s era, people believed that

kings/queens were hand chosen by God to rule on
earth. In the eyes of God and the church, regicide
would have been the ultimate sin.

Shakespeare’s Technique!
Shakespeare uses an extended metaphor of a ‘ladder’ throughout this extract to
emphaisise that there is no stopping Caesar on his ascension to power. Brutus
clearly feels that Caesar is on the path to becoming a king.

Furthermore, the metaphor ‘serpent’s egg’ further supports the idea that Caesar
will become too powerful and dangerous- it’s just a matter of time. It could also
suggest that Caesar is going to poison the republic, as a snake does its prey.
Extract 7- Act 2, Scene 1 (of 4) He first presents his fire; and the high east
Stands, as the Capitol, directly here.
Enter the conspirators, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS,
CINNA, METELLUS CIMBER, and TREBONIUS BRUTUS
Give me your hands all over, one by one.
CASSIUS
I think we are too bold upon your rest: CASSIUS
Good morrow, Brutus; do we trouble you? And let us swear our resolution.

BRUTUS BRUTUS
I have been up this hour, awake all night. No, not an oath: if not the face of men,
Know I these men that come along with you? The sufferance of our souls, the time's abuse,--
If these be motives weak, break off betimes,
CASSIUS And every man hence to his idle bed;
Yes, every man of them, and no man here So let high-sighted tyranny range on,
But honours you; and every one doth wish Till each man drop by lottery. But if these,
You had but that opinion of yourself As I am sure they do, bear fire enough
Which every noble Roman bears of you. To kindle cowards and to steel with valour
This is Trebonius. The melting spirits of women, then, countrymen,
Key Knowledge What need we any spur but our own cause,
BRUTUS Dignitas: To prick us to redress? what other bond
He is welcome hither. In Ancient Rome, ‘dignitas’ Than secret Romans, that have spoke the word,
was a way of life for many And will not palter? and what other oath
CASSIUS men who believed in Than honesty to honesty engaged,
This, Decius Brutus. honour, patriotism and That this shall be, or we will fall for it?
morality. This idea explains Swear priests and cowards and men cautelous,
BRUTUS Brutus’ motives. Old feeble carrions and such suffering souls
He is welcome too. That welcome wrongs; unto bad causes swear
Such creatures as men doubt; but do not stain
CASSIUS The even virtue of our enterprise,
This, Casca; this, Cinna; and this, Metellus Cimber. Nor the insuppressive mettle of our spirits,
To think that or our cause or our performance
BRUTUS Did need an oath; when every drop of blood
They are all welcome. That every Roman bears, and nobly bears,
What watchful cares do interpose themselves Is guilty of a several bastardy,
Betwixt your eyes and night? If he do break the smallest particle
Of any promise that hath pass'd from him.
CASSIUS
Shall I entreat a word?

BRUTUS and CASSIUS whisper Summary:

The evening before the Ides of March, the conspirators
DECIUS BRUTUS visit Brutus at his house. Brutus gives a speech about the
Here lies the east: doth not the day break here? need to be an honourable, loyal Roman. At this point, he
steps up and becomes their leader.
CASCA
No. Tyranny: Oppression; cruelty
Palter: Be vague; equivocate
CINNA Cautelous: Crafty; cunning
O, pardon, sir, it doth; and yon gray lines Feeble: Weak
That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Carrions: Decaying flesh of men
Insuppressive: Unconquerable
CASCA Oath: Promise
You shall confess that you are both deceived.
Here, as I point my sword, the sun arises, Shakespeare’s Technique!
Which is a great way growing on the south, Shakespeare uses a lexical set to convey Brutus’
Weighing the youthful season of the year. honourable intentions: ‘valour’, ‘honesty’, ‘virtue’, ‘nobly’
Some two months hence up higher toward the north
Extract 8- Act 2 Scene 1 (of 4)
Summary:
The conspirators are still at Brutus’ house. Some ask
DECIUS BRUTUS
whether they should kill others as well as Caesar.
Shall no man else be touch'd but only Caesar?
Cassius suggests that they should kill Marc Antony
too, but Brutus strongly disagrees.
CASSIUS
Decius, well urged: I think it is not meet,
Brutus is shown to be naïve here; Marc Antony’s
Mark Antony, so well beloved of Caesar,
revenge is the reason that they all die in the end-
Should outlive Caesar: we shall find of him
perhaps he should have listened to Cassius.
A shrewd contriver; and, you know, his means,
If he improve them, may well stretch so far
Shrewd: Smart
As to annoy us all: which to prevent,
Contriver: Schemer
Let Antony and Caesar fall together.
Dismember: Cut to pieces
Purgers: People who get rid of things
BRUTUS
Ingrafted: Built in
Our course will seem too bloody, Caius Cassius,
To cut the head off and then hack the limbs,
Like wrath in death and envy afterwards;
For Antony is but a limb of Caesar:
Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar;
And in the spirit of men there is no blood:
O, that we then could come by Caesar's spirit,
And not dismember Caesar! But, alas,
Caesar must bleed for it! And, gentle friends,
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: And let our hearts, as subtle
masters do, Stir up their servants to an act of rage,
And after seem to chide 'em. This shall make
Our purpose necessary and not envious:
Which so appearing to the common eyes,
We shall be call'd purgers, not murderers.
And for Mark Antony, think not of him;
For he can do no more than Caesar's arm
When Caesar's head is off. Shakespeare’s Technique!
Shakespeare uses juxtaposition and
CASSIUS parallelism in this speech as a way of
Yet I fear him; contrasting honour and dishonour. He is
For in the ingrafted love he bears to Caesar— highlighting Brutus’ desire to be seen as an
honourable man who only agrees to
BRUTUS assassinate Caesar for the good of Rome.
Alas, good Cassius, do not think of him:
If he love Caesar, all that he can do Removing Caesar and protecting Rome will be
Is to himself, take thought and die for Caesar: seen as a brave and necessary sacrifice to
And that were much he should; for he is given save the republic, but killing Antony too will
To sports, to wildness and much company. make them seem like bloodthirsty murderers.
This contrast is highlighted by:
TREBONIUS
There is no fear in him; let him not die; ‘Sacrificers, but not butchers’
For he will live, and laugh at this hereafter. ‘Boldly, but not wrathfully’
‘Purgers, not murderers’
Clock strikes
These are also examples of metaphors that
create vivid imagery for the audience.
Extract 9- Act 2, Scene 1 (of 4)
PORTIA
Enter PORTIA I should not need, if you were gentle Brutus.
Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus,
PORTIA Is it excepted I should know no secrets
You've ungently, Brutus, That appertain to you? Am I yourself
Stole from my bed: and yesternight, at supper, But, as it were, in sort or limitation,
You suddenly arose, and walk'd about, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed,
Musing and sighing, with your arms across, And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs
And when I ask'd you what the matter was, Of your good pleasure? If it be no more,
You stared upon me with ungentle looks; Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife.
I urged you further; then you scratch'd your head, Key Knowledge:
BRUTUS Cato was a
And too impatiently stamp'd with your foot;
politician in the
Yet I insisted, yet you answer'd not, You are my true and honourable wife,
Roman Republic,
But, with an angry wafture of your hand, As dear to me as are the ruddy drops and a follower of
Gave sign for me to leave you: so I did; That visit my sad heart the Stoic
Fearing to strengthen that impatience philosophy.
Which seem'd too much enkindled, and withal PORTIA
Hoping it was but an effect of humour, If this were true, then should I know this secret.
Which sometime hath his hour with every man. I grant I am a woman; but withal
It will not let you eat, nor talk, nor sleep, A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife:
And could it work so much upon your shape I grant I am a woman; but withal
As it hath much prevail'd on your condition, A woman well-reputed, Cato's daughter.
I should not know you, Brutus. Dear my lord, Think you I am no stronger than my sex,
Make me acquainted with your cause of grief. Being so father'd and so husbanded?
Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose 'em:
BRUTUS I have made strong proof of my constancy,
I am not well in health, and that is all. Giving myself a voluntary wound
Here, in the thigh: can I bear that with patience.
PORTIA And not my husband's secrets?
Brutus is wise, and, were he not in health,
He would embrace the means to come by it. BRUTUS
O ye gods,
BRUTUS Render me worthy of this noble wife!
Why, so I do. Good Portia, go to bed. Knocking within
PORTIA Hark, hark! one knocks: Portia, go in awhile;
Is Brutus sick? and is it physical And by and by thy bosom shall partake
To walk unbraced and suck up the humours The secrets of my heart.
Of the dank morning? What, is Brutus sick, All my engagements I will construe to thee,
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed, All the charactery of my sad brows: Leave me with haste.
To dare the vile contagion of the night
And tempt the rheumy and unpurged air Exit PORTIA
To add unto his sickness? No, my Brutus;
You have some sick offence within your mind, Summary:
Which, by the right and virtue of my place, Brutus can’t sleep. His wife, Portia, wakes up and asks him
I ought to know of: and, upon my knees, questions. Portia tries to convince Brutus to share his
I charm you, by my once-commended beauty, secrets.
By all your vows of love and that great vow
Which did incorporate and make us one, Offence: Crime
That you unfold to me, yourself, your half, Appertain: Belong
Why you are heavy, and what men to-night Dwell: Live
Have had to resort to you: for here have been Suburbs: Outskirts
Some six or seven, who did hide their faces Voluntary wound: Deliberate cut
Even from darkness.
Shakespeare’s Technique!
BRUTUS Portia’s empowered speech is full of metaphors that show
Kneel not, gentle Portia. her intelligence and desire to be seen as a strong woman.
Extract 10- Act 2, Scene 2 (of 4) CALPURNIA
When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
CAESAR's house. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night-gown
CAESAR
CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths;
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: The valiant never taste of death but once.
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Enter a Servant Key Knowledge: Will come when it will come.
Animal sacrifices were made to the
Re-enter Servant Key Knowledge:
Servant gods. These rituals were offered to
An augurer performs mystical
My lord? ask the gods for good fortune in
rituals to see the future. They
prayer. What say the augurers?
would slice open an animal and
CAESAR ‘see’ the future in its insides.
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice Servant
And bring me their opinions of success. They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
Servant They could not find a heart within the beast.
I will, my lord.
CAESAR
Exit. The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Enter CALPURNIA Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
CALPURNIA No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth? That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
You shall not stir out of your house to-day. We are two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
CAESAR And Caesar shall go forth.
Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see CALPURNIA
The face of Caesar, they are vanished. Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
CALPURNIA Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll
Yet now they fright me. There is one within, send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
Besides the things that we have heard and seen, And he shall say you are not well to-day:
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; CAESAR
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Summary:
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, In this extract, Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, begs him not to
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. leave the house because she has had a nightmare and
O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, has heard of the strange events/sightings in the streets of
And I do fear them. Rome. Caesar eventually listens and decides not to go.

CAESAR Squadron: Army; troops

What can be avoided Blaze: On fire; burn
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Valiant: Brave
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions Entrails: Body parts; intestines
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
Shakespeare’s Technique!
Shakespeare continues to use pathetic fallacy to reflect
the danger that Caesar is in. He also uses metaphors to
convey Caesar’s arrogance and hubris.
Extract 11- Act 2, Scene 2 (of 4) Key Knowledge: And know it now: the senate have concluded
The senate house was To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
Enter DECIUS BRUTUS built by/for Julius Caesar If you shall send them word you will not come,
as a political building. Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
DECIUS BRUTUS Apt to be render'd, for some one to say
Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy 'Break up the senate till another time,
Caesar: When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.'
I come to fetch you to the senate-house. If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper
'Lo, Caesar is afraid'?
CAESAR Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love
And you are come in very happy time, To our proceeding bids me tell you this;
To bear my greeting to the senators And reason to my love is liable.
And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: CAESAR
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius. How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
CALPURNIA Give me my robe, for I will go.
Say he is sick.

CAESAR Summary:
Shall Caesar send a lie? The conspirators expect that Caesar won’t go to the
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, senate because of the omens and strange night.
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? They send Decius Brutus to convince him. Caesar
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. changes his mind after hearing he might be
crowned. This is a key moment in the play,
DECIUS BRUTUS especially when we consider whether Caesar really
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, was ambitious and whether he was a threat to the
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. Republic.

CAESAR Senator: Politician

The cause is in my will: I will not come; Conquest: Defeat
That is enough to satisfy the senate. Portents: Omens
But for your private satisfaction, Imminent: About to happen
Because I love you, I will let you know: Concluded: Final decision
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: Liable: responsible
She dreamt to-night she saw my statua,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Shakespeare’s Technique!
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans Shakespeare continues to foreshadow Caesar’s
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it: violent death- this time through the description of
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents, Calpurnia’s nightmare. The vivid imagery created by
And evils imminent; and on her knee the simile ‘like a fountain with an hundred spouts’
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day. could symbolise Caesar’s body after multiple
stabbings.
DECIUS BRUTUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.

CAESAR
And this way have you well expounded it.

DECIUS BRUTUS
I have, when you have heard what I can say:
Extract 12- Act 2- SCENE 3 (of 4)

A street near the Capitol. Summary:

A man tries to warn Caesar about the conspirators’ plan.
Enter ARTEMIDORUS, reading a paper He tries to give him warning in a letter, but the letter is
never read.
ARTEMIDORUS
'Caesar, beware of Brutus; take heed of Cassius; Immortal: Doesn’t die; god-like
come not near Casca; have an eye to Cinna, trust not Conspiracy: Scheme; plot
Trebonius: mark well Metellus Cimber: Decius Brutus Laments: Cries of sadness
loves thee not: thou hast wronged Caius Ligarius. Virtue: Quality
There is but one mind in all these men, and it is Emulation: Rivalry; competition
bent against Caesar. If thou beest not immortal, Contrive: Plot
look about you: security gives way to conspiracy.
The mighty gods defend thee! Thy lover,
'ARTEMIDORUS.' Key Knowledge:
Here will I stand till Caesar pass along, Shakespeare and letters
And as a suitor will I give him this. Undelivered letters are used to create tension in
My heart laments that virtue cannot live Shakespeare’s plays. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo doesn’t
Out of the teeth of emulation. receive Father Lawrence’s letter and this leads to his
If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayst live; downfall.
If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive.

Exit Shakespeare’s Technique!

This scene creates tension for the audience as it takes
place right before the assassination of Caesar. It is also
an example of dramatic irony, as the audience knows
about the conspiracy, but Caesar does not. This is
Caesar’s last chance to avoid his fate, but he ignores it.
Extract 13- Act 2, Scene 4 (of 4) SOOTHSAYER
About the ninth hour, lady.
Another part of the same street, before the house of
BRUTUS. PORTIA
Is Caesar yet gone to the Capitol?
Enter PORTIA and LUCIUS
SOOTHSAYER
PORTIA Madam, not yet: I go to take my stand,
I prithee, boy, run to the senate-house; To see him pass on to the Capitol.
Stay not to answer me, but get thee gone:
Why dost thou stay? PORTIA
Thou hast some suit to Caesar, hast thou not?
LUCIUS
To know my errand, madam. SOOTHSAYER
That I have, lady: if it will please Caesar
PORTIA To be so good to Caesar as to hear me,
I would have had thee there, and here again, I shall beseech him to befriend himself.
Ere I can tell thee what thou shouldst do there.
O constancy, be strong upon my side, PORTIA
Set a huge mountain 'tween my heart and tongue! Why, know'st thou any harm's intended towards him?
I have a man's mind, but a woman's might.
How hard it is for women to keep counsel! SOOTHSAYER
Art thou here yet? None that I know will be, much that I fear may chance.
Key Knowledge:
Good morrow to you. Here the street is narrow:
Rome was a patriarchal society.
LUCIUS Women were inferior to men.
The throng that follows Caesar at the heels,
Madam, what should I do? Of senators, of praetors, common suitors,
Run to the Capitol, and nothing else? Will crowd a feeble man almost to death:
And so return to you, and nothing else? I'll get me to a place more void, and there
Speak to great Caesar as he comes along.
PORTIA
Yes, bring me word, boy, if thy lord look well, Exit
For he went sickly forth: and take good note
What Caesar doth, what suitors press to him. PORTIA
Hark, boy! what noise is that? I must go in. Ay me, how weak a thing
The heart of woman is! O Brutus,
LUCIUS The heavens speed thee in thine enterprise!
I hear none, madam. Sure, the boy heard me: Brutus hath a suit
That Caesar will not grant. O, I grow faint.
PORTIA Run, Lucius, and commend me to my lord;
Prithee, listen well; Say I am merry: come to me again,
I heard a bustling rumour, like a fray, And bring me word what he doth say to thee.
And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
Exeunt severally
LUCIUS
Sooth, madam, I hear nothing. Summary:
Portia is in a near hysterical state; she suspects that
Enter the Soothsayer something is going to happen between Brutus and Caesar,
and she knows that others are involved. Due to Brutus’
PORTIA distressed state, she suspects that he may challenge
Come hither, fellow: which way hast thou been? Caesar over something and fears for Brutus. She feels
helpless as a woman and is forced to sit back as the
SOOTHSAYER tragedy unfolds.
At mine own house, good lady.
Shakespeare’s Technique!
Might: Strength This scene is full of
PORTIA Fray: Fight
What is't o'clock? exclamations and
Chance: Potentially happen questions which convey
Enterprise: Pursuit Portia’s hysteria and build
tension for the audience.
Extract 14- Act 3, Scene 1 (of 3) Summary:
The conspirators surround Caesar and distract him
Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above. by asking to free one of their brothers. After Caesar
refuses and enough conspirators have surrounded
A crowd of people; among them ARTEMIDORUS and the him, the assassination begins. Casca stabs first-
Soothsayer. Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, Brutus stabs last. As Caesar dies he shows his shock
CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS, METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, at Brutus’ betrayal by exclaiming ‘Et tu, Brute!’
CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS, PUBLIUS, and others which translates to ‘and you, Brutus!’
CASSIUS In the commotion, Antony runs for his life. He sends
Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon: a servant to ask if he can safely speak to the
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, conspirators so that he may ask them their reasons
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. for killing Caesar.
CAESAR Enfranchisement: Empowered
I could be well moved, if I were as you: Pulpit: Stand; presentation space
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: Doomsday: End of the world/ judgement day
But I am constant as the northern star, Prostrate: Almost flat on the floor
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality Untouch’d: Unharmed
There is no fellow in the firmament. Shrewdly: Cleverly
The skies are painted with unnumber'd sparks,
They are all fire and every one doth shine, Shakespeare’s Technique!
But there's but one in all doth hold his place: In this scene, Shakespeare highlights Caesar’s hubris
So in the world; 'tis furnish'd well with men, just before he dies. He uses the simile ‘constant as
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive; the northern star’ and words such as ‘fix’d’, ‘hold’
Yet in the number I do know but one and ‘unshaked’ to create a sense of irony- he isn’t
That unassailable holds on his rank, constant, he’s about to die.
Unshaked of motion: and that I am he,
Let me a little show it, even in this;
That I was constant Cimber should be banish'd, CINNA
And constant do remain to keep him so. Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CINNA
O Caesar,-- CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
CAESAR 'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
Hence! wilt thou lift up Olympus?
BRUTUS
DECIUS BRUTUS People and senators, be not affrighted;
Great Caesar,-- Fly not; stand stiff: ambition's debt is paid.

CAESAR CASCA
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel? Go to the pulpit, Brutus.

CASCA DECIUS BRUTUS

Speak, hands for me! And Cassius too.

CASCA first, then the other Conspirators and BRUTUS stab BRUTUS
CAESAR Where's Publius?

CAESAR CINNA
Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar. Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.

Dies METELLUS CIMBER

Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar's
Key Knowledge: Should chance--
There’s hardly any dialogue or description here as the
acting would have communicated the violence of it. BRUTUS
Talk not of standing. Publius, good cheer;
There is no harm intended to your person, CASSIUS
Nor to no Roman else: so tell them, Publius. Ay, every man away:
Brutus shall lead; and we will grace his heels
CASSIUS With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
And leave us, Publius; lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief. Enter a Servant

BRUTUS BRUTUS
Do so: and let no man abide this deed, Soft! who comes here? A friend of Antony's.
But we the doers.
SERVANT
Re-enter TREBONIUS Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel:
Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down;
CASSIUS And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Where is Antony? Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest;
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving:
TREBONIUS Say I love Brutus, and I honour him;
Fled to his house amazed: Say I fear'd Caesar, honour'd him and loved him.
Men, wives and children stare, cry out and run If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
As it were doomsday. May safely come to him, and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
BRUTUS Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
Fates, we will know your pleasures: So well as Brutus living; but will follow
That we shall die, we know; 'tis but the time The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
And drawing days out, that men stand upon. Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
CASSIUS
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life BRUTUS
Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman;
I never thought him worse.
BRUTUS Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
Grant that, and then is death a benefit: He shall be satisfied; and, by my honour,
So are we Caesar's friends, that have abridged Depart untouch'd.
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood SERVANT
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords: I'll fetch him presently.
Then walk we forth, even to the market-place,
And, waving our red weapons o'er our heads, Exit
Let's all cry 'Peace, freedom and liberty!'
BRUTUS
CASSIUS I know that we shall have him well to friend.
Stoop, then, and wash. How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over CASSIUS
In states unborn and accents yet unknown! I wish we may: but yet have I a mind
That fears him much; and my misgiving still
BRUTUS Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey's basis lies along BRUTUS
No worthier than the dust! But here comes Antony.

CASSIUS Key Knowledge:

So oft as that shall be, There is a sense of irony here- this moment was described earlier on in
So often shall the knot of us be call'd Calpurnia’s nightmare:
The men that gave their country liberty. Act 2, Scene 2:
‘She dreamt to-night she saw my statua, which, like a fountain
DECIUS BRUTUS with an hundred spouts, did run pure blood: and many lusty
What, shall we forth? Romans came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it’
Extract 15- Act 3, Scene 1 (of 3) Summary:
After sending his servant to assess whether it is safe,
Re-enter ANTONY Antony returns and Brutus explains their reasons for killing
Caesar. Antony asks to speak and Caesar’s funeral and
BRUTUS carry in his body. Cassius doesn’t like this plan, but his
Welcome, Mark Antony. concerns are ignored by Brutus.

ANTONY Throughout the extract, though he is very emotional,

O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low? Antony cleverly pretends to understand why they killed
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Caesar, but deep down he is angry and wants revenge. He
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well. knows that anything negative he says will result in him
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend, being killed too. He realises that he must wait for the
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank: perfect moment…
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument Malice: Wickedness
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich Flatterer: Sycophant; suck up
With the most noble blood of all this world. Lethe: 1 of 5 rivers in the Underworld (Greek Mythology)
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Shakespeare’s Technique!
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Shakespeare uses an extended metaphor to describe
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
Antony as a fallen ‘hart’ (archaic name for a male deer). He
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
created imagery of Caesar as a noble creature who has
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
been slain by ‘hunters’.
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours;
BRUTUS Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
O Antony, beg not your death of us. Gentlemen all,--alas, what shall I say?
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
As, by our hands and this our present act, That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
You see we do, yet see you but our hands Either a coward or a flatterer.
And this the bleeding business they have done: That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; If then thy spirit look upon us now,
And pity to the general wrong of Rome-- Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity-- To see thy thy Anthony making his peace,
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
Antony: Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in It would become me better than to close
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart;
CASSIUS Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Your voice shall be as strong as any man's Sign'd in thy spoil, and crimson'd in thy lethe.
In the disposing of new dignities. O world, thou wast the forest to this hart;
And this, indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
BRUTUS How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Only be patient till we have appeased Dost thou here lie!
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause, CASSIUS
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him, Mark Antony,--
Have thus proceeded.
ANTONY
ANTONY Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
I doubt not of your wisdom. The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Let each man render me his bloody hand: Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you;
Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand;
Now, Decius Brutus, yours: now yours, Metellus;
CASSIUS About his funeral: and you shall speak
I blame you not for praising Caesar so; In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
But what compact mean you to have with us? After my speech is ended.
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you? ANTONY
Be it so.
ANTONY I do desire no more.
Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar. BRUTUS
Friends am I with you all and love you all, Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous. Exeunt all but ANTONY

BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle:
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.

ANTONY
That's all I seek:
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the market-place;
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.

BRUTUS
You shall, Mark Antony.

CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you.

Aside to BRUTUS

You know not what you do: do not consent

That Antony speak in his funeral:
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter?

BRUTUS
By your pardon;
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission,
And that we are contented Caesar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.

CASSIUS
I know not what may fall; I like it not.

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,
And say you do't by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all
Extract 16- Act 3, Scene 1 (of 3) In my oration, how the people take
The cruel issue of these bloody men;
ANTONY According to the which, thou shalt discourse
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, To young Octavius of the state of things.
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Lend me your hand.
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times. Exeunt with CAESAR's body
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy,--
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue-- Summary:
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men; The conspirators have gone to the pulpit, leaving Antony
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife alone with Caesar’s body. Finally, he can say how he truly
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; feels are reveals the depths of his rage and desire for
Blood and destruction shall be so in use revenge. Antony can’t say these things in front of the
And dreadful objects so familiar crowd or the conspirators as they’ll kill him too.
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; Meek: Gentle; kind
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: Civil strife: Civil war in Rome
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, Quarter’d: Arms and legs chopped off
With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Carrion: Decaying flesh for animals to feast on
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Oration: Speech
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.

Enter a Servant Key Knowledge:

Ate is a Greek goddess- the daughter of Zeus. She is the
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not? goddess of mischief, delusion and ruin. This shows that
Antony intends to take down the conspirators by being
SERVANT manipulative and highly deceitful.
I do, Mark Antony.

ANTONY Key Knowledge:

Caesar did write for him to come to Rome. Octavius is Caesar’s great nephew. He later becomes the
first emperor of Rome, ending the republic.
SERVANT
He did receive his letters, and is coming;
And bid me say to you by word of mouth--
Shakespeare’s Technique!
O Caesar!--
The first part of this scene is a
Seeing the body
soliloquy- Antony is alone on stage,
speaking his true feelings aloud for the
ANTONY
audience to hear.
Thy heart is big, get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching; for mine eyes,
Throughout the soliloquy, Shakespeare
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
uses a lexical set of anger and violence
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
to convey the true extent of Antony’s
rage and desire for revenge. His true
SERVANT
motives are conveyed through words
He lies to-night within seven leagues of Rome.
such as ‘curse’, ‘fury’, ‘fierce strife’,
‘blood’ and ‘destruction’.
ANTONY
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced:
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet;
Hie hence, and tell him so. Yet, stay awhile;
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the market-place: there shall I try
Extract 17- Act 3, Scene 2 (of 3)
Summary:
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a throng of Citizens Brutus speaks to the people of Rome.
He outlines the conspirators’ reasons
BRUTUS for killing Caesar. The people of Rome
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, believe him and seem to agree with
and be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine what he says… until Antony walks in
honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may with Caesar’s bloody body.
believe: censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge. Censure: Severe disapproval
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Valiant: Brave
Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar was no Valour: Courage
less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose Base: Dishonourable
against Caesar, this is my answer: Bondman: An enslaved person
--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 free men?
As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate,
I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he
was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy
for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a
bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is
here so rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak;
for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not
love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I
pause for a reply.

All
None, Brutus, none.

BRUTUS Shakespeare’s Technique!

Then none have I offended. I have done no more to The purpose of Brutus’ speech is to explain
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his to the citizens of Rome why he and the
death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, conspirators killed Caesar. He persuades
wherein he was worthy, nor his offences enforced, for them into believing that Caesar was
which he suffered death. ambitious and that he deserved to die in
order to protect the republic. He uses a
Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body range of rhetorical techniques to achieve
this:
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the • Direct address
benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth; as • Repetition
which of you shall not? With this I depart,--that, as I slew • Rhetorical question
my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same • Juxtaposition
dagger for myself, when it shall please my country to • Parallelism
need my death. • Ethos (A rhetorical device that
aims to convince by questioning
someone’s ethics (morals and
beliefs).
Rule of 3
Extract 18- Act 3, Scene 2 (of 3) Second Citizen
Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; Third Citizen
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones; Fourth Citizen
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault, ANTONY
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-- Have stood against the world; now lies he there.
For Brutus is an honourable man; And none so poor to do him reverence.
So are they all, all honourable men-- O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
He was my friend, faithful and just to me: I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
But Brutus says he was ambitious; Who, you all know, are honourable men:
And Brutus is an honourable man. I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
He hath brought many captives home to Rome To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill: Than I will wrong such honourable men.
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff: Let but the commons hear this testament--
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read--
And Brutus is an honourable man. And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
You all did see that on the Lupercal And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
And, sure, he is an honourable man. Unto their issue.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know. Summary:
You all did love him once, not without cause: The citizens of Rome are shocked by the sight of Antony
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? carrying Caesar’s body. In his speech, Antony chooses to
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, praise Caesar in order to show that he really wasn’t a bad
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; leader. His aim is to get the Roman people to realise (on their
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, own) that the conspirators are murderers.
And I must pause till it come back to me.
Interred: Buried
First Citizen Grievous: Serious
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings. Brutish: Cruel
Disposed: Likely to
Second Citizen Bequeathing: Leaving
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Shakespeare’s Technique!
Caesar has had great wrong.
The purpose of Antony’s speech is to convince the citizens of
Rome that Caesar wasn’t ambitious.
Third Citizen
Antony uses:
Has he, masters?
• Verbal irony (when the meaning behind someone’s
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
words is different to the literal meaning)
Fourth Citizen • Direct address
Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown; • Repetition
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. • Rhetorical question
• Parallelism
First Citizen • Pathos (A rhetorical device that aims to convince by
If it be found so, some will dear abide it. appealing to emotions)
• Rule of 3
Extract 19- Act 3, Scene 2 (of 3) First Citizen
Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Second Citizen
You all do know this mantle: I remember We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, ANTONY
That day he overcame the Nervii: Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
See what a rent the envious Casca made: They that have done this deed are honourable:
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd; What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away, That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it, And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no; I am no orator, as Brutus is;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel: But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! That love my friend; and that they know full well
This was the most unkindest cut of all; That gave me public leave to speak of him:
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab, For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms, Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart; To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face, I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Even at the base of Pompey's statua, Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell. mouths,
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen! And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down, And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us. Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel In every wound of Caesar that should move
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops. The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here, All
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors. We'll mutiny.

First Citizen First Citizen

O piteous spectacle! We'll burn the house of Brutus.

Second Citizen Summary:

O noble Caesar! Antony’s speech becomes more passionate once he realises that he
now has the support of the Roman people. Up till now, he has
Third Citizen cleverly manipulated his words so that the citizens of Rome realise
O woful day! that the conspirators are murderers, but now he can finally say
what he wants. The people of Rome decide to riot and burn the
Fourth Citizen conspirators’ houses down.
O traitors, villains!
Mantle: Robe/cloak
First Citizen Nervii: Area of Belgium
O most bloody sight! Vanquish’d: Defeated
Flourished: Thrived/spread
Second Citizen Marr’d: Marked
We will be revenged. Woful: Sad
Mutiny: Revolt (against your leaders)
All
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay! Shakespeare’s Technique!
Let not a traitor live! Antony continues to use a range of rhetorical techniques, but in
this part, he also includes a range of metaphors that create vivid
ANTONY imagery for the crowd and convey his anger and disgust towards
Stay, countrymen. the conspirators, particularly Brutus.
Extract 20- Act 4, Scene 3 (of 3) Summary:
Cassius and Brutus have fled Rome and gathered an army.
Brutus' tent. In this scene, they argue and insult one another. Brutus realises that
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS Cassius’ actions are dishonourable; he has been taking bribes.
CASSIUS Slighted: Snubbed Chastisement: Punishment
That you have wrong'd me doth appear in this: Contaminate: Infect Base: Dishonourable
You have condemn'd and noted Lucius Pella Bay: Howl; bark Choler: Anger
For taking bribes here of the Sardians; Mirth: Amusement; laughter Waspish: Irritating
Wherein my letters, praying on his side,
Because I knew the man, were slighted off. CASSIUS Shakespeare’s Technique!
I am. Shakespeare uses dialogue to
BRUTUS build tension between Cassius
You wronged yourself to write in such a case. BRUTUS and Brutus. The rhetorical
I say you are not. questions show their anger and
CASSIUS disbelief at each other’s words.
In such a time as this it is not meet CASSIUS
That every nice offence should bear his comment. Urge me no more, I shall forget myself;
Have mind upon your health, tempt me no further.
BRUTUS
Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself BRUTUS
Are much condemn'd to have an itching palm; Away, slight man!
To sell and mart your offices for gold
To undeservers. CASSIUS
Is't possible?
CASSIUS
I an itching palm! BRUTUS
You know that you are Brutus that speak this, Hear me, for I will speak.
Or, by the gods, this speech were else your last. Must I give way and room to your rash choler?
Shall I be frighted when a madman stares?
BRUTUS
The name of Cassius honours this corruption, CASSIUS
And chastisement doth therefore hide his head. O ye gods, ye gods! must I endure all this?

CASSIUS BRUTUS
Chastisement! All this! ay, more: fret till your proud heart break;
Go show your slaves how choleric you are,
BRUTUS And make your bondmen tremble. Must I budge?
Remember March, the ides of March remember: Must I observe you? must I stand and crouch
Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? Under your testy humour? By the gods
What villain touch'd his body, that did stab, You shall digest the venom of your spleen,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us Though it do split you; for, from this day forth,
That struck the foremost man of all this world I'll use you for my mirth, yea, for my laughter,
But for supporting robbers, shall we now When you are waspish.
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell the mighty space of our large honours CASSIUS
For so much trash as may be grasped thus? Is it come to this?
I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,
Than such a Roman. BRUTUS
You say you are a better soldier:
CASSIUS Let it appear so; make your vaunting true,
Brutus, bay not me; And it shall please me well: for mine own part,
I'll not endure it: you forget yourself, I shall be glad to learn of noble men.
To hedge me in; I am a soldier, I,
Older in practise, abler than yourself CASSIUS
To make conditions. You wrong me every way; you wrong me, Brutus;
I said, an elder soldier, not a better:
BRUTUS Did I say 'better'?
Go to; you are not, Cassius.
Extract 21- Act 4, Scene 3 (of 3) Summary:
Key Knowledge:
Cassius and Brutus make up just as Brutus is informed
BRUTUS Many Romans followed
the Greek philosophy of
of his wife’s death. Brutus reveals that Portia lost her
O Cassius, I am sick of many griefs. mind and killed herself by swallowing hot coals.
Stoicism. A Stoic man
should endure pain or Brutus is open with his emotions to Cassius, but as
CASSIUS soon as others enter, he appears to change and be
hardship without the
Of your philosophy you make no use, cold and unfeeling. It is clear that he doesn’t want to
display of feelings and
If you give place to accidental evils. without complaint. appear weak in front of his soldiers.

BRUTUS Cross’d: Insulted

No man bears sorrow better. Portia is dead. Insupportable: Unbearable
Tidings: Reports
CASSIUS Fell distract: Went mad
Ha! Portia! Swallow’d fire: Swallowed hot coals
Philippi: City in Macedonia (Modern day Greece)
BRUTUS Proscription: Banning
She is dead.
Shakespeare’s Technique!
CASSIUS Shakespeare uses dialogue to reveal Brutus’
How 'scaped I killing when I cross'd you so? character and relationships. In front of Cassius, he is
O insupportable and touching loss! ‘sick of many griefs’ but in front of his officers, he
Upon what sickness? switches off his emotions and won’t show his true
feelings. This shows Brutus’ leadership
BRUTUS characteristics- to his equal, he can be himself, but to
Impatient of my absence, his inferiors, he must put on a stoic front.
And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony
Have made themselves so strong:--for with her death
That tidings came;--with this she fell distract,
And, her attendants absent, swallow'd fire. Welcome, good Messala.
Now sit we close about this taper here,
CASSIUS Key Knowledge: And call in question our necessities.
And died so? It is common in Shakespeare’s
tragedies for women to lose CASSIUS
their minds or kill themselves.
BRUTUS Portia, art thou gone?
For example: Lady Macbeth
Even so. (Macbeth), Ophelia (Hamlet)
and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet). BRUTUS
CASSIUS No more, I pray you.
O ye immortal gods! Messala, I have here received letters,
That young Octavius and Mark Antony
Re-enter LUCIUS, with wine and taper Come down upon us with a mighty power,
Bending their expedition toward Philippi.
BRUTUS
Speak no more of her. Give me a bowl of wine. MESSALA
In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Myself have letters of the selfsame tenor.

CASSIUS BRUTUS
My heart is thirsty for that noble pledge. With what addition?
Fill, Lucius, till the wine o'erswell the cup;
I cannot drink too much of Brutus' love. MESSALA
That by proscription and bills of outlawry,
BRUTUS Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus,
Come in, Titinius! Have put to death an hundred senators.

Exit LUCIUS BRUTUS

Therein our letters do not well agree;
Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA Mine speak of seventy senators that died
By their proscriptions, Cicero being one.
CASSIUS
Cicero one!

MESSALA
Cicero is dead,
And by that order of proscription.
Had you your letters from your wife, my lord?

BRUTUS
No, Messala.

MESSALA
Nor nothing in your letters writ of her?

BRUTUS
Nothing, Messala.

MESSALA
That, methinks, is strange.

BRUTUS
Why ask you? hear you aught of her in yours?

MESSALA
No, my lord.

BRUTUS
Now, as you are a Roman, tell me true.

MESSALA
Then like a Roman bear the truth I tell:
For certain she is dead, and by strange manner.
Key Knowledge:
BRUTUS This is a stoic response
Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala: from Brutus. He says that
With meditating that she must die once, she was going to die
eventually, so that makes
I have the patience to endure it now. it more bearable.
Messala and Cassius
MESSALA praise him for his
Even so great men great losses should endure. emotional strength.

CASSIUS
I have as much of this in art as you,
But yet my nature could not bear it so.

BRUTUS
Well, to our work alive. What do you think
Of marching to Philippi presently?
Extract 22- Act 4, Scene 3 (of 3)

BRUTUS Summary:
It was well done; and thou shalt sleep again; Caesar’s ghost visits Brutus at night in his tent and
I will not hold thee long: if I do live, warns him that they will meet again on the
I will be good to thee. battlefield. This scene clearly foreshadows Brutus’
death at the end of the play.
Music, and a song
Taper: Fire torch
This is a sleepy tune. O murderous slumber, Apparition: Ghost
Lay'st thou thy leaden mace upon my boy, Thou: You
That plays thee music? Gentle knave, good night; Thee: You
I will not do thee so much wrong to wake thee: Ay: Yes
If thou dost nod, thou break'st thy instrument;
I'll take it from thee; and, good boy, good night. Shakespeare’s Technique!
Let me see, let me see; is not the leaf turn'd down Shakespeare uses adjectives and a metaphor to
Where I left reading? Here it is, I think. show Brutus’ fear at the sight of Caesar’s ghost.

Enter the Ghost of CAESAR Furthermore, Caesar’s ominous message that

Brutus shall see him at Philippi could foreshadow
How ill this taper burns! Ha! who comes here? Brutus’ death in battle.
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition.
It comes upon me. Art thou anything?
Art thou some god, some angel, or some devil,
That makest my blood cold and my hair to stare?
Speak to me what thou art.

GHOST
Thy evil spirit, Brutus.

BRUTUS
Why comest thou?

GHOST
To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.

BRUTUS
Well; then I shall see thee again?

GHOST
Ay, at Philippi.

BRUTUS
Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then.

Exit Ghost

Now I have taken heart thou vanishest:

Ill spirit, I would hold more talk with thee.
Boy, Lucius! Varro! Claudius! Sirs, awake! Claudius!
Extract 23– Act 5, Scene 1 (of 5) Summary:
Both armies meet on the battlefield. Antony has joined
The plains of Philippi. forces with Octavius (Caesar’s nephew) and they are
Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army clearly out to avenge Caesar. Antony and Octavius confront
Drum. Enter BRUTUS, CASSIUS, and their Army; LUCILIUS, Brutus and Cassius and heated words are exchanged.
TITINIUS, MESSALA, and others
Parley: Discussion Posture: Position
BRUTUS Fawn’d: Grovelled; begged Cur: Dog; mongrel
They stand, and would have parley. Bondman: Enslaved person Peevish: Easily annoyed
Masker: Fake Reveller: Partygoer
CASSIUS
Stand fast, Titinius: we must out and talk. Shakespeare’s Technique!
Shakespeare uses a range of similes to convey Antony’s
OCTAVIUS rage towards Brutus and Cassius. He compares them to
Mark Antony, shall we give sign of battle? ‘hounds’, ‘apes’ and ‘a cur’, implying that they killed Caesar
like wild animals without a shred of honour.
ANTONY
No, Caesar, we will answer on their charge.
Make forth; the generals would have some words. CASSIUS
Flatterers! Now, Brutus, thank yourself:
OCTAVIUS This tongue had not offended so to-day,
Stir not until the signal. If Cassius might have ruled.

BRUTUS OCTAVIUS
Words before blows: is it so, countrymen? Come, come, the cause: if arguing make us sweat,
The proof of it will turn to redder drops. Look;
OCTAVIUS I draw a sword against conspirators;
Not that we love words better, as you do. When think you that the sword goes up again?
Never, till Caesar's three and thirty wounds
BRUTUS Be well avenged; or till another Caesar
Good words are better than bad strokes, Octavius. Have added slaughter to the sword of traitors.

ANTONY BRUTUS
In your bad strokes, Brutus, you give good words: Caesar, thou canst not die by traitors' hands,
Witness the hole you made in Caesar's heart, Unless thou bring'st them with thee.
Crying 'Long live! hail, Caesar!'
OCTAVIUS
CASSIUS So I hope;
Antony, I was not born to die on Brutus' sword.
The posture of your blows are yet unknown;
But for your words, they rob the Hybla bees, BRUTUS
And leave them honeyless. O, if thou wert the noblest of thy strain,
Young man, thou couldst not die more honourable.
ANTONY Technique: This seems like a complicated
Not stingless too. metaphor, but it just means: your words CASSIUS
are as sweet as honey—you’ve stolen A peevish schoolboy, worthless of such honour,
from the bees and left them with nothing. Join'd with a masker and a reveller!
BRUTUS
O, yes, and soundless too;
For you have stol'n their buzzing, Antony, ANTONY
And very wisely threat before you sting. Old Cassius still!

ANTONY OCTAVIUS
Villains, you did not so, when your vile daggers Come, Antony, away!
Hack'd one another in the sides of Caesar: Defiance, traitors, hurl we in your teeth:
You show'd your teeth like apes, and fawn'd like hounds, If you dare fight to-day, come to the field;
And bow'd like bondmen, kissing Caesar's feet; If not, when you have stomachs.
Whilst damned Casca, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers! Exeunt OCTAVIUS, ANTONY, and their army
Extract 24- Act 5, Scene 3 (of 5) Summary:
On the battlefield, Cassius and Titinius believe that their army is
Another part of the field. losing, when in fact, they are winning. Cassius asks Titinius to go to
a group of soldiers from Antony’s army to see if they are his
Alarums. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS enemies. Cassius is mistakenly informed that the soldiers have
CASSIUS captured Titinius. Cassius can’t live with what he thinks he has
O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly! done, so he kills himself with the sword he used to stab Caesar.
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy: Unharmed, Titinius returns to tell Cassius that their army is
This ensign here of mine was turning back; actually winning, but he finds that Cassius has killed himself.
I slew the coward, and did take it from him. Titinius then kills himself out of loyalty to Cassius- he can’t bear to
be without him.
TITINIUS Shakespeare’s Technique!
O Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early; Fly: Run Shakespeare uses an
Who, having some advantage on Octavius, Ensign: Banner man (soldier) extended metaphor of a
Took it too eagerly: his soldiers fell to spoil, Ascends: Climbs up ‘setting sun’ to symbolise
Whilst we by Antony are all enclosed. Ta’en: Taken/ captured that Cassius’ life is over and
Hither: Here their chances of winning are
Enter PINDARUS Bondman: Enslaved person all but lost. The finality of
Melancholy: Sadness both deaths create a sense
PINDARUS Envenomed: Poisonous of tragedy as we head
Fly further off, my lord, fly further off; Misconstrued: Misunderstood towards the denouement.
Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord
Fly, therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off.
CASSIUS
What news?
CASSIUS
This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;
PINDARUS
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
[Above] Titinius is enclosed roundabout
With horsemen, that make to him on the spur;
TITINIUS
Yet he spurs on. Now they are almost on him.
They are, my lord.
Now, Titinius! Now some light. O, he lights too.
He's ta'en.
CASSIUS
Titinius, if thou lovest me,
Shout
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
And, hark! they shout for joy.
And here again; that I may rest assured
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
CASSIUS
Come down, behold no more.
TITINIUS
O, coward that I am, to live so long,
I will be here again, even with a thought.
To see my best friend ta'en before my face!
Exit
PINDARUS descends
CASSIUS
Come hither, Sirrah:
Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;
In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,
And tell me what thou notest about the field.
That whatsoever I did bid thee do,
Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;
PINDARUS ascends the hill
Now be a freeman: and with this good sword,
That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.
This day I breathed first: time is come round,
Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,
My life is run his compass. Sirrah, what news?
Guide thou the sword.
PINDARUS
PINDARUS stabs him
[Above] O my lord!
Caesar, thou art revenged, MESSALA
Even with the sword that kill'd thee. Seek him, Titinius, whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Dies Into his ears; I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel and darts envenomed
PINDARUS Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
So, I am free; yet would not so have been, As tidings of this sight.
Durst I have done my will. O Cassius,
Far from this country Pindarus shall run, TITINIUS
Where never Roman shall take note of him. Hie you, Messala,
And I will seek for Pindarus the while.
Exit
Exit MESSALA
Re-enter TITINIUS with MESSALA
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
MESSALA Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Put on my brows this wreath of victory,
Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power, And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their
As Cassius' legions are by Antony. shouts?
Alas, thou hast misconstrued everything!
TITINIUS But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
These tidings will well comfort Cassius. Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,
MESSALA And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.
Where did you leave him? By your leave, gods:--this is a Roman's part
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart.
TITINIUS
All disconsolate, Kills himself
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, CATO, STRATO,
MESSALA VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS
Is not that he that lies upon the ground?

TITINIUS
He lies not like the living. O my heart!

MESSALA
Is not that he?

TITINIUS
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more. O setting sun,
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to-night,
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set;
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;
Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.

MESSALA
Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.
O hateful error, melancholy's child,
Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O error, soon conceived,
Thou never comest unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee!

TITINIUS
What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
Extract 25- Act 5, Scene 5 (of 5) Summary:
In this final scene of the play, Brutus realises that he is in an
BRUTUS impossible situation. He makes the decision to kill himself as
Come, poor remains of friends, rest on this rock. this is the only honourable action left for him. Strato, a
soldier in Brutus’ army, holds Brutus’ sword whilst he runs
CLITUS on it.
Statilius show’d the torch-light; but, my lord,
He came not back: he is or ta’en or slain. Antony and Octavius find Brutus’ body and agree that he
was noble because he thought he was acting in the interest
BRUTUS. of Rome, however, they state that Brutus was the only
Sit thee down, Clitus: slaying is the word; honourable one and the rest of the conspirators acted
It is a deed in fashion. Hark thee, Clitus. dishnonourably and for their own gains. In order to keep
Brutus’ honour intact, they agree that he is the only
Whispering conspirator who deserves a proper funeral and rights.

CLITUS Tarry/ Tarrying: Remain/Remaining

What, I, my lord? No, not for all the world. Alarum: Horn/war sounds
Fly: Flee/run
BRUTUS. Attain: Conquer
Peace then! no words.

CLITUS Two several times by night; at Sardis once,

I’ll rather kill myself. And this last night here in Philippi fields:
I know my hour is come.
BRUTUS
Hark thee, Dardanius. VOLUMNIUS
Not so, my lord.
Whispers him
BRUTUS
DARDANIUS Nay I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Shall I do such a deed? Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:
CLITUS
O Dardanius! Low alarums

DARDANIUS It is more worthy to leap in ourselves

O Clitus! Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,
Thou know’st that we two went to school together;
CLITUS Even for that our love of old, I pr’ythee,
What ill request did Brutus make to thee? Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.

DARDANIUS VOLUMNIUS
To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates. That’s not an office for a friend, my lord.

CLITUS Alarums still

Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes. CLITUS
Fly, fly, my lord! there is no tarrying here.
BRUTUS
Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word. BRUTUS
Farewell to you;—and you;—and you, Volumnius.—
VOLUMNIUS Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
What says my lord? Farewell to thee too, Strato.—Countrymen,
My heart doth joy, that yet in all my life
BRUTUS I found no man but he was true to me.
Why, this, Volumnius: I shall have glory by this losing day,
The ghost of Caesar hath appear’d to me More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus’ tongue OCTAVIUS Shakespeare’s
Hath almost ended his life’s history: Do so, good Messala. Technique!
Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest Shakespeare uses
That have but labour’d to attain this hour. MESSALA a superlative
How died my master, Strato? when Antony
Alarums. Cry within, “Fly, fly, fly!” describes Brutus
STRATO as the ‘noblest’.
CLITUS I held the sword, and he did run This conveys his
Fly, my lord, fly! on it. respect for Brutus
and restores
BRUTUS MESSALA Brutus’ honour,
Hence! I will follow.— Octavius, then take him to follow completing the
thee, cyclical structure
Exeunt Clitus, Dardanius, and Volumnius That did the latest service to my of Brutus having
master. honour, losing it,
I pr’ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord: and then
Thou art a fellow of a good respect; ANTONY regaining it.
Thy life hath had some smack of honour in it: This was the noblest Roman of
Hold, then, my sword, and turn away thy face, them all:
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato? All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;
STRATO He only, in a general-honest thought
Give me your hand first: fare you well, my lord. And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle; and the elements
BRUTUS So mix’d in him that Nature might stand up
Farewell, good Strato.—Caesar, now be still: And say to all the world, “This was a man!”
I kill’d not thee with half so good a will.
OCTAVIUS
He runs on his sword, and dies. According to his virtue let us use him
With all respect and rites of burial.
Alarum. Retreat. Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie,
Most like a soldier, order’d honorably.—
Enter Octavius, Antony, Messala, Lucilius, and Army So, call the field to rest; and let’s away,
To part the glories of this happy day.
OCTAVIUS
What man is that? THE END Key Knowledge:
According to Roman
MESSALA mythology, these ‘rights
My master’s man.—Strato, where is thy master? of burial’ will grant
Brutus access to an
honourable afterlife in
STRATO Key Knowledge:
the fields of Elysium
Free from the bondage you are in, Messala: ‘Roman Fool’
(Roman heaven).
The conquerors can but make a fire of him; ‘A Roman Fool’ refers to someone
For Brutus only overcame himself, who commits suicide in an
impossible/ hopeless situation. It is
And no man else hath honour by his death.
seen as an honourable thing for a
soldier to do.
LUCILIUS
So Brutus should be found.—I thank thee, Brutus, It is interesting that Cassius had
That thou hast proved Lucilius’ saying true. someone else stab him, whereas,
Brutus runs on his own sword. This
OCTAVIUS once again highlights Cassius’
All that served Brutus, I will entertain them.— cowardice and lack of honour.
Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
The ‘Roman Fool’ is referred to in
later plays, such as Macbeth. (In
STRATO
the final scenes, Macbeth says
Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
‘Must I play the Roman Fool?’
when he realises that he is
doomed, but he fights instead.