ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Important Question Answers
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Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Textbook Questions
ASSIGNMENTS
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of the following was NOT one of the horrid sights reported from the streets of Rome?
(a) Groans of dying men
(b) Graves yielding up their dead
(c) Blood dripping from the roof
(d) Ghosts squealing.
Ans. (c) Blood dripping from the roof
2. What reply does Calpurnia give when Caesar said that the portents concerned mankind in general, not him alone?
(a) The heavens drop tears of blood when princes die.
(b) The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
(c) The heavens themselves bring forth clouds of blood.
(d) The heavens themselves let forth fire when princes die.
Ans. (b) The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
3. Why does Caesar initially agree to Calpurnia’s suggestion to not move out of his house?
(a) Out of fear of portents
(b) For Calpurnia’s sake
(c) For losing his crown
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) For Calpurnia’s sake
4. How does Decius interpret the meaning of Calpurnia’s dream?
(a) Caesar shall give life to all Rome
(b) Caesar will end all the evils from Rome
(c) Caesar will become the king despite the portents
(d) Caesar will put to an end all conspiracies against him.
Ans. (a) Caesar shall give life to all Rome
5. How does Caesar compare himself with the beast sacrificed by the priests?
(a) He would be as heartless as the beast
(b) He would be coward like the beast
(c) He would be sacrificed like the beast
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (b) He would be coward like the beast
6. Which characteristic trait of Caesar is revealed through his denial of the omens and portents?
(a) Bravery
(b) Cowardice
(c) Ignorance
(d) Vanity
Ans. (d) Vanity
7. Which method was used by Decius to dupe Caesar and persuade him to go to Senate?
(a) Falsehoods
(b) Appeal to Caesar’s vanity
(c) Flattery
(d) All of the above.
Ans. (d) All of the above.
8. What does this scene suggest about Caesar’s flaw that led to his doom?
(a) Overconfidence
(b) Pride
(c) Lack of trust
(d) Lack of vision
Ans. (a) Overconfidence
9. Which of the following is NOT a reason for Caesar to disregard his wife’s warning?
(a) Pride
(b) Humility
(c) Vanity
(d) Fate
Ans. (b) Humility
CONTEXTUAL QUESTIONS
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Enter Calpurnia
Calpurnia
What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
Ceasar
Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten’d me
Ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.
(i) In what mood does Calpurnia speak to Caesar? Why does she warn him? When earlier had he been warned of this day?
Ans. Calpurnia speaks to Caesar with fear and concern. She warns him because she has had a terrible dream about his murder and has heard of many frightening omens that suggest something bad is going to happen. He had been warned earlier that day by the Soothsayer, who told him to ‘Beware the Ides of March’.
(ii) What has Caesar noticed about the night? What did he ask his servant to do then? Why?
Ans. Caesar has noticed that neither heaven nor earth has been at peace that night. He tells his servant to have the priests perform a sacrifice and to bring him their opinions on its outcome. He does this because Calpurnia has cried out in her sleep about his murder, and he wants to know if the gods are sending a warning.
(iii) Caesar says: “Caesar shall forth.” On what are Calpurnia’s fears based? State two unusual things which she has heard to have happened.
Ans. Calpurnia’s fears are based on her own ominous dream and the many bad omens she has heard about. Two unusual things she has heard are that a lioness has given birth in the streets and that graves have opened up, yielding their dead.
(iv) What does Caesar say later about cowards? What does he say in the extract to show that he is not threatened?
Ans. Later in the scene, Caesar says, ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once’. In the extract, he shows he is not threatened by saying, ‘the things that threaten’d me ne’er look’d but on my back; when they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished’. This suggests he believes danger will disappear in his presence.
(v) What aspect of the character of Calpurnia as well as of Caesar is hinted at in the extract? Give reasons to justify your answer
Ans. The extract hints at Calpurnia’s loving and cautious nature. She acts out of genuine love and fear for her husband’s life. It hints at Caesar’s immense pride and arrogance. He dismisses her fears and believes he is so powerful that any threat would simply vanish in his presence.
2. Calpurnia
Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets,
And graves have yawn’d, and yielded up their dead;
(i) What is meant by “I never stood on ceremonies”? What is Caesar’s normal opinion on such things?
Ans. When Calpurnia says, ‘I never stood on ceremonies’, she means she’s never before paid attention to superstitions, omens, or rituals. Caesar’s normal opinion on such things is that he’s unfazed by them, believing that he is beyond any threat. He sees such fears as a sign of cowardice.
(ii) Mention any three other signs enumerated by Calpurnia in her speech. Why does she narrate such sights at this time?
Ans. In her speech, Calpurnia also mentions that fierce, fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, which then ‘drizzled blood upon the Capitol’, and that dying men groaned and ghosts shrieked in the streets. She narrates these horrifying sights to try to scare Caesar into staying home and taking the warnings seriously.
(iii) What does Calpurnia’s speech reveal about her character?
Ans. Calpurnia’s speech reveals her as a devoted, caring, and practical wife. Her use of ‘I never stood on ceremonies’ shows that she’s typically a grounded person, which makes her current fear even more significant. She is genuinely terrified for her husband’s safety, and her willingness to defy her usual nature shows how much she loves him.
(iv) What is Caesar’s reaction to Calpurnia’s fears? What does he decide to do?
Ans. Initially, Caesar dismisses Calpurnia’s fears. He confidently claims, ‘What can be avoided whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?’ However, after she pleads with him on her knees, he agrees to stay home, telling her, ‘And for thy humor I will stay at home’.
(v) What does Caesar a little later do to indicate that death is inevitable? Which characteristic trait of Caesar is highlighted by his action?
Ans. Later, to show that he believes death is inevitable, Caesar asks the augurers what they think. When they tell him they couldn’t find a heart in the sacrificed animal, he says he would be a coward to stay home, as ‘Caesar shall be a beast without a heart’ if he does so. This highlights his characteristic trait of overwhelming pride, which makes him scorn any action that might be seen as cowardly.
3. Calpurnia
Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth today. Call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We’ll send Mark Antony to the Senate House,
And he shall say you are not well today;
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
Caesar
Mark Antony shall say I am not well;
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
[Enter Decius]
Here’s Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
(i) Where are Calpurnia and Caesar at this moment? What is Calpurnia trying to convince Caesar?
Ans. Calpurnia and Caesar are at Caesar’s house. Calpurnia is trying to convince Caesar not to leave his house and go to the Senate today.
(ii) State two reasons offered by Calpurnia for wanting Caesar to stay at home.
Ans. Calpurnia offers two main reasons for wanting Caesar to stay home. The first is her terrible dream, which she interprets as a clear warning of impending disaster. She dreamt she saw his statue spouting blood, which she believes signifies his murder. The second reason is that she’s heard of horrific portents seen by others in the streets of Rome, such as graves opening and ghosts shrieking, which she believes foretell Caesar’s death.
(iii) Bring out three arguments Decius puts forward to make Caesar change his mind.
Ans. Decius uses three main arguments to change Caesar’s mind. First, he reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream, claiming the blood from the statue signifies that great Romans will seek to be revived by Caesar’s influence and legacy. Second, he flatters Caesar by revealing that the Senate has decided to offer him a crown that very day. Finally, he appeals to Caesar’s pride by warning that if he doesn’t go, the Senators might change their minds and mock him for being afraid or controlled by his wife’s dreams.
(iv) Explain clearly in your own words the meaning of “your wisdom is consum’d in confidence.” Was Calpurnia correct in her judgement of her husband? Why?
Ans. The phrase ‘your wisdom is consum’d in confidence’ means that Caesar’s overwhelming self-assurance and arrogance have completely overcome his good judgment. Calpurnia is absolutely correct in her judgment. Caesar’s confidence prevents him from recognizing the clear and present danger, making him vulnerable to manipulation. He is so blinded by his pride that he cannot see the wisdom in heeding the warnings.
(v) What is revealed of Calpurnia’s character in the above words? How is she contrasted with Portia who appears in the previous scene?
Ans. Calpurnia’s words reveal her as a devoted, loving, and cautious wife. She is willing to beg on her knees and even take the blame for his staying home to ensure his safety. This contrasts with Portia, Brutus’s wife, who is portrayed in the previous scene as having a more stoic and assertive personality. Portia is more focused on being seen as Brutus’s equal and is willing to harm herself to prove she can handle his secrets. While both women love their husbands, Calpurnia shows her love through fear and pleading, while Portia demonstrates it through strength and shared resolve.
4. Decius
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh’d at when I tell them so.
Caesar
The cause is in my will: I will not come;
That is enough to satisfy the Senate:
But, for your private satisfaction,
Because I love you, I will let you know;
Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt tonight. . .
(i) Where are the speakers at this moment? What day is this? What is the significance of this day?
Ans. At this moment, the speakers are at Caesar’s home. The day is the Ides of March, which is March 15th. This is the most significant day in the play because it is the day that the Soothsayer warned Caesar about, and it is the day that the conspirators have planned to assassinate him.
(ii) What did Calpurnia dream? How did she interpret her dream? How does Decius interpret her dream?
Ans. Calpurnia dreamt she saw Caesar’s statue, which spouted pure blood like a fountain from a hundred spouts. Many smiling Romans then bathed their hands in it. She interpreted this dream as a warning of ‘warnings and portents and evils imminent’ and begged Caesar to stay home. Decius, however, reinterprets the dream to flatter Caesar. He says the spouting blood signifies that great Rome will draw ‘reviving blood’ from Caesar, and that great men will ‘press for tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance’ from him, meaning they will seek his legacy and power.
(iii) What other reasons did Calpurnia state for not wanting Caesar to go to the Senate?
Ans. Besides the dream, Calpurnia’s fears are also based on the many horrific supernatural events that have been reported by the watch in the streets of Rome. She mentions that a lioness has given birth in the streets, that graves have yawned and yielded up their dead, and that fierce, fiery warriors fought in the clouds, dripping blood upon the Capitol. She also reports the sound of battle, neighing horses, groaning men, and ghosts shrieking. All of these omens contribute to her pleas for Caesar to stay home.
(iv) What other statements did Decius make to convince Caesar that he should attend the Senate? How is it that Decius has come on the scene at the time?
Ans. To convince Caesar to attend the Senate, Decius tells him that the Senators have decided to give him a crown that very day. He also warns Caesar that if he sends word he is sick, the Senate may change their minds, and people will mock him by saying he is afraid or a coward. Decius has come on the scene because he is a conspirator, and his job is to make sure Caesar comes to the Capitol so the assassination can take place.
(v) What is your opinion of Caesar at this point in the play? Express your feelings for him when he is assassinated.
Ans. At this point in the play, my opinion of Caesar is that he is a tragic figure whose pride and arrogance have made him blind to the real danger. He is so consumed by his own image of himself as a brave, invincible leader that he ignores all warnings, even those from the person who loves him most. When he is assassinated, my feelings are of pity and sadness. It’s a tragic moment because he could have so easily avoided his death by listening to his wife. His death is not just a murder but the downfall of a powerful man brought down by his own fatal flaw.
5. Decius
If you shall send them word you will not come;
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be render’d, for some one to say,
“Break up the Senate till another time,
When Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.”
If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper,
“Lo, Caesar is afraid”?…
Caesar
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go:
(i) What had Decius assured Caesar that the Senate were proposing to do on that particular day? Why?
Ans. Decius had assured Caesar that the Senate was proposing to give him a crown that day. He said this to flatter Caesar’s ego and give him a strong reason to attend the meeting.
(ii) When was a similar thing already offered and what was the reaction of Caesar at that time?
Ans. A similar offer of a crown was made to Caesar by Mark Antony during the Feast of Lupercal. At that time, Caesar had three times refused the crown, which was met with great applause from the crowd.
(iii) What interpretation had Decius offered to Calpurnia’s dream? What was his motive?
Ans. Decius had reinterpreted Calpurnia’s dream by saying it was a positive sign. He claimed that the blood from Caesar’s statue symbolized his life-giving influence on Rome and that the smiling Romans were great men seeking his legacy. His motive was to manipulate Caesar’s vanity and convince him that the omens were not a threat, but a sign of his growing power, so that he would go to the Senate where the conspirators could assassinate him.
(iv) Earlier in the play, Caesar himself had expressed, once to Antony and once to Calpurnia, other thoughts on the topic of fear. Describe as closely as you can any one of the things he says about fear.
Ans. Earlier in the play, Caesar famously expressed his thoughts on fear to Calpurnia, saying, ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once’. He believes that death is an inevitable, necessary end, and that a truly brave man should not be afraid of it.
(v) Explain in your own words the meaning of the phrase “it were a mock/Apt to be render’d.” What is revealed of Decius’ character in the passage?
Ans. The phrase ‘it were a mock apt to be render’d’ means that it would be an insult or a joke that would be likely to be made. Decius is suggesting that if Caesar doesn’t show up to the Senate, people will be ready to make fun of him. The passage reveals Decius’ character as cunning and manipulative. He knows exactly how to play on Caesar’s biggest weakness is his pride and his fear of looking foolish or cowardly to achieve his treacherous goal.
TEST AND EVALUATION
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1.Caesar
What say the augurers?
Servant
They would not have you to stir forth today.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
(i) Who were the augurers? Which day was “today”? Why was this day noteworthy? (3)
Ans. The augurers were Roman priests who practiced divination by observing the behavior of birds and by examining the entrails of sacrificed animals. ‘Today” was the Ides of March (March 15th). This day was noteworthy because a soothsayer had warned Caesar to ‘Beware the Ides of March’, and it was the day the conspirators had planned his assassination.
(ii) Where was Caesar about to “stir forth”? Who are “they”? Who had asked them to do what they were doing? Why? (3)
Ans. Caesar was about to ‘stir forth’ to the Senate House. ‘They’ are the augurers. Caesar had asked them to perform a sacrifice to get their opinion on the day’s events because of his wife Calpurnia’s terrible dream and the strange storms that had occurred. He wanted to know if it was safe to go out.
(iii) What did it signify that the beast had no heart? What was Caesar’s interpretation of the strange fact that the beast had no heart? (3)
Ans. The fact that the beast had no heart was seen as a very bad omen by the priests, who interpreted it as a sign of danger and would not have Caesar leave home. Caesar, however, interpreted the strange fact differently. He said, ‘The gods do this in shame of cowardice. Caesar should be a beast without a heart if he should stay at home today for fear’. He took the omen as a warning against being a coward, not as a warning against danger itself.
(iv) What did Caesar say about danger and himself littered on the same day? (3)
Ans. Caesar boldly compared himself to danger. He said, ‘Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he’. He added that they are like two lions born on the same day, but that he, Caesar, is the elder and more terrible of the two.
(v) Was Caesar courageous to stir forth that day in spite of many external signs? Give two reasons to justify your answer. (4)
Ans. No, Caesar was not truly courageous to go forth that day. His decision was not based on courage but on arrogance and a fear of appearing weak. Firstly, he was easily manipulated by Decius Brutus, who played on his pride by suggesting that people would mock him for staying home and that the Senate would change their minds about giving him a crown. A truly courageous person would trust their own judgment and not be swayed by flattery and insults. Secondly, his initial agreement to stay home ‘for thy humor’ shows that he was willing to listen to his wife’s fears, but it was his pride, not his bravery, that made him change his mind.
2. Caesar
What is’t o’clock?
Brutus
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
Caesar
I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Enter Antony
See! Antony, that revels long o’ nights,
Is notwithstanding up. Good morrow, Antony.
Antony
So to most noble Caesar.
Caesar
Bid them prepare within:
I am to blame to be thus waited for.
(i) Where are these three at this moment? Name the others who were present. Why had they come here? (3)
Ans. The three referred to here are Caesar, Brutus, and Antony, who are at Caesar’s house. Others present include Publius, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, and Cinna. They have all come to escort Caesar to the Senate House, a task they’ve undertaken as part of their conspiracy to assassinate him.
(ii) Explain why Caesar says, “pains and courtesy.” Do you think these people deserve his thanks? State your reason in brief. (3)
Ans. Caesar thanks them for their ‘pains and courtesy’ as a polite gesture. He appreciates that they’ve gone out of their way to come to his house early in the morning to accompany him. However, these people do not truly deserve his thanks. The reason is that they have come with a treacherous purpose to lead him to his death. Their ‘courtesy’ is a deceitful mask for their murderous plot.
(iii) What trait of Antony’s character is mentioned here by Caesar? Both Brutus and Cassius refer to this trait regarding Antony, but for different reasons. Narrate what each said, giving the circumstances and the reason. (3)
Ans. Caesar points out that Antony ‘revels long o’ nights’, referring to his habit of partying late. Both Brutus and Cassius mention this trait, but in different contexts. When Cassius first proposes the conspiracy, he worries that Antony is too close to Caesar and should be killed along with him. However, Brutus dismisses this idea, arguing that Antony is a ‘limb of Caesar’ and is too focused on pleasure to be a serious threat. Brutus believes that after Caesar’s death, Antony will not be a danger to them.
(iv) Which one of the following words best describes Caesar’s behaviour in this passage: generous, friendly, humble? Give a brief reason for your choice. How does this opinion of yours compare with Caesar’s behaviour depicted earlier in this scene? (3)
Ans. Caesar’s behavior in this passage is best described as friendly. He greets each person warmly, comments on Antony’s early arrival, and invites them all in for wine before they go. This behavior contrasts sharply with the arrogance and pride he showed earlier in the scene when he confidently dismissed all warnings and omens. His earlier defiance was directed at fate and his wife’s fears, but his current behavior towards the conspirators is a façade of hospitality.
(v) Brutus and Cassius had different reasons for putting Caesar to death. Express these reasons in brief. How far would you justify either reason, or both? (4)
Ans. Brutus and Cassius had different reasons for wanting to kill Caesar. Cassius was motivated by envy and personal ambition. He resented Caesar’s power and fame, feeling that Caesar had become too great while they remained small. Brutus, on the other hand, was driven by principle and the love of Rome. He believed that Caesar’s ambition posed a serious threat to the Roman Republic and its people’s freedom. He feared that Caesar would become a tyrant. While it’s difficult to justify murder, Brutus’s reason is more understandable from a moral standpoint. He truly believed he was acting for the greater good of Rome, which makes his tragic character more noble than Cassius’s.
ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Extra Questions and Answers
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. What is the first unusual event that Caesar describes in the opening of the scene?
A. An earthquake shook his house.
B. A fire broke out in the city.
C. Calpurnia cried out ‘They murder Caesar!’ in her sleep.
D. A ghost appeared at his door.
Ans. C. Calpurnia cried out ‘They murder Caesar!’ in her sleep.
Q2. According to Calpurnia, what did the augurers find when they performed a sacrifice?
A. The animal had two hearts.
B. The animal was perfectly healthy.
C. They found a heart but no liver.
D. They could not find a heart within the beast.
Ans. D. They could not find a heart within the beast.
Q3. What does Caesar mean when he says, ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; / The valiant never taste of death but once’?
A. Cowards are reincarnated multiple times.
B. Fear of death is a form of dying.
C. Brave men are immortal.
D. Cowards live longer because they avoid danger.
Ans. B. Fear of death is a form of dying.
Q4. How does Decius Brutus reinterpret Calpurnia’s dream about Caesar’s statue spouting blood?
A. He says it signifies a rebellion against Caesar.
B. He says it is a sign that Caesar’s legacy will be a source of life for Rome.
C. He says it means Caesar will be crowned king.
D. He says it is a warning from the gods to stay home.
Ans. B. He says it is a sign that Caesar’s legacy will be a source of life for Rome.
Q5. What is the primary reason Decius gives to persuade Caesar to go to the Senate House?
A. He warns that the people of Rome will turn against him.
B. He says the Senate plans to offer him a crown.
C. He tells him that his enemies are waiting to ambush him.
D. He claims Mark Antony is waiting for him there.
Ans. B. He says the Senate plans to offer him a crown.
Q6. Which character pleads with Caesar on their knees to stay home?
A. Portia
B. Decius Brutus
C. Calpurnia
D. Mark Antony
Ans. C. Calpurnia
Q7. What is Caesar’s initial reason for agreeing to stay home, before Decius arrives?
A. He is afraid of the omens.
B. He is feeling ill.
C. He does it to please his wife, Calpurnia.
D. He wants to delay the Senate meeting.
Ans. C. He does it to please his wife, Calpurnia.
Q8. What does Caesar famously say about his relationship to danger?
A. ‘Danger and I are sworn brothers’.
B. ‘Caesar is more dangerous than danger’.
C. ‘Danger fears me, but I fear the gods’.
D. ‘I am danger, and danger is me’.
Ans. B. ‘Caesar is more dangerous than danger’.
Q9. Which conspirator’s aside at the end of the scene reveals his true feelings to the audience?
A. Brutus
B. Trebonius
C. Casca
D. Cinna
Ans. B. Trebonius
Q10. What is the central theme explored in this scene?
A. The conflict between love and duty.
B. The nature of true friendship.
C. The struggle between fate and free will.
D. The importance of honor in politics.
Ans. C. The struggle between fate and free will
Extract Based Questions
Answer the following extract based questions.
A.
Calphurnia : Alas! my Lord. Your wisdom is consum’d in confidence. Do not go forth today: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We’ll send Mark Antony to the Senate House. ( PYQ 2025)
1. Where are the speakers? Describe the weather outside. What is Calphurnia trying to prevent Caesar from doing?
Ans. The speakers are at Caesar’s house. The weather outside is stormy, with thunder and lightning. Calphurnia is trying to prevent Caesar from going to the Capitol, where the conspirators plan to assassinate him.
2. State two unusual things Calphurnia had heard of that made her fearful. What nightmare had she had?
Ans. Calphurnia had heard of several unusual events, including a lioness giving birth in the streets and graves yawning open to yield up their dead. Her nightmare was that she saw a statue of Caesar spouting blood like a fountain, and many smiling Romans came to bathe their hands in it.
3. How did Caesar calm his wife’s fears? What does Calphurnia mean by “Your wisdom is consum’d in confidence”?
Ans. Initially, Caesar tries to calm his wife’s fears by claiming that death is inevitable and that the omens apply to everyone, not just him. Calphurnia’s phrase ‘Your wisdom is consum’d in confidence’ means that Caesar’s immense pride and arrogance have completely overshadowed his good judgment. His overconfidence has led him to ignore all warnings and rational thought.
4. How does Decius interpret Calphurnia’s dream?
Ans. Decius interprets Calphurnia’s dream as a positive and glorious omen. He tells Caesar that the blood from the statue signifies that great Romans will draw strength and life from Caesar’s legacy. He twists the image of the Romans bathing in the blood to mean they are seeking ‘tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance’ from him, essentially wanting a part of his greatness.
5. What does Caesar finally decide to do? What can you infer about his character from this decision? Mention two aspects of Calphurnia’s character revealed in this scene.
Ans. Caesar finally decides to go to the Capitol. This decision reveals his fatal flaws of pride and arrogance. He is so worried about appearing weak or cowardly that he disregards all the warnings and falls for Decius’s flattery. Calphurnia’s character is shown to be devoted and cautious; she is genuinely fearful for her husband’s safety and is willing to kneel and take the blame for his staying home. Her love for him is her primary motivation.
B.
[Thunder and lightning. Enter Caesar, in his nightgown.]
Caesar
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
‘Help, ho! They murder Caesar!’
1. What does the thunder and lightning at the beginning of the scene symbolize?
Ans. The thunder and lightning symbolize the disruption of the natural order and the impending doom that hangs over Caesar’s life. These supernatural events reflect the chaos and tension that Calpurnia and Caesar are experiencing, hinting at the violent events to come.
2. Who is the first person to voice concern about Caesar’s safety in this scene?
Ans. Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife, is the first to voice concern. She does so by crying out in her sleep, ‘They murder Caesar!’ This shows that her subconscious is already aware of the threat to her husband’s life, even before the conspirators arrive.
3. Why is Calpurnia’s outcry significant to the plot?
Ans. Her cries are significant because they are the first direct hint of the assassination plot in this scene. They validate the audience’s knowledge of the conspiracy and serve as a powerful warning to Caesar, which he initially dismisses as a mere dream.
4. Why does Caesar mention that he and his wife have had a disturbed night?
Ans. Caesar mentions the troubled night to show that the omens are affecting him personally. By noting that ‘Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight’, he acknowledges the supernatural warnings and justifies his decision to seek the augurers’ advice before leaving home.
5. Caesar believes he is more powerful than danger itself. How does his reaction to Calpurnia’s fears and the augurers’ report reflect his tragic flaw?
Ans. Caesar’s reaction to the warnings reveals his tragic flaw of hubris, or excessive pride. When Calpurnia begs him to stay, he initially agrees out of a condescending gesture, not fear. Later, when the augurers report the bad omen of a sacrificed animal without a heart, he reinterprets it as a sign that the gods would shame him for being a coward. His arrogance makes him believe he is invincible and above all natural laws and warnings, a weakness that the conspirators, particularly Decius, will expertly exploit to lead him to his death.
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