William Shakespeare

Julius Caesar
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1599

The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a history play and tragedy written by William Shakespeare and
first performed in 1599. The play dramatizes the events surrounding the 44 BCE assassination
of Julius Caesar, a Roman general and statesman. Shakespeare’s main source material for the
play was Plutarch’s Lives, a series of biographies of famous men, published in the second
century CE and translated into English by Thomas North in 1579. Shakespeare sometimes
deviated from his source material, presumably to make it easier to stage the play without having
to explain long intervals of time in between the story’s main events.

Julius Caesar is one of four Shakespearean tragedies set in Ancient Rome, alongside Antony
and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, and Titus Andronicus. Its setting in the waning days of the Roman
Republic informs its thematic interests, which include the dangers of tyranny, the nature of
political virtue, The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric in civic life, and How Hubric Can Lead to
One's Downfall.

Film Adaptations
Julius Caesar is one of the most famous and most often performed of Shakespeare’s tragedies.
It has been adapted for film many times, most famously in a 1953 version starring Marlon
Brando and James Mason. Its cultural impact is evidenced by its many oft-repeated lines,
including “Beware the ides of March,” “Friends, Romans, countrymen,” and “Et tu, Brute?”

Plot Summary
Caesar marches into Rome after defeating the sons of his rival, Pompey, in battle. As he
parades through the city, a soothsayer—a person who tells the future—tells Caesar to “beware
the Ides of March,” meaning the 15th of March, a holiday that represents the paying off of debts.
Caesar dismisses the warning. Although Caesar secretly wants to rule Rome as a monarch, he
presents himself as uninterested in becoming king. Fearing the public’s reaction to his
ascension to the throne, Caesar denies the crown three times when Mark Antony, one of his
generals and supporters, presents it to him.

Meanwhile, Roman Senator Caius Cassius plots Caesar’s assassination, manipulating senators
who are unsure, like Brutus and Casca, to join the conspiracy. He and his fellow Roman senator
conspirators are nervous about what Caesar would do with more power; they believe his
ambition makes him dangerous to the future of Rome as a free republic. Brutus is ambivalent
about getting rid of Caesar, as they are close friends and Brutus believes Caesar is a good man.
Nevertheless, he ultimately decides that killing Caesar is the only way to save Rome from
possible tyranny.

As the conspirators decide how they will kill Caesar, Caesar himself feels a sense of foreboding.
He almost decides to stay at home on the 15th of March but ultimately decides it would be weak
to do so due to bad omens alone. Caesar ignores warnings from soothsayers, priests, and even
his wife, Calpurnia, who dreamed of his death.

The conspirators distract Mark Antony, who would come to Caesar’s aid if he were present.
Cimber, one of the conspirators, pleads to Caesar for his brother to be able to return to Rome
from exile, but Caesar tells him he will not allow his brother back without reason. Brutus,
Cassius, and others prostrate themselves before Caesar, which confuses him. It is all a
distraction, as Casca strikes the first blow and stabs Caesar, with Brutus striking last. Caesar,
shocked by Brutus's betrayal, then dies.

Devastated by the death of Caesar, Mark Antony is careful how he acts around the conspirators
lest they decide to do away with him as well. He burns for revenge but keeps those feelings a
secret.

Although the conspirators agree to let Mark Antony publicly eulogize Caesar, they insist Brutus
explain their actions first. Brutus explains to the public that Caesar’s death was for the good of
Rome—his ambition was dangerous. He proclaims that while Caesar was good and honorable,
Brutus would do anything for Rome, even murder his best friend. The public praises him and
claims he should be the next Caesar, but Brutus brushes this off.

Mark Antony then gives his eulogy. He reminds the crowd of Caesar’s goodness and generosity
toward the Roman citizens, saying that although Brutus claims Caesar was ambitious, Caesar
behaved in a way that was not markedly ambitious. Manipulatively, he reminds the crowd not to
blame Brutus, as he is honorable as well. The public begins to wonder if the conspirators
betrayed Caesar.
Antony takes advantage of their reaction and shows them the wounds on Caesar’s body. The
crowd begins to rally against the conspirators. Antony holds them off to tell them that Caesar’s
will dictates that upon his death every Roman citizen shall receive 75 drachmas. The crowd
then descends into chaos.

The play moves to Mark Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, the future leaders of Rome in the
Second Triumvirate. There is some tension between Octavius and Mark Antony.

Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius meet again, somewhat at odds. Brutus accuses Cassius of
taking bribes, soiling Brutus’s belief that their murder of Caesar was noble. They argue but
ultimately reconcile, as Brutus declares he has no emotional strength left after his wife Portia’s
death by suicide. They speak of the inevitable war coming against Antony and Octavius. When
Brutus goes to sleep that night, he is met by the ghost of Caesar, who tells Brutus he will see
him at Philippi, where the battle will take place.

The battle then begins. With defeat all but certain, Cassius and Brutus agree they will not be led
through Rome in chains and depart from each other. Distraught after hearing that his best friend
Titinius is captured, Cassius forces his servant to kill him, remarking that Caesar is avenged.
Titinius, who had not really been captured, returns and dies by suicide at the sight of his best
friend’s body.

Brutus survives the battle, but he knows his side has lost. He ultimately dies by suicide on his
own sword, held by a servant; his sense of honor will not allow him to be led away as a captive.
Antony and Octavius discover Brutus’s body. Antony praises Brutus as a noble man and the
only one of the conspirators who had a selfless reason for killing Caesar. The play ends with
Octavius’s call to celebrate the outcome of the day.

Acts I-II
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Act I, Scene 1 Summary
Flavius, a soldier, and Murellus, a tribune, ask a group of commoners why they are celebrating.
A cobbler tells them they are celebrating Caesar’s triumph over Pompey. Murellus chastises
them for their hypocrisy; not long ago, the plebeians loved and celebrated Pompey. Flavius and
Murellus break up the celebrations, telling the citizens to pray to the gods against their
ingratitude. They set off to the temple of Jupiter to remove any adornments left by Caesar’s
followers.
Act I, Scene 2 Summary
Julius Caesar, his wife Calpurnia, and Mark Antony enter the town square in preparation to
celebrate Lupercalia. Caesar asks Mark Antony, who is running in the festival, to touch
Calpurnia as he passes; he says it is a remedy for sterility. A soothsayer in the crowd bids
Caesar to “[b]eware the ides of March” (I.2.19). Caesar ignores the warning. Everyone leaves
except senators Decius Brutus and Caius Cassius.

Cassius notes that Brutus seems less friendly lately. Brutus admits that he feels conflicted.
Cassius uses this as an opportunity to discuss Caesar. They hear a flourish of trumpets; Brutus
says, “What means this shouting? I do fear the people/ Choose Caesar for king” (I.2.81).
Although he loves Caesar, he values the Roman Republic and weighs honor equally with death.
Cassius reminds Brutus that Caesar is a mere mortal like them; it amazes him that “[a] man of
such a feeble temper should/ So get the start of the majestic world,/ And bear the palm alone”
(I.2.31-33).

More trumpets sound, and Brutus worries it indicates more honors given to Caesar. Cassius
tells Brutus that men were once masters of their fates; it is their fault for following Caesar and
giving him so much power. He adds that Caesar has become dangerous to the republic. Brutus
says he will consider Cassius’s argument. He would rather be a peasant than subject to a
dictator.

When Caesar arrives, Brutus and Cassius note that something looks amiss. Caesar tells Mark
Antony that he distrusts Cassius because he looks too lean and ambitious. Brutus and Cassius
pull Casca, the tribune of the plebs, aside; the rest leave.

According to Casca, the three instances of shouting and fanfare were, indeed, related to
Caesar. Antony offered Caesar the crown three times, and Caesar refused three times.
However, Casca believes each refusal was more reluctant than the last. At the third refusal,
Caesar fell into a swoon—he is epileptic. The episode makes him even more endearing to the
crowd. Casca reports that Murellus and Flavius have been fired for removing Caesar’s regalia
from the temple.
Alone on stage, Cassius soliloquizes his desire to turn Brutus against Caesar. He vows, “after
this, let Caesar seat himself sure,/ For we will shake him or worse days endure” (1.2.315-316).

Act I, Scene 3 Summary

Amid thunder and lightning, Casca and a senator named Cicero run into each other on the
street. Casca is terrified at the violence of the storm. He tells Cicero of a series of ominous
signs: a slave with a burning hand, a lion near the Capitol, a crowd of men on fire, and an owl
screeching in the marketplace at noon. Cicero acknowledges the strange events but does not
believe they are necessarily portentous. Cicero leaves.

Cassius enters. He views the storm as a positive sign for good Romans; he believes they are
warnings to bring the state’s problems to light. Casca guesses that this is a reference to Caesar,
as the Senate is set to establish Caesar as king tomorrow. Cassius blames Rome, which he
calls trash and offal, for enabling Caesar. Cassius and Casca form a conspiracy to remove
Caesar form power.

Cinna, who is sympathetic to Cassius’s cause, enters. Cassius gives Cinna a letter to place on
Brutus’s Praetor’s chair and another to throw in his window and affix to Old Brutus’s statue.
They will reconvene at Pompey’s theater.

Act II, Scene 1 Summary

Brutus calls from his orchard for his attendant Lucius to bring him a candle. Brutus knows
Caesar to be a rational man who does not let his passions get the best of him. Still, he worries
that Caesar will be corrupted by power if given the crown. Lucius returns with a sealed letter he
found in Brutus’s study. Brutus asks Lucius to check the calendar and see if tomorrow is the
Ides of March. He reads the letter, which is an attempt to convince him that Caesar must be
removed from power. Brutus reflects that if Caesar’s removal were the will of the Roman people,
he would support it. Brutus has not slept since Cassius incited him against Caesar.

The conspirators—Cassius, Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius convene. Cassius
wants them to swear an oath, but Brutus argues that it is not necessary because their honesty
and honor are stronger than any oath. They decide to leave Cicero out of the conspiracy.
Cassius argues that they should kill Mark Antony along with Caesar, due to their close
relationship, but Brutus contends that doing so would make their enterprise seem too bloody
and vindictive. Brutus tells him, “Let’s 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” (2.1.166-168).
The clock strikes three in the morning. Cassius fears Caesar, who has become more
superstitious, will heed the signs and stay inside. Decius plans to use flattery to draw Caesar
out. Everyone but Brutus exits.

Portia, Brutus’s wife, enters and questions him about his recent melancholy behavior. Brutus
says he is ill, but Portia guesses, “You have some sick offence within your mind,/ Which by the
right and virtue of my place/ I ought to know of” (2.1.267-269). Her entreaty is interrupted by the
arrival of Caius Ligarius, a Roman general. Brutus tells Ligarius he will fill him in on the details of
the conspiracy.

Act II, Scene 2 Summary

After Calpurnia dreams of her husband’s murder. Caesar sends a servant to ask the priests to
give sacrifice to the gods and report the results. Calpurnia begs Caesar not to leave the house;
however, Caesar believes that the omens are as much for the general population as they are for
him. The servant returns, telling them the priests augured that he should not leave. Caesar
remains arrogantly obstinate, but Calpurnia begs him. He finally agrees to have Mark Antony tell
the Senate that he is ill.

Decius enters. He interprets Calpurnia’s dream as a positive omen and plays on Caesar’s
courage to convince him to go to the Senate after all. Cassius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus,
Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna enter, followed by Mark Antony. They leave for the Senate
together.

Act II, Scene 3 Summary

Artemidorus, the diviner, reads a letter he wrote to Caesar warning him to beware of Cassius,
Brutus, and the rest of the conspirators. He plans to give Caesar the letter. If Caesar reads it, he
will live.

Act II, Scene 4 Summary

Portia asks Lucius to go to the Senate to observe what happens. A soothsayer enters; he plans
to make an appeal to Caesar at the capital. After the soothsayer leaves, Portia is weak with
anxiety over Brutus.

Acts I-II Analysis

Acts I and II of Julius Caesar set the scene of an empire on the precipice of chaos. Julius
Caesar has returned triumphant from his campaign against the Gauls and civil war against
fellow Roman Consul, Pompey. Roman society was divided into two main classes, the
patricians—nobles and aristocrats—and the plebeians or commoners. The patricians are
represented by most of the characters in the play—Brutus, Cassius, Mark Antony, Caesar, and
others—while the plebeians are typically nameless. However, the struggle to gain the favor of
the average Roman citizen underscores much of the conflict in the play, particularly between
Mark Antony and Brutus.

At the time the play is set, the Roman government was a republic overseen by the Senate,
which was headed by two consuls. When Caesar returned from Gaul, Pompey’s power was
fading. Caesar was appointed consul and, along with Marcus Crassus, formed what is known as
the First Triumvirate. Pompey’s defeat at Caesar’s hands sent him into exile in Egypt, where he
was assassinated. Caesar’s military prowess and the riches he brought back to the empire
made him incredibly popular with the plebeians. This is best shown in this section of the play by
the fanfare with which Mark Antony’s three attempts at coronating Caesar are met. Caesar has
also decorated the temples of the city with his own regalia celebrating his triumph, which also
evidences a symbolic grab for power. This causes friction between Caesar and other members
of the Senate. To Cassius especially, Caesar seems power hungry. While individual
representatives of the Senate were occasionally given the power of dictatorship, this was
intended to be temporary. If Caesar were to seize this power and refuse to relinquish it, it would
mean the end of the Roman Republic.

While the play is titled The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, it can easily be argued that Brutus, not
Caesar, is the play’s tragic hero. In a classic sense, a tragedy is a play about a generally noble
person who has a tragic flaw that leads to his or her downfall by the end of the plot. In the
theater of Ancient Greece, this was known as hamartia. Caesar is indeed flawed. He is arrogant
and steeped in hubris; he refuses to listen to the soothsayer who tells him to beware the Ides of
March; he ignores the ominous signs plaguing the streets of Rome; and he ignores the
prophetic dream of his wife, Calpurnia. Brutus, on the other hand, is a noble man who faces a
tragic dilemma. He is torn between his love of Caesar, whom he views as a good friend and
father figure, and his love for the freedom of the Roman Republic. Even before Cassius draws
him into the conspiracy to take Caesar’s life, Brutus has his misgivings about Caesar. Though it
pains him greatly, Brutus’s honor compels him to put his love for the Republic above his own
feelings, even if it means sacrificing himself to the cause of freedom.

Act III
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Act III, Scene 1 Summary
Artemidorus, the soothsayer, and citizens enter on one side of the stage; Caesar, the
conspirators, and other senators enter on the other. Artemidorus tries in vain to get Caesar to
read his letter. Brutus and Cassius fear that the other senators have discovered their plot.
Trebonius persuades Mark Antony to leave.
Metellus Cimber is the first to approach Caesar; he asks Caesar to revoke the banishment of his
brother. Brutus and Cassius join Cimber in his entreaty. Caesar remains unmoved. The
conspirators beg him. Casca moves forward and says, “Speak hands for me” (3.1.76). They
stab Caesar. Caesar says, “Et tu Brute?—Then fall Caesar” (3.1.77). He dies.

Chaos ensues. Brutus bids the conspirators to dip their hands and weapons in Caesar’s blood
then go out chanting about liberty and freedom. Mark Antony’s servant enters. He wishes to
know the reason why Caesar was killed; if it is sound, Mark Antony will support Brutus. Brutus
promises that Mark Antony will not be harmed if he returns to the Senate.

Mark Antony enters and laments Caesar’s death. He tells them that if they want to kill him, they
should do it now. Brutus assures him that they bear him no ill will; they killed Caesar out of fear
for the Republic. Mark Antony shakes their hands, feeling conflicted: he does not want to be
seen as a coward or a flatterer. He only asks that they give him their reasons for killing Caesar
and that his body be removed to the marketplace for the people to see. Brutus assents, but
Cassius warns him against letting Mark Antony give Caesar a funerary oration. Brutus
convinces Mark Antony to agree not to speak ill of the conspirators or else he will have no part
in the funeral. Mark Antony agrees.

All exit but Mark Antony who prophesizes great bloodshed in Rome. Octavius Caesar’s servant
enters, and Mark Antony bids him to tell Octavius to go far from Rome, as it is not safe for him.
In the meantime, Mark Antony will test the citizens’ attitude.

Act III, Scene 2 Summary

The crowd of plebeians demand an explanation for Caesar’s assassination. Brutus and Cassius
divide the crowd. Brutus calls on the crowd to believe him for his honor that he loved Caesar. He
tells them he killed Caesar “not that I loved Caesar less, but that/ I loved Rome more”
(3.2.20-21). Moreover, Brutus adds, he killed Caesar for his ambition to subjugate Rome as a
tyrant. He contends that no one in the crowd would assent to becoming a slave, and the crowd
agrees. Mark Antony enters, bearing Caesar’s body. He begs the crowd to listen to Mark
Antony, and he exits.

With the crowd firmly on Brutus’s side, Mark Antony addresses them. He says, “I come to bury
Caesar, not to praise him” (3.2.71). He describes Caesar’s positive contributions to Rome while
repeatedly telling the crowd that “Brutus is an honourable man” (3.2.91). He reminds them that
Caesar refused the crown three times on Lupercalia. In tears, he questions why they do not
mourn for Caesar.
Mark Antony’s speech moves the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators. Mark Antony
produces Caesar’s will, which he allows the crowd to persuade him to read. They gather around
Caesar’s body, and Antony points out where the conspirators’ knives entered it. As he uncovers
the body for dramatic effect, the plebeians clamor for revenge. Mark Antony appeases them
until he can read the will: Caesar left each Roman citizen 75 Greek silver coins known as
drachmas. Furthermore, he left his orchards and gardens for common use. The citizens are
enraged at Caesar’s murder. They leave to burn down the conspirators’ houses.

Meanwhile, Mark Antony leaves to meet with Octavius and Lepidus.

Act III, Scene 3 Summary

The angry mob of plebeians comes across Cinna the poet. Mistaking him for Cinna the
conspirator, they attack and kill him before seeking out Brutus and Cassius.

Act III Analysis

Julius Caesar’s death in the first scene of Act III has caused many scholars to regard Brutus,
not Caesar, as the tragic hero of the play. There is evidence for both arguments. As previously
stated, Caesar’s tragic flaw is his arrogance over his own invulnerability. He repeatedly ignores
signs pointing to his death. Had he heeded the omens, Calpurnia’s dream, the priests’
divination, or Artemidorus’s letter, he may have survived the day. Unlike the arrogant Caesar,
Brutus is fundamentally a good and trusting man who wants what is best for the Roman
Republic, even if it means killing the man who is most dear to him in his life. Unfortunately, he is
too trusting. For example, he believes Mark Antony when he says he will not incite the plebeians
against Brutus and Cassius.

Elsewhere, Mark Antony’s speech to the plebeians is a famous example of the power of
rhetorical persuasion. His line “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears” is often
quoted, imitated, and parodied in popular culture (3.2.70). It is a direct echo of the opening line
to Brutus’s earlier speech: “Romans, countrymen, lovers, hear me for my cause” (3.2.13).
Brutus’s defense of assassinating Caesar is rooted in the ethos of honor and freedom. His
argument poses two possible scenarios for the Roman Republic: Caesar lives, and the
plebeians become servants to a tyrant, thus ending the republic; or, Caesar dies, and although
Brutus and the plebeians mourn him, they remain free citizens. Brutus’s argument is sound; it
sways the crowd to his side through logic and Brutus’s reputation as an honorable man.
Mark Antony’s speech, on the other hand, makes many appeals to pathos, systematically
dismantling Brutus’s actions by reminding the crowd that “Brutus is an honourable man,/ So are
they all, all honourable men” over and over (3.2.79-80). Antony’s argument is based on the good
deeds Caesar performed for the glory of Rome. While he claims, “I speak not to disprove what
Brutus spoke” (3.2.90), his words have that exact effect on the crowd. By playing on emotions
such as grief (weeping over Caesar’s coffin and using the dramatic pause to let his words sink
in) and shock (dramatically revealing Caesar’s wounded and blood-soaked corpse), he incites
the crowd to violence. Antony effectively uses rhetoric to manipulate the crowd to get revenge
on Brutus, Cassius, and the others, without ever directly telling them to do so.

Acts IV-V
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Act IV, Scene 1 Summary
Mark Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius plan their next move. They mark names down for
execution, and Lepidus goes to fetch Caesar’s will so they can reduce the amount paid out to
Caesar’s beneficiaries. Mark Antony questions Lepidus’s qualifications to govern. He also
suggests to Octavius that they use him and later cut him off from his share of power. Finally, he
tells Octavius that Brutus and Cassius are amassing forces and that they must raise an army to
protect themselves.

Act IV, Scene 2 Summary

Lucilius and Titinius, two men loyal to the conspirators, meet Brutus and his army near Sardis.
Cassius is nearby. Brutus confides in Lucilius that he is beginning to distrust Cassius. Cassius
and his armies arrive.

Act IV, Scene 3 Summary

Brutus and Cassius confront each other. Cassius is angry that Brutus condemning Lucius Pella
for taking bribes; Brutus retorts that Cassius himself has taken bribes. He calls out Cassius’s
hypocrisy for doing so: they killed Caesar for justice, yet Cassius does not act justly.

Brutus also calls out Cassius for failing to help him raise money for his army, which Cassius
denies doing. Cassius is heartbroken: he feels betrayed by Brutus. He wants Mark Antony and
Octavius to come kill him, and he even offers Brutus his dagger to do the job himself. Brutus
tells him to put the knife away, and they agree that they were both ill-tempered. They embrace
each other.

Brutus and Cassius drink wine together. Cassius confesses he is surprised that Brutus was so
quick to anger. Brutus reveals that Portia, under enormous stress by Brutus’s frequent absences
from Rome, swallowed embers to die by suicide. Cassius is horrified.
Titinius and the messenger Messala arrive. They received letters that “by proscription and bills
of outlawry/ Octavius, Antony and Lepidus/ Have put to death an hundred senators” (4.2.25-28).
Cicero is one of them. Messala tells Brutus that Portia is dead, which he already knows. Brutus
responds by saying, “Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala./ With meditating that she
must die once,/ I have the patience to endure it now” (4.2.242-244). Brutus manages to
convince the others that they should march on Philippi since their armies are fresh and ready,
rather than wait for the Triumvirate’s forces to come to them. They bid each other farewell, and
everyone but Brutus exits.

Brutus summons two of his men, Varrus and Claudio, to sleep in the tent. He has Lucius play
music for him until Lucius and the others fall asleep. Caesar’s ghost enters. It introduces itself
as Brutus’s evil spirit. It tells him that they will meet again at Philippi. Brutus awakens Lucius,
Varrus, and Claudio. None of them saw the ghost. Brutus sends them to tell Cassius to lead his
army out, and Brutus will follow

Act V, Scene 1 Summary

Mark Antony and Octavius prepare to meet Cassius and Brutus in battle. In a parlay before they
fight, the leaders exchange insults; Antony again blames them for killing Caesar. Octavius
draws his sword and says he will sheath it “Never till Caesar’s three and thirty wounds/ Be well
avenged, or till another Caesar/ Have added slaughter to the swords of traitors” (5.1.53-55).
Cassius calls him a silly schoolboy.

After the parlay, Cassius tells Messala that it is his birthday today. He says that, as a follower of
Epicurus, he did not believe in omens until he saw two eagles abandon his army, only to be
replaced by scavenger birds. Cassius asks Brutus, who does not believe in dying by suicide,
what he will do if they lose the battle. Uncertain of what the future will bring, Brutus and Cassius
bid each other a final farewell.

Act V, Scene 2 Summary

Brutus orders Messala to tell Cassius’s wing of the army to attack Octavius’s army. He thinks
they seem to lack a fighting spirit.

Act V, Scene 3 Summary

As Brutus feared, Cassius’s men flee from battle. Having slain his standard-bearer, Cassius now
holds his standard himself. He sends Titinius and the bondsman Pindarus off and reflects that
he will die on his birthday. Pindarus returns to report that Titinius is captured. Distressed that his
best friend may be dead, he asks Pindarus, who owes him a debt, to kill him. Pindarus stabs
Cassius who says “Caesar, thou art revenged,/ Even with the sword that killed me” (5.3.44-45).
He dies.

Titinius, wearing a victory wreath, returns with Messala. Brutus’s forces beat Octavius’s, but
Mark Antony’s beat Cassius’s. Titinius is heartbroken to find Cassius dead on the ground.
Titinius says he will seek Pindarus while Messala goes to Brutus. When Messala leaves, Titinius
puts the laurel wreath on Cassius’s head and kills himself with Cassius’s sword.

Brutus, Messala, and others enter the scene. Brutus laments that Cassius and Titinius are the
best of all Romans. He sends their bodies to the island of Thasos so their funerals will not
dishearten the troops. They prepare for a second battle.

Act V, Scene 4 Summary

Brutus rallies his troops, and the armies clash. His brother-in-law Cato dies, and Lucilius is
captured by Mark Antony’s soldiers who think he is Brutus. Lucilius says that Brutus will not be
captured alive. Mark Antony orders his men to treat Lucilius kindly. He tells a soldier to find out if
Brutus is alive and to bring the news to Octavius’s tent.

Act V, Scene 5 Summary

Brutus asks several of his officers to kill him. They are reluctant. Brutus reveals to them his
experience with Caesar’s ghost. He is certain he will die on the fields of Philippi. He manages to
convince Strato, one of his soldiers, to hold his sword while Brutus runs onto it. In his dying
breath, he says, “Caesar now be still./ I killed not thee with half so good a will” (5.5.50-51).

Brutus’s soldiers retreat. Mark Antony and Octavius enter with Messala and Lucilius. Strato tells
them only Brutus conquered himself. Octavius takes Brutus’s men into his service with no ill will.
Mark Antony laments that Brutus was the only conspirator who acted truly in the service of
Rome.

Acts IV-V Analysis

Shakespeare collapses the history of the months following the death of Julius Caesar into a
span of a few days. Act V brings the events of Julius Caesar to their tragic conclusion as
Rome’s leadership splits into two factions: the Liberators and conspirators led by Brutus and
Cassius, and the Caesarian faction, led by Mark Antony and Caesar’s legal heir, Octavius
Caesar. Though Octavius Caesar is a minor character in Julius Caesar, he figured prominently
in history as Emperor Augustus, the first Roman Emperor. This shows the tragic irony of
Cassius and Brutus’s actions: though they fought for the independence of the Roman people in
the face of dictatorship, their actions hastened the end of the Republic and help Rome become
a dictatorship that lasted for hundreds of years.

More omens in Act V bode ill for Cassius and Brutus, who have raised armies against Antony
and Octavius. Cassius sees his armies abandoned by eagles that had habitually landed on his
flagpoles, only to be replaced by carrion birds. Brutus becomes the recipient of such an omen
when he sees Caesar’s ghost in Act IV, Scene 2. The ghost is both a portent of Brutus’s death
and a manifestation of the guilt that Brutus carries from betraying his good friend.

Finally, Brutus and Cassius’s deaths by suicide in Act V are indicative of their values. While
Cassius’s motives throughout the play seem less than noble, he has his own moral code that
motivates him and redeems his character somewhat. The underlying precept of that code is his
great love for his friends. When he and Brutus nearly have a falling out, he emotionally begs his
friend for forgiveness, indicating the great value he places on Brutus. In addition, he does not
die in battle against his adversaries. Rather, he dies because he believes his best friend,
Titinius, has fallen in battle. By contrast, Brutus is more stoic than Cassius in his decision to end
his life. Dying by suicide is a last resort for Brutus; he did not wish to die until he had tried his
utmost to win the day. When it is evident that the tides of battle turned decisively in Antony and
Octavius’s favor, he dies rather than risk losing honor as a captive. This, to Mark Antony,
cements Brutus as the ideal Roman: true to his ideals and willing to die in the name of his
country.

Character Analysis
Marcus Brutus
Brutus is a patrician Roman senator who is notable for his rigid honor and sense of virtue.
Brutus is the most famous conspirator in Shakespeare’s version of Caesar’s assassination.
Brutus and Caesar shared a close friendship, making Brutus’s betrayal more significant than
that of the other senators. Brutus can be considered the tragic hero of the play. His tragic flaw is
his adherence to his sense of justice, which puts him at odds with Mark Antony after Caesar’s
death and ultimately leads to his death by suicide. Antony praises Brutus after his death, saying,
“This was the noblest Roman of all” because he turned against Caesar for the good of the
republic, rather than personal gain (5.5.67).

The conflict Brutus faces stems from the fact that he logically knows that Caesar presents an
existential threat to Rome, yet he does not wish to turn against a friend. Cassius convinces
Brutus that Caesar’s death is for the greater good. Brutus gets the other conspirators to agree
not to kill Mark Antony, even though he presents a danger to them due to his loyalty to Caesar.
Following the assassination, Brutus takes on a leadership role, addressing the mob of plebeians
alone to convince them that Caesar needed to be killed for the good of the Republic. He is
initially successful, but Mark Antony turns the crowd against them. Brutus and Cassius raise
armies against Mark Anthony and Octavius, Caesar’s heir. However, Brutus is visited by the
ghost of Caesar, a manifestation of his own guilt for killing a friend, foreshadowing his downfall
on the fields of Philippi. When his army is routed, Brutus dies to avoid the dishonor of being
captured.

Caius Cassius
Cassius is a Roman Senator and the conspirator who convinces Brutus to turn against Julius
Caesar. While Caesar trusts Brutus, he is more wary of Cassius, noting to Mark Antony that
“Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look./ He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous”
(1.2.195-196). This indicates that Cassius is power-hungry and that Caesar is right to distrust
him.

A patrician, Cassius looks down upon the plebeians, whom he blames for putting Caesar in a
position of power. While Brutus is concerned about preserving the Roman Republic, Cassius is
selfish and angry that the public loves and venerates Caesar. He uses underhanded means to
convince Brutus of Caesar’s guilt, such as using flattery and forging letters supposedly from the
public that address grievances toward Caesar (1566).

After the assassination, Cassius urges Brutus not to allow Mark Antony to deliver a funerary
oration. This turns out to be shrewd advice: Mark Antony manages to turn the plebeians against
the conspirators, precipitating a civil war with Cassius and Brutus pitted against Octavius and
Mark Antony. Cassius is shown to be a hypocrite for using his position for money; this briefly
causes a schism between Cassius and Brutus. Despite his flaws, Cassius is a loyal friend.
During the battle with Mark Antony and Octavius’s forces, Cassius sends Titinius on a scouting
mission. When he thinks Titinius has fallen in battle, he says, “O coward that I am, to live so
long/ To see my best friend ta’en before my face!” (5.3.34-35). Cassius dies by suicide with the
same sword he used on Caesar.

Julius Caesar
A Roman Consul and populist dictator, Julius Caesar is the figure around whom the action of the
play revolves, even though he is assassinated in Act III. Caesar is a celebrated general. His
exploits include subjugating Gaul and defeating his fellow Consul, Pompey, in a civil war.
Despite his popularity among the plebeians, the patrician senators, particularly Cassius, are
wary of his rise to power. During the festival of Lupercalia, Mark Antony offers him kingship
three times. Though Caesar refuses, the Senate plans to coronate him the next day on the Ides
of March. Caesar is not assassinated for what he has done. Rather, he is killed for what he
might have been capable of—or, as Brutus puts it, for his ambition.
Caesar is a figure of great hubris. His pride and arrogance render him blind to the dangers
around him. Though he seems suspicious of Cassius, Caesar does not act upon this suspicion.
He is warned to “Beware the ides of March” by a soothsayer on Lupercalia, a portent he
casually dismisses (1.2.19). Moreover, he refuses to heed other omens and warnings, including
those given by Artemidorus and his own wife, Calpurnia. Caesar’s ghost later visits Brutus to
punish his “evil spirit” (4.2.333).

Mark Antony
Roman General Mark Antony is Caesar’s chief supporter in the play. He is trusting and loyal, but
also opportunistic. A skillful orator, he is well-known to the plebeians. As Caesar’s biggest
supporter, he offers Caesar the crown three times on Lupercalia; Antony later presents Caesar’s
three refusals as evidence against Brutus’s allegation that Caesar was ambitious. Mark Antony
misguidedly defends Cassius when Caesar voices his distrust of the Senator; he believes that
Cassius is noble and thus trustworthy. Brutus underestimates Antony, which proves to be a fatal
mistake: his choice to spare Mark Antony against Cassius’s wishes leads to the battle that
culminates in Brutus and Cassius’s deaths. Though he is loyal to Caesar, Antony uses the
power vacuum following his death as an opportunity to seize power alongside Octavius,
Caesar’s heir.

Themes
How Hubris Can Lead to One’s Downfall
Caesar’s tragic flaw is his hubris or excessive arrogance. Hubris is a common character trait of
tragic figures in drama, from Sophocles to Shakespeare. Throughout the play, Caesar is warned
by many individuals and omens to “Beware the ides of March” (1.2.19). He is given warnings
both divine—the storm, ghosts walking the streets of Rome—and human—Calpurnia’s dream,
Artemidorus’s warning—and he ignores them all.

Caesar is a larger-than-life figure who recognizes his own status in his society. He has
accomplished much, but he is not invulnerable. When confronted with the danger of his
situation, he scoffs and says, “Danger knows full well/ That Caesar is more dangerous than he./
We are two lions littered in one day,/ And I the elder and more terrible” (2.2.44-48). Caesar
speaks of himself in the superlative; he is more dangerous than danger. When confronted about
his inflexibility toward pardoning Cimber’s brother, he compares himself to the North Star, fixed
in its position in the heavens and immovable. He refuses mercy because it is a quality of his
public image that he remains constant in his decisions. Aloof to the danger around him, this
reaction to Cimber’s entreaty is the catalyst to his assassination. His pride thus becomes his
downfall.
While Brutus is less defined by hubris than Caesar, he too is susceptible to over-confidence,
particularly in the wake of the assassination. Against Cassius’s warnings, Brutus allows Mark
Antony to live. Even worse, he permits Mark Anthony to deliver a speech following Caesar’s
death which turns the public against the conspirators and causes a civil war. Brutus’s arrogance
also takes shape as a form of civic hubris, in that he believes the Roman Republic can survive
as long as Caesar is stopped, a naive belief proven wrong by history.

The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric

According to the Greek Philosopher Aristotle, Rhetoric can be thought of as the art of
persuasion. Elizabethan education was firmly rooted in learning and employing rhetorical
devices and appeals in one’s writing. Though Shakespeare was not formally educated like many
of his contemporary writers, he successfully employs rhetorical devices throughout his writings,
giving an added depth to the persuasive power of his characters’ words.

In Julius Caesar, the most skillful use of rhetorical appeals comes in Act III, Scene 2 in Brutus’s
address to the plebeians and Mark Antony’s funerary speech for Caesar. Both characters aim to
convince the crowd to take their side; Anthony wants revenge, and, as he had a hand in
Caesar’s assassination, Brutus’s life depends on winning the crowd over. They both make
appeals to the classical elements of rhetoric: pathos, an appeal to emotion; ethos, an appeal to
ethics/credibility; and logos, an appeal to reason and logic.

Mark Antony proves to be the most persuasive, making a greater appeal to pathos than Brutus.
Brutus relies on the logic that Caesar deserved to die because he was ambitious. He stakes his
claim on his own suffering: Caesar was a dear friend, and consequently, the decision to kill him
was not made lightly. However, his appeal to love and friendship seems calculated. Mark
Antony, on the other hand, demonstrates his love for Caesar rather than merely describing it,
reminding the crowd of the many deeds Caesar accomplished for the plebeians. He also
dramatically reveals Caesar’s wounded, dead body—a shocking sight that ultimately incites the
already emotional crowd to violence. Mark Antony incites a mutiny through his clever use of
rhetoric, never actually speaking out against the conspirators and instead using the emotional
impact of his words to persuade his audience.

How Shakespeare Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia

Tragedy has its roots in the ancient Greek dramatic tradition. According to Aristotle, tragedy is
supposed to arouse feelings of fear and pity, resulting in catharsis, the purging of those
emotions. Tragedies should also concern the fall of a person of great stature. This fall is brought
about by hamartia, a fatal character flaw that leads to the hero’s downfall. Not all of
Shakespeare’s tragedies conform to Aristotle’s definition, but Julius Caesar fits in with this
tradition.
Under an Aristotelian definition of tragedy, Brutus, not Caesar, becomes the tragic hero of the
play. For one thing, Caesar dies early on in the third act of the play, giving Brutus far more stage
time. Even before Caesar’s death, it is Brutus’s moral dilemma that drives the action of the first
two acts of the play. The events following Caesar’s assassination are driven by the
consequences of Brutus’s decision. Caesar is too flawed to be the tragic hero; his death is
pitiful, due to the nature of Brutus’s betrayal, but he had plenty of warning and chose to ignore it.
Brutus, on the other hand, wrestled with the emotional, ethical, and moral implications of killing
a tyrant who was also a close friend. It is only after much persuasion by Cassius and the other
conspirators that Brutus decides to side against Caesar.

Brutus is driven by honor, virtue, morality, and, above all, a love for the Roman Republic. He is
trusting by nature, a virtue that causes him to take Mark Antony at his word that he will not
speak out against the conspirators at Caesar’s funeral oration. This trust in Mark Antony's honor
spirals into the civil war that culminates in Brutus dying by suicide to avoid capture. His sense of
honor leads to his death, but even Anthony, his enemy, respects and venerates Brutus because
of it.

Symbols & Motifs

Omens

As the Ides of March approaches, a number of omens appear, heralding Caesar’s death. These
omens include a violent storm, a lion in the middle of the city, an owl hooting in the daytime, and
apparitions of men on fire and ghostly women. Along with these signs, Caesar was given
warning by two fortunetellers and his own wife, Calpurnia, who dreamed that he died. Caesar’s
ghost appears as an omen to Brutus on the eve of the battle with Mark Antony and Octavius’s
forces.

These omens are interpreted in different ways, according to each character’s nature. Casca
believes they are signs from the gods, casting doubt upon their enterprise. Cassius believes the
signs are for Caesar alone; he even bears his chest to the storm, daring the lightning to strike
him. In contrast, Brutus correctly interprets the apparition of Caesar’s ghost as a sign of his
impending defeat. However, he does nothing to evade his fate. Brutus is honor-bound to see his
campaign through to the end.

The Corrupting Influence of Power

The common saying “absolute power corrupts absolutely” is the driving idea behind the
assassination of Julius Caesar and is a common motif throughout the play. Roman law reserved
the right of the Senate to appoint a dictator to temporarily rule during times of crisis. Cassius
and the other conspirators feared that Caesar would not relinquish the power. Their fears were
not ill-founded: though Caesar refuses the crown during Lupercalia, rumors circulate that the
senate would formally offer it on the Ides of March. However, rather than confront Caesar about
it or move against him politically, they assassinate him for what he might do despite all the good
he has done for Rome. Ironically, Cassius is also susceptible to the corrupting influence of
power. Following Caesar’s death, power is disputed between the conspirators and the
Caesarian faction, led by Mark Antony and Octavius. Cassius engages in unscrupulous
behavior; Brutus accuses him of taking bribes in exchange for political influence. The accusation
of corruption nearly ends Cassius and Brutus’s friendship.

Julius Caesar’s Deaf Ear

Caesar never listens to counsel. In Act I, Scene 2, Antony tells Caesar that he believes Cassius
is not to be feared because “He is a noble Roman, and well given” (I.2.198). This is the one
instance where not listening to advice would have helped Caesar. He disagrees and confides in
Mark Antony that he does not trust Cassius, recognizing that he seems to be ambitious and the
type of man that is “never at heart’s ease/ Whiles they behold a greater than themselves,/ And
therefore very dangerous” (I.2.209-211). He then tells Mark Antony that his left ear is deaf.
Caesar’s deaf ear is an invention of Shakespeare’s that symbolizes advice falling on deaf ears.
Because this unwillingness to heed to advice leads to Caesar’s death, this suggests that
Shakespeare’s model of a good leader is one that listens rather than merely dictating orders.

Important Quotes

“Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?

What tributaries follow him to Rome

To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?

You blocks, you stones, you cruel men of Rome,

Knew you not Pompey?”

(Act I, Scene 1, Lines 31-36)

Caesar returns to Rome after winning a civil war against Pompey, who ruled Rome in the First
Triumvirate, along with Caesar and Crassus. Pompey was beloved by Roman citizens. Here,
Murellus chastises the plebeians’ celebration of Pompey’s fall. This shows the fickle nature of
the Roman populace with regard to its leaders and therefore foreshadows the political turmoil
that makes up the bulk of the play’s narrative.
“I rather tell thee what is to be feared

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.”

(Act I, Scene 2, Lines 11-15)

Caesar’s deaf ear, an invention of Shakespeare, symbolizes his refusal to listen to advice.
Caesar’s arrogance is ultimately his undoing; he would rather dictate to others than take council
from them. Though he is wary of Cassius, he arrogantly ignores every sign of conspiracy that is
presented to him.

“Beware the ides of March.”

(Act I, Scene 2, Line 19)

One of the most famous lines from Julius Caesar, the soothsayer’s warning is one of many that
Caesar receives and ignores. The Ides of March (March 15th) was a Roman holiday that,
among other things, was a deadline for settling debts. It is also the day Caesar was
assassinated. Shakespeare often used prophecies in his plays to advance the action and
foretell doom for his characters. One of the most famous examples of this literary technique is in
Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

“I would not, Cassius; yet I love him well.

But wherefore do you hold me here so long?

What is it that you would impart to me?

If it be aught toward the general good,

Set honour in one eye and death i’th’ 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.”

(Act I, Scene 2, Lines 84-91)

Brutus is conflicted by his love for Caesar and his love of the Roman Republic. He recognizes
that Caesar’s popularity risks the freedom of the populace. Were Caesar to accept the crown, it
would mean the end of the Republic. Brutus values honor: this passage indicates that he weighs
it equally with death and would die to preserve his honor. Yet he is put in an impossible situation
in which he must choose between honoring his friend or honoring the republic.

“Casca:

So can I.

So every bondsman in his own hand bears

The power to cancel his captivity.

Cassius:

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.

He were no lion, were not the romans hinds.

Those that with haste will make a mighty fire

Begin it with weak straws. What trash is Rome,

What rubbish, and what offal, when it serves

For the base matter to illuminate

So vile a thing as Caesar!”

(Act I, Scene 3, Lines 100-110)

Cassius argues that it is not Caesar’s fault that he stands to become dictator; it is the fault of the
Roman populace. Cassius exhibits a patrician’s disdain for the plebeian classes. While the
plebeians could reject tyranny, they instead opt for populism instead of true freedom. This also
shows that Cassius does not act out of love for the Roman Republic and its people; he does so
to further his own political ambitions.

“‘Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake, and see thyself.’

‘Shall Rome, et cetera? Speak, strike, redress.’—

‘Brutus, thou sleep’st. Awake.’

Such instigations have been often dropped

Where I have took them up.

‘Shall Rome, et cetera?’ 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 called a king.

‘Speak, strike, redress.’ Am I entreated

To speak and strike? O Rome, I make thee promise,

If the redress will follow, thou receives

Thy full petition at the hand of Brutus.”

(Act II, Scene 1 , Lines 46-58)

Cassius’s letter to Brutus craftily plays on Brutus’s sense of honor and virtue, along with his
respect for his ancestors. By invoking Brutus’s predecessor, who drove the tyrant Tarquin from
power, Cassius makes deposing Caesar a familial responsibility for Brutus. Like another
Shakespearean tragic hero, Othello, Brutus meets his doom in part because he is manipulated
by a savvy political operator.

“I could be well moved if I were as you.

If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.

But I am constant as the Northern Star,

Of whose true fixed and resting quality

There is no fellow in the firmament.”

(Act III, Scene 1, Lines 58-62)

This passage evidences Caesar’s ego, arrogance, and pride—his fatal flaws. He will not listen
to warnings concerning his own safety, and instead views his immovability as a virtue. Unlike
Brutus’s tragic flaw, Caesar’s flaw needs no outside force to spur it on. Rather, it is inherent in
the man’s personality.
“Et tu Brute?—Then fall Caesar.”

(Act III, Scene 1, Line 77)

Caesar’s final words are famous and often parodied. Shakespeare’s depiction of Caesar’s death
has Brutus delivering the killing blow. This emphasizes depth of Brutus’s betrayal. Despite being
stabbed dozens of times, Caesar’s question “And you, Brutus?” shows that Brutus’s betrayal
has broken his spirit, ending his will to live.

“Had you rather Caesar were living, and

Die all slaves, that 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 honor him. But as he was

Ambitious, I slew him.”

(Act III, Scene 2, Lines 21-25)

Brutus’s argument for his cause is rooted in logic and ethics. He makes his case plainly to the
plebians: he loved Caesar but killed him for his ambition. Ultimately, this proves to be a flaw in
his argument. Brutus does not address all the good that Caesar did for the average Roman, and
Mark Antony uses this to leverage the crowd’s favor against the conspirators.

“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.”

(Act III, Scene 2, Lines 70-71)

Antony’s famous opening line to his funerary oration states his case. In line with the agreement
he made with Brutus, he is not supposed to be making any sort of argument for Caesar or
against Brutus. By addressing the crowd as friends and countrymen, he places himself on the
same level as the crowd.

“Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest—

For Brutus is an honourable man;

So are they all, all honourable men—

Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me:

But Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honourable man.”

(Act III, Scene 2, Lines 78-84)

Mark Antony’s repetition of the adjective “honourable,” as applied to the conspirators, is paired
with examples of Caesar’s deeds which serve as counter arguments to Brutus’s reasoning. This
degrades the crowd’s opinion of the conspirators. At each repetition, Brutus and the others
appear less and less honorable.

“What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?

O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,

And men have lost their reason!

[He weeps]

Bear with me;

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,

And I must pause till it come back to me.”

(Act III, Scene 2, Lines 100-104)

Unlike Brutus’s speech, Antony’s oration is steeped in pathos—a perfect method of persuading
an already emotional crowd. The term “brutish beasts” may be a pun on Brutus’s name, and it
accuses the crowd of being on Brutus’s side. His strategic, emotional pause at the end of this
passage gives the plebeians some time to mull over his argument.

“I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:

I am no orator, as Brutus is;

But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,

That love my friend; and that they know full well

That gave me public leave to speak of him:

For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,

Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,

To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;

I tell you that which you yourselves do know;

Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,

And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,

And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony

Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue

In every wound of Caesar that should move

The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.”

(Act III, Scene 2, Lines 207-221)

Mark Antony again uses rhetoric to twist his words into arguing exactly what he says he is not
arguing. Self-effacement makes his words seem humble, but the striking image of Caesar’s
wounds speaking like mouths shows the power of his oration. The effect of this speech and the
subsequent unveiling of Caesar’s body stirs the crowd to mutiny.

“Cinna:

Truly, my name is Cinna.

First Plebeian:

Tear him to pieces! He’s a conspirator.”

(Act III, Scene 3, Lines 25-26)

This brief scene shows the negative effect of mob mentality. The crowd of plebeians, stirred up
by Mark Antony, is out for blood. They do not care that the Cinna in this scene is a poet, rather
than Cinna the conspirator. The crowd is so bloodthirsty that it ultimately rationalizes its decision
to kill the poet Cinna on account of his bad verses.

“Let us do so, for we are at the stake

And bayed about with many enemies;

And some that smile have in their hearts, I fear

Millions of mischiefs.”

(Act IV, Scene 1, Lines 48-51)

Octavius Caesar is named in Caesar’s will as his legitimate heir. Because of this, Octavius has
a claim to Caesar’s political position. Octavius and Antony immediately begin conspiring to fill
the power vacuum left by Caesar’s death. This is the ultimate irony of Julius Caesar: That the
conspirators’ efforts to preserve the Roman Republic resulted in the dissolution of the republic
and the elevation of Octavius to the permanent dictatorial position of Roman Emperor, initiating
a line of supreme authoritarians that would rule Rome for centuries.

“Remember March, the ides of March remember:

Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake?

What villain touch’d his body, that did stab,

And not for justice? What, shall one of us

That struck the foremost man of all this world

But for supporting robbers, shall we now

Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,

And sell the 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.”

(Act IV, Scene 2 , Lines 70-79)

Brutus chastises Cassius for what he views as dishonorable behavior. Because Cassius
accepted bribes, this threatens to violate the sanctity of Caesar’s assassination: part of the
reason that he was assassinated was due to alleged corruption. It is yet another example of the
hypocrisy that lies at the heart of Cassius’s supposedly noble actions.

“Why, farewell, Portia. We must die, Messala.

With meditating that she must die once,

I have the patience to endure it now.”

(Act IV, Scene 2 , Lines 242-244)
Brutus acknowledges his wife’s death with a stoic indifference. Some scholars contend that this
passage represents a discrepancy in Shakespeare’s drafting of Julius Caesar: a conversation
with Cassius earlier in the scene reveals that Brutus already knew of Portia’s death by suicide.
However, this exchange may highlight the Roman attitude toward public grieving. Brutus shows
more emotion when speaking with Cassius, whom he is closer with, than with Messala.

“Brutus:

Speak to me what thou art.

Ghost:

Thy evil spirit, Brutus.

Brutus:

Why com’st thou?

Ghost:

To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.”

(Act IV, Scene 2 , Lines 332-335)

“Mark Antony:

Why do you cross me in this exigent?

Octavius:

I do not cross you, but I will do so.”

(Act V, Scene 1, Lines 19-20)

Prior to the battle, Mark Antony and Octavius have a minor, strategical disagreement. Octavius,
who is inexperienced in battle, should logically defer to the veteran general. By saying “I do not
cross you, but I will do so,” Octavius foreshadows the future conflict between him and Mark
Antony that will lead to Mark Antony’s downfall and Octavius’s ascent to Emperor.

“No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,

That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;

He bears too great a mind. But this same day

Must end that work the ides of March begun;

And whether we shall meet again I know not.

Therefore our everlasting farewell take:

For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!

If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;

If not, why then, this parting was well made.”

(Act V, Scene 1, Lines 110-119)

While Brutus disagrees with dying by suicide on a philosophical level, he is not above using it as
a last resort to avoid the dishonor of being captured by enemy forces. Brutus recognizes that
death might very well be the outcome of their enterprise, and therefore, he bids a final farewell
to Cassius. The two will not meet again.

“Come down, behold no more.

O, coward that I am, to live so long,

To see my best friend ta'en before my face!

[Enter Pindarus below]

Come hither, sirrah:

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;

And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,

That whatsoever I did bid thee do,

Thou shouldst attempt it. Come now, keep thine oath;

Now be a freeman: and with this good sword,

That ran through Caesar's bowels, search this bosom.

Stand not to answer: here, take thou the hilts;

[Pindarus takes the sword]

And, when my face is cover'd, as 'tis now,

Guide thou the sword.

[Pindarus stabs him]

Caesar, thou art revenged,

Even with the sword that kill'd thee.

[Dies]”

(Act V, Scene 3, Lines 34-35)

Because Cassius spared Pindarus’s life. Pindarus is his bondsman. As such, it is his duty to
assist Cassius in dying by suicide. It is appropriate that Cassius uses the same sword on
himself that he used to kill Caesar: killing Caesar set the events in motion that led to his own
death.

“Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?

Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they

Put on my brows this wreath of victory,

And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their shouts?

Alas, thou hast misconstrued every thing!

But, hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;

Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I

Will do his bidding. Brutus, come apace,

And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.

By your leave, gods:—this is a Roman’s part

Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius’ heart.”

(Act V, Scene 3, Lines 79-89)

In Roman culture, dying by suicide was an honorable death, depending on the circumstances.
Titinius dies by suicide when he returns from battle, victorious, and sees Cassius has done the
same. Titinius blames Cassius’s distrust of good news for his death; this is, perhaps, due to the
omen presented by the eagles abandoning Cassius’s army, or a sense of guilt for Caesar’s
death.

“Only I yield to die.

There is so much, that thou wilt kill me straight:

Kill Brutus and be honoured in his death.”

(Act V, Scene 4, Lines 12-14)

At the point of capture, Lucilius impersonates Brutus, hoping to be spared. The real Brutus does
not surrender, and Mark Antony sees right through Lucilius’s deception. Antony spares him,
indicating that he will make a valuable captive.

“Caesar, now be still.

I killed not thee with half so good a will.”

(Act V, Scene 5, Lines 50-51)

Brutus’s last lines invoke the ghost of Caesar, hoping to calm both the restless spirit and his own
conscience. While the reasons for killing himself differ from his reasons for killing Caesar, they
both come from the same spirit of honor, virtue, and stoic analysis—not from malice or ill will.
Those qualities also differentiate Brutus from the other conspirators, most of whom killed Caesar
to fulfill their political ambitions.

“This was the noblest Roman of them all:

All the conspirators save only he

Did that they did in envy of great Caesar;

He only, in a general honest thought

And common good to all, made one of them.

His life was gentle, and the elements

So mix'd in him that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world ‘This was a man!’”

(Act V, Scene 5, Lines 67-74)

Though they were political enemies, Mark Antony still respects Brutus for his sense of honor
and justice. Brutus was the only one of the conspirators who acted solely for the benefit of the
Roman Republic, ultimately sacrificing himself for a cause which he thought to be for the
general good. To Mark Antony, Brutus’s virtues and “elements” (balance of humors) made him
the epitome of a good man.

Essay Topics
1.
Though the play is titled The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, much of the play’s action follows the
emotional conflict experienced by Brutus. To what extent can Brutus be considered the tragic
hero of the play?

2.
What role do omens and prophecies play in Julius Caesar? What is the consequence of
ignoring them?

3.
Hubris, or excessive pride, is a tragic flaw exhibited by dramatic heroes dating back to antiquity.
Caesar is proud to the point of arrogance and negligence. To what extent is pride responsible
for his downfall?

4.
In Act 3, Scene 2, the plebeians are presented with Brutus’s argument in defense of
assassinating Caesar, followed by Mark Antony’s impassioned funerary oration. What makes
Mark Antony’s speech so much more effective than Brutus’s? Why does the crowd side with
Mark Antony?

5.
Brutus and Mark Antony are not the only characters to use the power of rhetoric to persuade an
audience. In what other instances do characters use speech or writing persuasively? Are they
successful?

6.
While Cassius and Brutus are the leaders of the conspiracy against Caesar, their goal of
assassinating him would have been impossible without the aid of other senators. What role do
the other senators play in the plot against Caesar’s life?

7.
In classical drama dating back to the Greek playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides, tragic
heroes demonstrated a fatal flaw that undermined the greatness of their character, also known
as hamartia. If Brutus can be regarded as the tragic hero of Julius Caesar, what is his tragic
flaw? How does it lead to his death?

8.
While the focus of the play is on powerful Roman men, Portia and Calpurnia feature in the few
domestic scenes Shakespeare depicts. What role do women play in Julius Caesar?

9.
Though the action of the play focuses on Rome’s upper-class, plebeians feature as important
minor characters in many scenes. What is the role of the underclasses in Julius Caesar? How
do they help drive the plot and motivate the main characters?

10.
Cassius can be seen as the main antagonist in the first part of the play, forcing Brutus into a
moral dilemma. Examine Cassius’s character. How do his motives for betraying Caesar
compare to those of Brutus? Is he acting for the greater good, or merely for himself?

Genre: Drama; Tragedy

Originally Published: 1599
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile GN740L College/adult
Structure/Length: 288 pages; approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes on audiobook
Protagonist/Central Conflict: Julius Caesar is a tragedy that explores the political intrigue and
personal conflicts surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar, a Roman general and
statesman. The central conflict revolves around the power struggle between Caesar's
supporters, led by Mark Antony, and the conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, who
assassinated Caesar. The play delves into themes of loyalty, betrayal, ambition, and the
consequences of political actions.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of assassination, political violence, and betrayal

William Shakespeare, Author

Bio: Born 1564, died 1616; English playwright and poet; regarded as one of the greatest writers
in the English language; known for exploring a wide range of human emotions and experiences
in drama and poetry; his works are studied, performed, and celebrated worldwide
Other Works: Romeo and Juliet (1597); Hamlet (1601); Macbeth (1606); Othello (1603); King
Lear (1606); Antony and Cleopatra (1606); The Tempest (1611); Shakespeare's body of work
includes numerous plays and poems, many of which are considered classics of English
literature.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

How Hubris Can Lead to One’s Downfall

The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric
How Shakespeare Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

Attain an understanding of the cultural and historical contexts of Shakespeare’s play.

Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of How
Hubris Can Lead to One’s Downfall, The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric, and How Shakespeare
Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia.
Analyze the characters of the play and craft a speech to explore rhetoric and its importance in
the play.
Evaluate the themes, symbols, and motifs of the play in structured essay responses regarding
Shakespeare’s use of the tragic flaw, the role of women in the play, and other topics.

Reading Context
Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest
in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about Julius Caesar and the ancient Romans? Consider events from
Caesar’s life, such as his Gallic Wars, the Roman Civil War, and Caesar’s assassination. What
characteristics are typically associated with Caesar?

Teaching Suggestion: The life and accomplishments of Caesar were carefully documented by
authors and historians, including Caesar himself. Caesar was usually represented as a highly
capable and ambitious politician and general, and these qualities contributed to his success as
well as his downfall. Knowing something about the historical Caesar and his world can help
students engage with Shakespeare’s play on a deeper level. Some students may not be familiar
with Julis Caesar, the ancient Romans, or wars during this time. If this is the case, consider
allowing students to conduct brief, informal research to help them develop a stronger foundation
prior to in-class discussions.

This page includes a translation of Suetonius’s popular biography of Julius Caesar.

This article from History Today discusses the assassination of Julius Caesar and the aftermath
of the event.

2. Which of Shakespeare's works have you read or heard about? Why might his plays and
sonnets be so widely studied? What is typically associated with Shakespeare?

Teaching Suggestion: Shakespeare remains one of the most popular authors who ever lived,
and his works are taught around the world. While many students will be familiar with
Shakespeare’s plays, they may not realize how much his work has influenced modern film and
literature. In this instance, it may be helpful to prepare a list of his most famous plays and
sonnets and to discuss modern adaptations, such as Disney's The Lion King as an adaptation of
Hamlet. Students may also be aware of the themes and motifs commonly found in
Shakespeare’s oeuvre, including power and politics, identity, fate and free will, and love. Many
of these themes are central in Julius Caesar and may be worth discussing in advance.

This article from the Folger Shakespeare Library offers a short and readable introduction to
Shakespeare’s theater.
This page provides a chronology of Shakespeare’s plays, including first performance and print
dates.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework
before reading the text.

Julius Caesar was a notably ambitious leader. How would you define ambition? In your
experience, is ambition a positive or negative attribute? How might the violent and ambitious
history of Caesar still be relevant today?
Teaching Suggestion: As students begin to develop their ideas, consider encouraging them to
discuss the role that violence and ambition still play in modern domestic and global affairs.
Some students may not be familiar with current events; in this situation, it may be helpful to
create a list of teacher-selected current events or concrete topics for students to categorize and
discuss.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students who struggle with abstract thinking might benefit from
answering a question about violence and ambition on a more concrete level: What are
examples of violent or ambitious behavior, and why is such behavior potentially dangerous?
Alternatively, graphic organizers, such as a Venn diagram or T-chart, might also be useful for a
more visual approach.

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading
assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

ACTS I-II

Reading Check

1. Where does the play begin?

2. Who warns Caesar to “[b]eware the Ides of March” in Act I, Scene 2?

3. Who offers Caesar a crown during the Lupercalia?

4. What is in the letter Lucius brings Brutus?

5. What is the name of Brutus’s wife?

6. Who dreams of Caesar’s murder?

7. What is in Artemidorus’s letter?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to
support your response.

1. What does Cassius mean when he tells Brutus, “I had as life not be as live to be / In awe of
such a thing as I myself” in Act I, Scene 2?

2. Why is Caesar upset when the crowd cheers to see him refuse the crown?

3. What is the significance of Casca using prose, while Brutus and Cassius use blank verse?

4. Why is Brutus against killing Antony in addition to Caesar?

5. Why do the conspirators decide to send Decius to Caesar?

6. Caesar decides to go to the senate despite his wife Calpurnia’s reservations. What does this
say about his character?

Paired Resources

“Divination: Greek and Roman Divination” by Sarah Iles Johnston

This resource contains a thorough introduction to Greek and Roman divination practices.
This connects to the theme of How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall.
How might Caesar have escaped his fate if he had been more willing to heed warnings from
others or from omens?

“How the Ancient Roman Government Worked”

This short video by the World History Encyclopedia explains how the Roman government
worked at different periods in history.
This connects to the themes of How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall and The Persuasive
Power of Rhetoric.
How do Caesar’s ambitions undermine the usual workings of the Roman government?

ACT III

Reading Check

1. Who persuades Antony to leave the senate meeting?

2. What does Antony tell Octavius to do after Caesar’s assassination?

3. Why does the mob kill Cinna the poet?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to
support your response.

1. What is the significance of Caesar's last words, “Et tu Brute?”

2. On what terms does Brutus allow Antony to deliver a funeral oration for Caesar?

3. How does Brutus justify his killing of Caesar to the plebeians?

4. Why does Antony’s reading of Caesar’s will move the plebeians?

Paired Resources
“Beware of False Tales About the Ides of March”

In this podcast, Cornell history professor Barry Strauss discusses some of the misconceptions
surrounding Caesar's death.
This connects to the themes of How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall and How Shakespeare
Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia.
How does Shakespeare alter or embellish historical details to add drama to his play?

“The Deeds of the Divine Augustus”

This is a translation of an important inscription in which Augustus records how he avenged

Julius Caesar.
This connects to the themes of How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall, The Persuasive Power
of Rhetoric, and How Shakespeare Uses the Greek Notion of Hamartia.
How does Augustus glorify himself in his version of the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination?
How does his presentation of facts differ from Shakespeare’s play?

ACTS IV-V

Reading Check

1. Who is the ally of Antony and Octavius?

2. Which two allies join Brutus and Cassius near Sardis?

3. What does Caesar’s ghost tell Brutus?

4. Why does Cassius kill himself?

5. Who wins the first battle between Brutus and Octavius at Philippi?

Short Answer
Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to
support your response.

1. Why is Brutus upset with Cassius?

2. What event causes Brutus to be so quick to anger?

3. What does Cassius conclude about Octavius's character after witnessing his behavior during
the parlay?

4. How does Antony treat the captured Lucillus? What does this say about his character?

5. Why does Antony lament the death of Brutus?

Recommended Next Reads

Richard III by William Shakespeare

Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s most famous historical plays and is based on the brutal
reign of King Richard III of England.
Shared themes include How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall and How Shakespeare Uses
the Greek Notion of Hamartia.
Shared topics include historical events and rebellion against tyrannical figures.
Richard III on SuperSummary

The Ides of March by Thornton Wilder

This epistolary novel depicts the events leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Shared themes include How Hubris Can Lead to One's Downfall and The Persuasive Power of
Rhetoric.
Shared topics include Roman history and the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
Reading Questions Answer Key
ACTS I-II

Reading Check
1. A street in Rome (Act I, Scene 1)

2. A soothsayer (Act I, Scene 2)

3. Antony (Act I, Scene 2)

4. An attempt to convince him that Caesar must be removed from power (Act II, Scene 1)

5. Portia (Act II, Scene 1)

6. Calpurnia (Act II, Scene 2)

7. A warning to beware of Cassius, Brutus, and the other conspirators (Act II, Scene 3)

Short Answer

1. Cassius fears becoming a stranger to himself and not understanding his own values and
feelings. (Act I, Scene 2)

2. Caesar is upset because he wants the Roman people to accept him as their king. By
cheering when they see him refusing the crown, the Romans show that they do not want a king.
(Act I, Scene 2)

3. Casca’s prose suggests that he is more straightforward and simpler than his colleagues
Brutus and Cassius. (Act I, Scene 2)

4. Brutus does not want the conspiracy to be unnecessarily vindictive, saying, “Let’s 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.” (Act II, Scene 1)

5. The conspirators send Decius to Caesar to ensure that he leaves his house to come to the
senate, fearing that superstition might keep him at home. (Act II, Scene 1)

6. Caesar is ambitious, and this proves to be his undoing. He refuses to acknowledge signs and
omens when they do not tell him what he wants to hear, even when the meaning of these signs
and omens is clear to everybody else around him. (Act II, Scene 2)
ACT III

Reading Check

1. Trebonius (Act III, Scene 1)

2. To flee Rome (Act III, Scene 1)

3. They mistake him for Cinna the conspirator. (Act III, Scene 3)

Short Answer

1. With his final words, Caesar expresses shock that Brutus, whom he loved so dearly, would
betray him (“Et tu Brute?” means “You too, Brutus?”). (Act III, Scene 1)

2. Brutus allows Antony to deliver a funeral oration for Caesar provided he does not speak ill of
the conspirators. (Act III, Scene 1)

3. Brutus cites his love for the Republic as his reason for killing Caesar, saying his actions show
“not that I loved Caesar less, but that / I loved Rome more.” (Act III, Scene 2)

4. Caesar’s generous bequest to the people of Rome reminds them of how much Caesar cared
for them. (Act III, Scene 2)

ACTS IV-V

Reading Check
1. Lepidus (Act IV, Scene 1)

2. Lucilius and Titinius (Act IV, Scene 2)

3. That he will meet him at Philippi (Act IV, Scene 2)

4. His men have been defeated, and he does not want to be taken alive. (Act V, Scene 3)

5. Brutus (Act V, Scene 3)

Short Answer

1. Brutus accuses Cassius and his partisans of taking bribes and behaving unjustly. Cassius is
being hypocritical: They killed Caesar because of his injustice, but it is they who are unjust. (Act
IV, Scene 2)

2. Brutus reveals that his wife Portia recently ended her life, and that this was why he was
quicker to anger than usual. (Act IV, Scene 2)

3. Octavius passionately vows to avenge Caesar by killing the conspirators, prompting Cassius
to observe that he is behaving like a silly schoolboy. (Act V, Scene 1)

4. Antony orders that the captured Lucillus be treated kindly, indicating that Antony is an
honorable man. (Act V, Scene 4)

5. Antony feels compassion for Brutus because he believes that, of all the conspirators, he
alone acted truly in the service of Rome. (Act V, Scene 5)

Discussion/Analysis Prompt
Julius Caesar displays the tragic flaw hubris, a personality quality of excessive pride. How does
Caesar’s hubris contribute to his downfall? In what ways do other characters in the play display
hubris, and what are the consequences? Consider the following questions as you develop your
ideas:

How does Caesar’s hubris fuel his ambitious behavior?

Why the conspirators believe they must assassinate Caesar?
How do the conspirators use their power after killing Caesar? Do they all stay true to the ideals
for which they killed him?
Teaching Suggestion: You might encourage students to reflect on the way Shakespeare uses
symbols and motifs to build on his themes, especially the images he uses to portray the
accoutrements of power (such as the crown offered to Caesar at the Lupercalia). Students might
compare symbols of power in modern society and culture and even reflect on how hubris might
be represented if the play were written or performed today.

Differentiation Suggestion: English learners, students with dyslexia, and those with attentional or
executive function differences might find sorting through the entire text to find evidence
daunting. You might help these students pinpoint the most relevant sections of text to limit the
amount they need to review or allow students to have additional time to gather evidence.

Activities
Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate
details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Beware the Ides of March!”

In this activity, students will use critical thinking and collaborative learning to write a speech that
will allow them to gain a better understanding of the persuasive power of rhetoric.

Throughout the first three Acts of the play, various characters try to warn Caesar of the dangers
in store for him, but these warnings fall on deaf ears. Where did the warnings of Calpurnia and
the soothsayer fall short? Working in small groups, write a persuasive speech to convince
Caesar to stay away from the senate meeting on the Ides of March. Each group should consider
the following issues:

Why might the omens surrounding the Ides of March bode ill for Caesar?
What are some of Caesar’s personality traits that can be exploited to persuade him more
effectively?
Without any active knowledge of the conspiracy, who might be seen as a threat to Caesar?

Once all groups are finished, each group should pick one member to deliver the speech in front
of the class. These presentations should facilitate discussions on the overarching themes,
symbols, and motifs of the play.
Teaching Suggestion: Consider encouraging students to annotate effective examples of rhetoric
from the play for inspiration, as they might use this textual support in forming their speeches.
Antony’s famous funeral oration would be a strong choice for rhetorical analysis. It may also be
helpful to share with students a video or audio recording of the speech, since Shakespeare's
plays were designed and meant to be performed for live audiences. This would also benefit
auditory processors.

Essay Questions
Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and
to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well
include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines
below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and
support.

1. Though the play takes its name from Julius Caesar, much of the action concerns Brutus's
experiences and emotional conflicts.

In what ways can Brutus be considered the tragic hero of the play? (topic sentence)
Identify and analyze 3 parts or quotes from the play that show Brutus as a tragic hero.
In your concluding sentence or sentences, evaluate Brutus’s fatal flaws and discuss how they
lead to his downfall.

2. Brutus's speech to the Roman public and Antony’s funeral oration for Caesar are two of the
most famous examples of rhetoric from English literature.

Which speech is more effective, Antony’s or Brutus’s, and why? (topic sentence)
Identify 3 persuasive techniques in Antony's or Brutus's speech. Then explain what makes each
part more effective than the opposing speech.
In your concluding sentence or sentences, evaluate the speech in relation to its outcome. How
does it convey The Persuasive Power of Rhetoric?
3. In classical drama, tragic heroes were often imbued with a “tragic flaw” (or hamartia) that led
to their downfall.

How does hamartia lead to the downfall and death of Caesar or Brutus? (topic sentence)
Analyze at least 3 passages that demonstrate Caesar's or Brutus's fatal flaws. Explain your
ideas carefully.
In your conclusion, reflect on how Caesar or Brutus demonstrates How Hubris Can Lead to
One's Downfall.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at
least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Though powerful Roman men are at the heart of the play, Caesar’s wife Calpurnia and
Brutus’s wife Portia feature in a few domestic scenes. How does Shakespeare represent the
role of women in the ancient Roman world? How are Calpurnia and Portia similar? How are they
different? Cite your quotations with act, scene, and line number.

2. The Roman commoners, or plebeians, feature as important minor characters in many scenes.
What is the role of the plebeians in the play? In what ways do they represent the values and
power of Rome? How do they motivate the main characters and the plot of the play? Cite your
quotations with act, scene, and line number.

3. Omens and prophecies are prominent features of the play. What is the role of superstition in
the play? What are some examples of omens and prophecies that appear? What are the
consequences of ignoring them? Cite your quotations with act, scene, and line number.

Exam Questions

Multiple Choice

1. What does Caesar’s deaf ear symbolize?

A) His ambition

B) His refusal to listen to advice

C) His hubris

D) His love for his wife

2. What is the significance of the Ides of March in the play?

A) It is the day the conspirators assassinate Caesar.

B) It is the day of the Lupercalia.

C) It is the day Caesar wins his war against Pompey.

D) It is the day Antony and Octavius defeat the conspirators.

3. Who persuades Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar?

A) Octavius

B) Cassius

C) Casca

D) Cinna

4. When Caesar says that he is as “constant as the Northern Star” (Act III, Scene 1), what
literary device is he using?

A) Personification

B) Allusion

C) Alliteration

D) Simile
5. Why does Caesar choose not to look at Artemidorus’s letter?

A) He is worried about the Ides of March.

B) Cassius does not want him to read the letter.

C) He does not trust Artemidorus.

D) It would be dishonorable to read a letter that concerns his own person.

6. Which of the conspirators is reluctant to allow Antony to deliver Caesar’s funeral oration?

A) Brutus

B) Decius

C) Casca

D) Cassius

7. What does Antony predict will follow Caesar’s death?

A) Peace

B) Civil war

C) An even worse tyrant

D) Conquest by barbarians

8. What rhetorical strategy is Antony employing when he keeps referring to Brutus as an

honorable man in his funeral oration?

A) Irony
B) Metaphor

C) Personification

D) Juxtaposition

9. Why do the plebeians riot at Caesar’s funeral?

A) They want the Republic to be restored.

B) They are furious that Caesar was killed.

C) They do not feel Caesar left enough for them in his will.

D) They want to kill Octavius.

10. What happens to Brutus’s wife Portia?

A) She leaves Brutus.

B) She becomes very wealthy and powerful.

C) She is assassinated.

D) She takes her own life.

11. What does the “evil spirit” come to tell Brutus?

A. That he forgives him

B. That Cassius is his enemy

C. That he should have killed Antony with Caesar

D. That he will see him at Philippi

12. Where do Antony and Octavius defeat the conspirators?

A) Philippi

B) Gaul

C) Rome

D) Alexandria

13. Why does Pindarus assist Cassius in ending his life?

A) Pindarus hates Cassius.

B) Pindarus is Cassius’s bondsman.

C) Brutus commands him to do so.

D) Pindarus wants to avenge Caesar.

14. Why does Lucilius allow himself to be captured by Antony?

A) He does not want to kill himself.

B) He wants to defect to Antony’s side.

C) He wants to give Brutus a chance to get away.

D) He hopes to be granted amnesty.

15. Who is “the noblest Roman of them all,” according to Antony?

A) Caesar

B) Octavius

C) Brutus
D) Cassius

Long Answer
Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Why does Brutus decide to kill Caesar? What inner conflict does he struggle with while facing
this decision?

2. Why is Antony initially “meek and gentle” with Caesar’s killers? How does this benefit him,
since he later turns against them?

3. What is the significance of the strategic disagreement between Antony and Octavius before
battle? How does this disagreement shed light on the relationship between Antony and
Octavius?

1. Brutus loved Caesar and considered him to be his best friend, but he feared Caesar's
ambition was a threat to Roman freedom. Claiming that he loved Rome more than he loved
Caesar, he decided to help assassinate him, believing that Caesar’s death was for the good of
Rome. (Various acts, especially Act III, Scene 2)

2. Antony plays along with Brutus, Cassius, and the other conspirators after Caesar is
assassinated, seeing this as the best way to remain safe while bolstering his own position. By
acting as though he understands and sympathizes with the conspirators, Antony secures
permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral, and he takes advantage of this moment to turn the
plebeians against the conspirators. (Act III, Scene 1)

3. Antony, the more experienced general, urges the younger and inexperienced Octavius to
listen to him. Octavius, responding that “I do not cross you, but I will do so,” presages the future
conflict that will arise between him and Antony, a conflict that will lead to Antony’s political
downfall when Octavius makes himself emperor. (Act V, Scene 1)

Super Short Summary

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare depicts the political machinations and eventual
assassination of Roman leader Julius Caesar by conspirators led by Cassius and Brutus, who
fear Caesar's rising power threatens Rome's republic. Following Caesar's death, Mark Antony's
stirring eulogy incites public unrest, leading to a civil war where Brutus and Cassius are
ultimately defeated.

Review Roundup
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare is widely praised for its exploration of political intrigue,
ambition, and betrayal. Critics commend the complex character portrayals, especially Brutus
and Caesar. The eloquent dialogue and memorable speeches resonate strongly. Some find its
pacing uneven and the historical context challenging without prior knowledge. Overall, a
compelling, thought-provoking traged.

Who Should Read Julius Caesar?

Ideal for enthusiasts of historical drama, political intrigue, and eloquent rhetoric, readers of
William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar will appreciate its exploration of power, betrayal, and fate.
Comparable works targeting this audience include Macbeth, for its dark ambition, and Robert
Graves’s I, Claudius, for its insight into Roman history and politics.

Character List
Marcus Brutus

A Roman senator and patrician known for his strong sense of honor and virtue, who grapples
with his friendship with Julius Caesar.

Caius Cassius

A Roman senator who is deeply distrustful of Julius Caesar and orchestrates a plot against him,
driven by his dislike of Caesar's power and influence.

Julius Caesar

A celebrated Roman general and consul who is popular among the common people, facing
suspicion from the patrician senators concerning his ambitions.

Mark Antony

A loyal general and supporter of Julius Caesar known for his skillful oratory, who navigates the
political upheaval following Caesar's ascension in Rome.

Fun Facts
Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare's plays performed at the Globe Theatre, where it first
captivated audiences with its dramatic exploration of power and betrayal

The play remains a popular choice for modern adaptations, often used to reflect contemporary
political issues due to its timeless themes of conspiracy and leadership

Shakespeare's portrayal of Caesar's assassination is notable for the intense build-up and its
influence on the characters' moral and political dilemmas that unfold throughout the play.