Julius Caesar

What do the strange occurrences in Acts I and II suggest?

Foreshadows that something bad is about to happen; gods are angry.

Shakespeare's career bridged reign of what two monarchs?

James and Elizabeth

What was Calpurnia's dream and what does it foreshadow?

She saw in her dream the statue of Julius Caesar being transformed into a fountain from which spouted not water, but blood and the Roman citizens smilingly washing their hands in his blood. It foreshadows Caesar's death of the hands of the conspirators.

Brutus

Statesman of ancient Rome who (with Cassius) led a conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar. Favors Rome over Caesar.

Lepidus

The third member of Antony and Octavius's coalition. Though Antony has a low opinion of Lepidus, Octavius trusts his loyalty.

Calpurnia

Caesar's wife. Calpurnia invests great authority in omens and portents.

Why were people fascinated with the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar?

-Betrayal. Brutus places his ideals (Rome as a republic) over his friend, Julius Caesar, and is willing to kill Caesar to protect the Republic. -Fear. Incredibly afraid of losing Rome as a republic, Brutus is willing to murder Caesar before the guy even does anything wrong. In his mind, it's better to sacrifice an innocent ruler than risk his becoming a tyrant. -Political Turmoil. Things don't go according to plan. The politicians are like, "the citizens are going to kiss our togas for eliminating the tyrant Caesar! Down with absolute power." But the citizens are like, "What! You killed Caesar? We loved him." Let's just say that the politicians aren't exactly tuned in to the citizens' wants and needs. -Reason vs. Passion. With his clear, cool logic, Brutus convinces the concerned public that Caesar was a tyrant who needed to be eliminated in order for them to be free. Then along comes Antony, with his passionate, emotional appeal, who just as easily swings the public in the other direction, turning them into an angry mob determined to avenge their beloved Caesar. -Sacrificing Personal Morals for the "Greater Good." Brutus is well-known for being a moral and honest guy, yet he decides to commit murder and sacrifice his morals in hopes of ensuring a better future for Rome.

Cicero

A Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill. Cicero speaks at Caesar's triumphal parade.

Antony

A friend of Caesar. Favors Caesar over Rome.

Julius Caesar

A great Roman general and senator, recently returned to Rome in triumph after a successful military campaign.

Decius

A member of the conspiracy. Decius convinces Caesar that Calpurnia misinterpreted her dire nightmares and that, in fact, no danger awaits him at the Senate. Decius leads Caesar right into the hands of the conspirators.

Casca

A public figure opposed to Caesar's rise to power. Casca relates to Cassius and Brutus how Antony offered the crown to Caesar three times and how each time Caesar declined it. He believes, however, that Caesar is the consummate actor, lulling the populace into believing that he has no personal ambition.

Cassius

A talented general and longtime acquaintance of Caesar. Cassius dislikes the fact that Caesar has become godlike in the eyes of the Romans.

Flavius

A tribune (an official elected by the people to protect their rights). Flavius condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, when once they cheered for Caesar's enemy Pompey. Flavius is punished along with Murellus for removing the decorations from Caesar's statues during Caesar's triumphal parade.

What is the plot/timeline of Acts 2 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar?`

Brutus cannot sleep, revealing for the first time his own true fears that Caesar may be growing too powerful. A letter is discovered, which Brutus reads, convincing him to join the conspiracy. The complete group of conspirators meets at Brutus' house, discussing Caesar's assassination. Brutus argues against Caesar's right hand man, Mark Antony being assassinated as well. Cassius and Trebonius have their doubts but go along with Brutus. Brutus' troubled wife Portia tries to find out what her husband is planning, worried for him... Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, wakes Caesar up after herself awakening from a terrible nightmare. She tells Caesar, that her dream foretells doom and succeeds in convincing Caesar not go to the Senate (also referred to as The Capitol) on the "ides of March" which is tomorrow. Decius Brutus arrives and hearing that Caesar will not be at the Senate tomorrow, flatters Caesar into going so as not to show fear (allowing Brutus and company to kill him there). Artemidorus waits in a street with a letter warning Caesar of the conspiracy, hoping to avert Caesar's assassination... Portia worries for her husband, hoping his "enterprise" today will succeed. The Soothsayer who warned Caesar about the "ides of March" in Act I, waits in a narrow street hoping to warn Caesar of his imminent danger...

Why does Brutus join the conspiracy?

Brutus decides to join the conspirators against Caesar because Cassius convinces him that it's for the good of Rome.

What is Brutus doing in his soliloquy in Act II?

Brutus is rationalizing to himself the reasons for committing the assassination of Caesar. He is revealing that he fears the power that Caesar could potentially have. He is afraid that, with power, Caesar may become a tyrant. He uses the metaphor of a serpent to suggest this, saying that a serpent may be innocent as an egg, but it will grow up and be dangerous, as Caesar might. So it should be killed as that egg, not when it can get strength. Brutus admits that Caesar has not behaved badly, or as a tyrant. Brutus is so scared of the power being abused, and of his country suffering, that he is willing to kill his friend to prevent it, as this speech demonstrates.

Portia

Brutus's wife; the daughter of a noble Roman who took sides against Caesar. Portia, accustomed to being Brutus's confidante, is upset to find him so reluctant to speak his mind when she finds him troubled.

What book influenced Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar?

Plutarch's "Lives"

Why does Brutus compare Caesar to a snake?

Caesar had not abused the power granted him. But, he might, reasoned Brutus, so let's smash him now like a serpent's egg before he can hatch and cause his mischief. Also, snakes are evil, cunning, seductive just like Caesar. Crown= hatched egg. Kill Caesar before he gets power.

Octavius

Caesar's adopted son and appointed successor. Octavius, who had been traveling abroad, returns after Caesar's death.

"Cowards die many times before their deaths;/ The valiant never taste of death but once." ?

Julius Caesar is referring to those who would threaten his life and position of power. Because he is confident of his backing among the citizens of Rome, Caesar feels himself to be invincible. He considers that anyone who would challenge him must be a cowardly traitor, filled with worry about the plans they create to try to depose him of his position and power ("die many times before their deaths") or a brave warrior who will engage in combat without hesitation, even to the inevitable death that would meet anyone who opposes him ("the valiant never taste of death but once.") Caesar is saluting those who aren't filled with cowardly dread and apprehension as they prepare for battle or action, but instead go forth bravely to meet whatever happens.

Murellus

Like Flavius, a tribune who condemns the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar, when once they cheered for Caesar's enemy Pompey. Murellus and Flavius are punished for removing the decorations from Caesar's statues during Caesar's triumphal parade.

What are the Ides of March?

March 15; soothsayer (prophet) sought Caesar and told him to beware the "Ides of March"

What is the plot/timeline of Acts 1 of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar?`

Marullus and Flavius scolding Roman citizens for blindly worshipping Caesar. Their conversation reveals deep-seated fears that Caesar is growing too powerful, too arrogant and must be stopped. Hoping to reduce the blind hero worship of Caesar, the two men remove ceremonial decorations off Caesar's "images" (statues) despite the obvious dangers of doing so... A little later, we see Caesar leading a procession through the streets of Rome. A Soothsayer or fortune teller tells Caesar to beware the "ides of March [the 15th of March]" a warning that Caesar will die on this day. It is ignored. Cassius, who fears Caesar's ever growing power, begins to recruit Brutus, a close friend of Caesar's, towards his conspiracy by implying that Caesar is becoming too powerful... We also learn that Marullus and Flavius, the two tribunes pulling decorations off Caesar's statues have been put to silence for "pulling scarfs off Caesar's images [statues]." Brutus is suspicious of Cassius' motives but tells Cassius that he will think it over... Casca, another conspirator, reveals information to Brutus that suggests Caesar may be getting more ambitious... Cassius' conspiracy gains momentum when he recruits a suspicious Casca to their cause against Caesar by pointing out that several recent strange occurrences are omens warning them against Caesar... To ensure Brutus joins his conspiracy, Cassius has Cinna place some forged letters where Brutus will find them convincing Brutus to join their cause. Cinna reveals that Brutus' good name will be an asset to their conspiracy...