Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Summary, Explanation, Word meanings| ICSE Class 10 English Drama

 

ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Summary, Theme, Explanation along with difficult word meanings

 

Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Class 10 ICSE– Are you looking for Summary Theme and Lesson Explanation for ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2. Get summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings. 

 

ICSE Class 10 Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 

By William Shakespeare

 

In Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, public opinion undergoes a dramatic shift. Brutus explains to the citizens of Rome why the conspirators killed Caesar. However, Mark Antony delivers a powerful and emotional speech that turns the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators. This scene takes place at Caesar’s funeral in the Roman Forum and is a turning point. The people go from accepting the assassination to becoming angry and vengeful, leading to civil unrest and war.

 

• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Summary 
• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Summary in Hindi
• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Theme 
• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Explanation

 

Related: 

• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Question Answers
• Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 2 Character Sketch
• ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes

 

 

Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2 Summary 

The scene opens with a crowd of Roman citizens, called plebeians, demanding to know why Julius Caesar was killed. Brutus and Cassius, two of the main conspirators, decide to split the crowd. Cassius takes a portion of the people to another street while Brutus stays to address the rest.

Brutus steps up to a pulpit and begins his speech. He addresses the crowd directly, asking them to be silent and listen with their good judgment. He states that he loved Caesar, but he loved Rome more. He argues that Caesar’s ambition would have turned all of Rome into slaves. He poses rhetorical questions to the crowd, asking who among them would want to be a slave or not love their country. The crowd responds that no one does, so Brutus concludes that he has offended no one by killing Caesar.

He explains that Caesar’s death was a necessary sacrifice for Rome’s freedom and that he is prepared to die in the same way if it ever serves his country. Convinced and stirred by Brutus’s logic, the crowd cheers for him and wants to make him the new Caesar. However, Brutus humbly declines and asks them to stay and listen to Mark Antony, who has been granted permission to speak. Brutus then leaves the scene, leaving Antony alone with the crowd and Caesar’s body.

Antony steps into the pulpit. The plebeians are initially suspicious of him, believing Caesar was a tyrant and that Brutus is a noble man. Antony begins his speech by saying he is there to bury Caesar, not to praise him. He repeatedly calls Brutus and the conspirators ‘honorable men’ in an ironic tone. He then uses a series of examples to show that Caesar was not ambitious: he brought captives and wealth to Rome, wept for the poor, and famously refused the crown three times. Each time he provides an example, he ends by saying, ‘Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man’.

Antony’s words begin to sway the crowd. He pauses to show his grief, telling them his heart is with Caesar in his coffin. Seeing the people are now on his side, he reveals that he has Caesar’s will but pretends he shouldn’t read it, fearing it would make them mad and show them how much Caesar loved them. This only makes the crowd more insistent. They demand to hear the will and accuse the conspirators of being traitors and murderers.

Antony descends from the pulpit and stands among the crowd, near Caesar’s body. He shows them Caesar’s mantle (cloak) and points out the specific places where each conspirator stabbed him, mentioning Brutus’s stab as ‘the most unkindest cut of all’. He then pulls back the cloak to reveal Caesar’s body, covered in wounds. The sight of the body and the vivid description of the assassination drives the crowd into a frenzy of rage and sorrow.

The plebeians vow to get revenge. Antony, feigning innocence, insists that he is not an orator like Brutus and only speaks ‘right on’, but his carefully planned words have achieved exactly what he wanted: to incite a riot. The crowd cries out for mutiny, seeking to burn the conspirators’ houses and kill them.

Antony stops them one more time, reminding them they don’t know why they are so angry. He then reveals the contents of Caesar’s will: Caesar has left 75 drachmas to every single Roman citizen and has also bequeathed his private parks and gardens to the public for their enjoyment.

The plebeians are now fully enraged and determined to avenge Caesar. They grab his body and run off to burn it in a holy place and use the brands to set fire to the conspirators’ houses. Antony is left alone, watching the chaos unfold. He learns from a servant that Octavius has arrived in Rome and that Brutus and Cassius have fled the city. Antony is confident that his plan has succeeded and that their side will now triumph.

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Summary of Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2 in Hindi 

यह दृश्य रोमन नागरिकों की भीड़ के साथ शुरू होता है, जिन्हें प्लेबियन कहा जाता है, यह जानने की मांग करते हुए कि जूलियस सीज़र को क्यों मारा गया था। ब्रूटस और कैसियस, दो मुख्य साजिशकर्ता, भीड़ को विभाजित करने का फैसला करते हैं। कैसियस लोगों के एक हिस्से को दूसरी सड़क पर ले जाता है जबकि ब्रूटस बाकी लोगों को संबोधित करने के लिए रहता है।

ब्रूटस एक मंच पर चढ़ता है और अपना भाषण शुरू करता है। वह सीधे भीड़ को संबोधित करता है, उन्हें चुप रहने और उनके अच्छे निर्णय के साथ सुनने के लिए कहता है। वह कहता है कि वह कैसर से प्यार करता था, लेकिन वह रोम से ज्यादा प्यार करता था। उनका तर्क है कि सीज़र की महत्वाकांक्षा ने पूरे रोम को गुलामों में बदल दिया होगा। वह भीड़ से अलंकारिक सवाल करता है, यह पूछते हुए कि उनमें से कौन गुलाम बनना चाहेगा या अपने देश से प्यार नहीं करेगा। भीड़ जवाब देती है कि कोई भी ऐसा नहीं करता है, इसलिए ब्रूटस ने निष्कर्ष निकाला कि उसने सीज़र को मारकर किसी को भी नाराज नहीं किया है।

वह बताते हैं कि सीज़र की मृत्यु रोम की स्वतंत्रता के लिए एक आवश्यक बलिदान थी और वह उसी तरह मरने के लिए तैयार है जैसे वह कभी अपने देश की सेवा करता है। ब्रूटस के तर्क से आश्वस्त और उत्तेजित, भीड़ उसके लिए जयकार करती है और उसे नया कैसर बनाना चाहती है। हालांकि, ब्रूटस विनम्रता से मना कर देता है और उन्हें रुकने और मार्क एंटनी की बात सुनने के लिए कहता है, जिसे बोलने की अनुमति दी गई है। ब्रूटस तब भीड़ और सीज़र के शरीर के साथ एंटनी को अकेला छोड़ते हुए दृश्य छोड़ देता है।

एंटनी मंच में कदम रखता है। जनमत संग्रहकर्ताओं को शुरू में उस पर संदेह है, उनका मानना है कि सीज़र एक अत्याचारी था और ब्रूटस एक कुलीन व्यक्ति है। एंटनी अपना भाषण यह कहकर शुरू करता है कि वह सीज़र को दफनाने के लिए आया है, उसकी प्रशंसा करने के लिए नहीं। वह बार-बार ब्रूटस और षड्यंत्रकारियों को व्यंग्यात्मक लहजे में ‘सम्मानित पुरुष’ कहता है। फिर वह उदाहरणों की एक श्रृंखला का उपयोग यह दिखाने के लिए करता है कि सीज़र महत्वाकांक्षी नहीं थाः वह रोम में बंदी और धन लाया, गरीबों के लिए रोया, और प्रसिद्ध रूप से तीन बार ताज से इनकार कर दिया। हर बार जब वह एक उदाहरण देता है, तो वह यह कहकर समाप्त करता है, ‘फिर भी ब्रूटस कहता है कि वह महत्वाकांक्षी था, और ब्रूटस एक सम्मानित व्यक्ति है’।

एंटनी के शब्द भीड़ को विचलित करने लगते हैं। वह अपना दुख दिखाने के लिए रुकता है, उन्हें बताता है कि उसका दिल सीज़र के ताबूत में है। लोगों को अब अपने पक्ष में देखकर, वह बताता है कि उसके पास कैसर की इच्छा है, लेकिन वह नाटक करता है कि उसे इसे नहीं पढ़ना चाहिए, इस डर से कि यह उन्हें पागल कर देगा और उन्हें दिखाएगा कि कैसर उनसे कितना प्यार करता था। यह केवल भीड़ को और अधिक जिद्दी बनाता है। वे वसीयत सुनने की मांग करते हैं और साजिशकर्ताओं पर देशद्रोही और हत्यारे होने का आरोप लगाते हैं।

एंटनी मंच से उतरता है और सीज़र के शरीर के पास भीड़ के बीच खड़ा होता है। वह उन्हें सीज़र का कवच (लबादा) दिखाता है और उन विशिष्ट स्थानों की ओर इशारा करता है जहाँ प्रत्येक साजिशकर्ता ने उसे चाकू मारा था, जिसमें ब्रूटस के चाकू को ‘सबसे निर्दयी कट’ के रूप में उल्लेख किया गया था। फिर वह घावों से ढके सीज़र के शरीर को प्रकट करने के लिए लबादा को वापस खींचता है। शव को देखना और हत्या का विशद वर्णन भीड़ को क्रोध और दुःख के उन्माद में डाल देता है।

जनमत संग्रहकर्ता बदला लेने की कसम खाते हैं। एंटनी, बेगुनाही का नाटक करते हुए, जोर देकर कहता है कि वह ब्रूटस की तरह एक वक्ता नहीं है और केवल ‘सही’ बोलता है, लेकिन उसके सावधानीपूर्वक नियोजित शब्दों ने ठीक वही हासिल किया है जो वह चाहता थाः एक दंगा भड़काने के लिए। भीड़ विद्रोह के लिए चिल्लाती है, साजिशकर्ताओं के घरों को जलाने और उन्हें मारने की मांग करती है।

एंटनी उन्हें एक बार और रोकता है, उन्हें याद दिलाता है कि वे नहीं जानते कि वे इतने गुस्से में क्यों हैं। फिर वह कैसर की वसीयत की सामग्री का खुलासा करता हैः कैसर ने प्रत्येक रोमन नागरिक के लिए 75 ड्राक्मा छोड़े हैं और जनता के आनंद के लिए अपने निजी उद्यानों और उद्यानों को भी जनता के लिए विरासत में दिया है।

जनमत संग्रहकर्ता अब पूरी तरह से क्रोधित हैं और सीज़र का बदला लेने के लिए दृढ़ हैं। वे उसके शरीर को हड़प लेते हैं और उसे एक पवित्र स्थान पर जलाने के लिए भाग जाते हैं और साजिशकर्ताओं के घरों में आग लगाने के लिए ब्रांडों का उपयोग करते हैं। एंटनी अकेला रह जाता है, अराजकता को देखते हुए। उसे एक नौकर से पता चलता है कि ऑक्टेवियस रोम आ गया है और ब्रूटस और कैसियस शहर से भाग गए हैं। एंटनी को विश्वास है कि उनकी योजना सफल हो गई है और उनका पक्ष अब विजयी होगा।

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Theme of Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2

The Power of Public Opinion
This scene is a powerful demonstration of how easily public opinion can be swayed. The Roman plebeians are initially on Brutus’s side, convinced by his logical, honorable, and patriotic reasons for killing Caesar. However, Antony’s emotional and manipulative speech completely reverses their loyalty. He doesn’t directly contradict Brutus but uses irony, rhetoric, and visual aids like Caesar’s body and will, to turn the crowd’s pity into fury. This shows that the people’s beliefs are not fixed but are easily influenced by a skilled speaker who can appeal to their emotions, not just their reason.

The Manipulation of Language and Rhetoric
Both Brutus and Antony are masters of language, but they use it for different purposes. Brutus uses logos, or logical appeal, to argue his case. He appeals to the crowd’s sense of reason and honor, framing Caesar’s death as a necessary sacrifice for freedom. Antony, on the other hand, uses pathos, or emotional appeal, to achieve his goal. He uses repetition of ‘honorable men’, dramatic pauses, and vivid descriptions to stir the crowd’s feelings. He also uses irony to subtly undermine Brutus’s reputation. The scene shows that a powerful speech can be a more effective weapon than a sword.

Theme of Ambition
The theme of ambition is central to this scene. Brutus claims Caesar was killed for his ambition, arguing that it was a threat to Rome’s freedom. He presents himself as someone who is not ambitious, a noble man who sacrificed a friend for the good of his country. Conversely, Antony suggests that the conspirators were the ones who were truly ambitious, motivated by their own desire for power rather than love for Rome. He paints Caesar not as an ambitious tyrant but as a man who cared for the poor and refused a crown. The play leaves the audience to question who was truly ambitious: Caesar, who was offered power, or the conspirators, who took it by force.

The Dangers of Mob Mentality
The scene vividly portrays the dangers of mob mentality. The plebeians are not individuals with independent thoughts but a collective, easily led by the most persuasive voice. They switch their allegiance completely from Brutus to Antony in a matter of minutes. When Antony’s speech ends, their grief turns into a violent, destructive rage. They become a chaotic force, ready to ‘mutiny’ and ‘burn’ without a clear leader or plan. This suggests that a crowd can lose its reason and become a tool for destruction.

Setting of the Scene
The setting for Act 3, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar is the Roman Forum, a public square in the heart of Rome. It is a place where people gather for business, political speeches, and public events. In this scene, it is a bustling, chaotic place, filled with a large crowd of Roman citizens,  who are eager to understand why Caesar was assassinated. The scene’s central focus is the ‘pulpit’, a raised platform or stage from which speakers address the crowd. This platform is where Brutus delivers his logical, reasoned speech and where Mark Antony later gives his powerful, emotional oration. The presence of Caesar’s body, which is carried into the Forum by Antony and his men, transforms the setting from a simple public square into a makeshift funeral site. The Forum’s open, public nature allows for the drama to unfold before a large audience, making the change in the crowd’s mood and loyalty the central event of the scene.

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Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 2: Scene Explanation 

 

Play
BRUTUS and CASSIUS enter with a crowd of PLEBEIANS.
PLEBEIANS
We will be satisfied! Let us be satisfied!
BRUTUS
Then follow me and give me audience, friends.
—Cassius, go you into the other street
And part the numbers.
—Those that will hear me speak, let ’em stay here.
Those that will follow Cassius, go with him,
And public reasons shall be renderèd
Of Caesar’s death.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
I will hear Brutus speak.
ANOTHER PLEBEIAN
I will hear Cassius and compare their reasons
When severally we hear them renderèd.
CASSIUS exits with some of the PLEBEIANS. BRUTUS gets up on the platform.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
The noble Brutus is ascended. Silence!

Word Meanings
Satisfied: To be given a full explanation or justification for something; to have one’s curiosity or doubts fully answered.
Audience: A formal hearing or opportunity to speak to a person or group.
Part: To divide or separate into different groups.
Numbers: A colloquial term for the crowd or group of people.
Rendered: Formally presented or given.
Severally: Separately or individually.
Ascended: To have gone up, in this case, onto the public platform or pulpit.

Explanation of the above dialogues—The scene begins with Brutus and Cassius entering, accompanied by a large crowd of plebeians who are shouting that they demand an explanation for Caesar’s death. Brutus responds by telling the crowd to follow him and listen. He then instructs Cassius to go to a different street and divide the crowd. Brutus says that those who wish to hear him should stay, while those who want to follow Cassius should go with him. He promises that the public reasons for Caesar’s death will be given. A plebeian declares that he will stay to listen to Brutus. Another plebeian decides to follow Cassius, saying he will compare their reasons after hearing both of them separately. After Cassius exits with part of the crowd, Brutus ascends the public platform. A third plebeian calls for silence, announcing that the ‘noble Brutus’ has gone up to speak. Brutus’s decision to split the crowd and address them himself shows his confidence in his rhetorical abilities and his belief that his logical and honorable motives will be sufficient to sway the public. The plebeians’ lines highlight their fickle and divided nature; they are not a unified body but a group of individuals who are easily swayed and prone to following the most convincing speaker.

Play
BRUTUS
Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and
lovers! Hear me for my cause, and be silent that you may
hear. Believe me for mine honor, and have respect to
mine honor that you may believe. Censure me in your
wisdom, and awake your senses that you may the better
judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend
of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’ love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand why
Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that
I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you
rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that
Caesar were dead, to live all 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. There is tears for his love, joy
for his fortune, honor for his valor, and death for his
ambition. Who is here so base that would be a bondman?
If any, speak—for him have I offended. Who is here so
rude that would not be a Roman? If any, speak—for him
have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love
his country? If any, speak—for him have I offended. I
pause for a reply.

Word Meanings
Be patient till the last: This means to wait until the end of the speech.
Censure me in your wisdom: Judge me using your good sense and reason.
Senses: One’s ability to think and feel; in this context, it refers to good judgment.
Bondman: A person who is a slave or serf.
Rude: In this context, it means ignorant or uncultured, not impolite.
Vile: Morally corrupt; wicked.
Valiant: Possessing or showing courage or determination; brave.

Explanation of the above dialogues—Brutus, addressing a crowd of Roman citizens, asked them to be patient and listen. He urged them to trust his honor and use their wisdom to judge his actions. He told any of Caesar’s friends in the crowd that his love for Caesar was just as strong. If they were to ask why he had turned against Caesar, his answer would be that he did not love Caesar less, but that he loved Rome more. He presented a choice: would they rather have Caesar living and be slaves, or have him dead and live as free men? Brutus then broke down his feelings for Caesar into four parts: he wept for Caesar’s love for him, rejoiced in his good fortune, honored his bravery, but killed him for his ambition. He then challenged the crowd, asking if anyone was so lowly that they would want to be a slave, so rude that they would not want to be a Roman, or so vile that they would not love their country. He paused for a response, confident that no one would disagree. Brutus misjudges the crowd’s nature. He assumes they are as logical and principled as he is. He appeals to their reason, but people are often swayed more by emotion. His speech lacks the emotional resonance of Antony’s.

Play
ALL
None, Brutus, none.
BRUTUS
Then none have I offended. I have done no more to
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his
death is enrolled in the Capitol. His glory not
extenuated wherein he was worthy, nor his offenses
enforced for which he suffered death.
ANTONY enters with CAESAR’s body.
BRUTUS
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who,
though he had no hand in his death, shall receive the
benefit of his dying—a place in the commonwealth—as
which of you shall not? With this I depart: that, as I
slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same
dagger for myself when it shall please my country to
need my death.
ALL
Live, Brutus! Live, live!

Word Meanings
Enrolled: Registered or officially recorded.
Capitol: Refers to the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, a central and sacred site in Rome where important government records were kept.
Extenuated: To make something seem less serious or important.
Enforced: to be emphasized or exaggerated.
Commonwealth: Refers to the Roman Republic, the state, and its government.
Slew: Killed. Brutus is saying he killed his best friend.
Lover: Here, lover means a dear and close friend, not in a romantic sense. It emphasizes the deep personal relationship Brutus had with Caesar.

Explanation of the above dialogues—The crowd shouts in unison that Brutus has offended none of them. Brutus then declares that he has offended no one, and that what he did to Caesar is something they, the people, would do to him, Brutus, if the country needed it. He says that the reason for Caesar’s death is officially recorded in the Capitol. He states that Caesar’s worthy achievements have not been lessened, nor have his faults been exaggerated. At this moment, Antony enters with Caesar’s body. Brutus points out that Antony, who did not participate in the assassination, will receive a benefit from Caesar’s death, a position in the new government, just as all of the citizens will. Brutus then concludes by saying that just as he killed his best friend for the good of Rome, he has the same dagger ready to use on himself whenever his country might need his death. The crowd cheers, shouting ‘Live, Brutus! Live, live!’ in response. Brutus’s speech, following his successful appeal to the crowd’s sense of patriotism, shows his arrogance and naivety. The crowd’s reaction, ‘Live, Brutus! Live, live!’, highlights their fickle nature. Their passionate cry for Brutus to live is in stark contrast to their earlier rage and their later calls for revenge against him.

Play
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Bring him with triumph home unto his house!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Give him a statue with his ancestors!
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him be Caesar!
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Caesar’s better parts
Shall be crowned in Brutus!
FIRST PLEBEIAN
We’ll bring him to his house with shouts and clamors.
BRUTUS
My countrymen—
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Peace, ho!

Word Meanings
Triumph: A great victory or achievement. In ancient Rome, a triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite held to publicly celebrate a military commander’s victory.
Ancestors: The people from whom one is descended, especially those more remote than a grandparent.
Crowned: To be given a crown, symbolizing being made a king or a leader.
Clamors: Loud and confused noises, especially that of people shouting vehemently.
Ho: An exclamation used to attract attention or express a state of being.
Pulpit: A raised platform or lectern in a church or chapel from which the preacher delivers a sermon. Here, it refers to a public speaking platform in the Roman Forum.

Explanation of the above dialogues—After Brutus finishes his speech, the First Plebeian enthusiastically says they will bring him home in triumph. The Second Plebeian suggests giving him a statue alongside his ancestors. The Third Plebeian exclaims that he should be made the new Caesar. The Fourth Plebeian adds that Brutus should be crowned with Caesar’s best qualities. The First Plebeian repeats their desire to bring him home with celebratory shouts. Brutus attempts to address them, but the Second and First Plebeians quiet the crowd so that they can listen to him. This short exchange is a pivotal moment in the scene, showing the fickleness of the plebeians and Brutus’s overconfidence in his ability to control them.

Play
BRUTUS
Good countrymen, let me depart alone.
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony
By our permission is allowed to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
BRUTUS exits.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stay, ho! And let us hear Mark Antony.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Let him go up into the public chair.
We’ll hear him. —Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY
For Brutus’ sake, I am beholding to you.
[ascends the pulpit]
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
What does he say of Brutus?
THIRD PLEBEIAN
He says for Brutus’ sake
He finds himself beholding to us all.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
‘Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
This Caesar was a tyrant.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Nay, that’s certain.
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Peace! Let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY
You gentle Romans—
ALL
Peace, ho! Let us hear him.

Word Meanings
Depart: To leave.
Grace: To show honor or respect.
Tending to: Referring to or concerning.
Entreat: To earnestly request or beg. Brutus is begging the people not to leave.
Save: Except for.
Public chair: The pulpit or platform from which public speeches were given.
Beholding to: Indebted to or grateful to.
‘Twere best: It were best, or it would be best.
Bless’d: Blessed or fortunate.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus requests his fellow Romans to let him leave alone. For his sake, he asks them to remain there with Antony. He instructs them to be respectful to Caesar’s body and to listen respectfully to Antony’s speech. He mentions that Antony’s speech would focus on Caesar’s great deeds, a speech that the conspirators had given him permission to make. He pleads with them not to leave until Antony had finished speaking. Upon Brutus’s exit, the First Plebeian cries out for everyone to stay and listen to Antony. The Third Plebeian suggests that Antony should be allowed to speak from the public platform and calls on him to go up. Antony, as he goes up, expresses his gratitude to the crowd for Brutus’s sake. The Fourth Plebeian asks what Antony had said about Brutus. The Third Plebeian explains that Antony had said he was grateful to them all because of Brutus. The Fourth Plebeian comments that Antony had better not speak ill of Brutus. The First Plebeian then confidently states that Caesar was a tyrant, and the Third Plebeian agrees, saying that they were lucky to be rid of him. The Fourth Plebeian calls for silence so they could hear what Antony had to say. Antony began his speech by addressing them as ‘gentle Romans’, and the crowd again calls for silence so he could speak. This excerpt is a pivotal moment in the play, marking the transition of power and influence from Brutus to Antony. It highlights Brutus’s fatal flaw: his overestimation of the Roman public’s rationality and his underestimation of Antony’s rhetorical skill.

Play
ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interrèd with their bones.
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest—
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable 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 honorable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill.
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept.
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious,
And, sure, he is an honorable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause.
What cause withholds you then to mourn for him?
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me.
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me. [weeps]

Word Meanings
Lend me your ears: An idiom meaning ‘give me your attention’. Antony is asking the crowd to listen carefully.
Interrèd: Buried.
Grievous fault: A terrible mistake or wrongdoing.
Hath Caesar answered it: Caesar has paid for it (with his life).
Under leave: With permission.
General coffers: The public treasury or bank.
Lupercal: A Roman festival held in February. This refers to the historical event where Antony offered Caesar the crown.
Brutish beasts: Wild, unthinking animals. Antony suggests that men, by acting without reason, are no better than these creatures.
Bear with me: Be patient with me; show me some understanding.

Explanation of the above dialogues— In his famous funeral oration, Antony addresses the Roman citizens, asking them to listen to him. He begins by stating that he has come to bury Caesar, not to praise him, acknowledging that the good a person does is often buried with them, while their evil deeds live on. Antony accepts this fate for Caesar, noting that the ‘noble Brutus’ has already told the crowd that Caesar was ambitious. Antony admits that if this was true, it was a terrible flaw, and Caesar has paid for it with his life. He then repeats that he is speaking at the funeral with the permission of Brutus and the other conspirators, whom he repeatedly refers to as ‘honorable men’. Antony then recounts his personal relationship with Caesar, describing him as a faithful and just friend. He contrasts this with the accusation of ambition, using a series of examples. He mentions that Caesar brought back many captives to Rome, and the money from their ransoms filled the public treasury. Antony asks if this seems like ambition. He also reminds them that Caesar wept when the poor cried, suggesting that ambition is made of ‘sterner stuff’ than such compassion. He also recalls how he personally offered Caesar a kingly crown three times on the feast of the Lupercal, and Caesar refused it all three times. Again, he asks if this seems like ambition. Antony asserts that he is not there to disprove Brutus’s words but to speak of what he knows. He reminds the crowd that they once loved Caesar for good reason. He then pauses, overcome with emotion, declaring that human reason has fled and that his heart is with Caesar in his coffin. Antony’s use of pathos, or emotional appeal, is central to his success. He does not rely on logical argument like Brutus but instead appeals to the crowd’s pity and sentimentality by calling Caesar his friend and shedding tears. He then uses logos, or logical appeal, by providing concrete examples of Caesar’s supposed lack of ambition. By contrasting Brutus’s single assertion of ambition with multiple verifiable acts of generosity and humility, Antony forces the crowd to question the conspirators’ motives.

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FIRST PLEBEIAN
Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown.
Therefore ’tis certain he was not ambitious.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Poor soul! His eyes are red as fire with weeping.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
There’s not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Now mark him. He begins again to speak.

Word Meanings
Methinks: An archaic form of ‘I think’.
Thou: archaic form of You. The Second Plebeian is addressing the First Plebeian.
Dear abide it: An expression meaning pay dearly for it or suffer for it.
Noble: of high moral principles; honorable.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The First Plebeian thinks that there is much reason in what Antony is saying. The Second Plebeian agrees, stating that if one thinks about the matter correctly, they would realize Caesar was greatly wronged. The Third Plebeian questions this, expressing a fear that a worse leader might come to power. The Fourth Plebeian points out that Antony’s words show Caesar refused the crown, which proves he was not ambitious. The First Plebeian says that if this is found to be true, some people will pay a heavy price for it. The Second Plebeian notices that Antony’s eyes are red from weeping and feels pity for him. The Third Plebeian declares that Antony is the most noble man in Rome. The Fourth Plebeian then urges the others to listen closely, as Antony is beginning to speak again. This short exchange among the plebeians demonstrates the rapid shift in public opinion during Antony’s speech. Initially, the crowd was on Brutus’s side, but Antony’s subtle, emotional arguments have begun to take effect. The plebeians are easily swayed because they are responding to pathos i.e. emotional appeal rather than the logos (logical appeal) that Brutus used.

Play
ANTONY
But yesterday the word of Caesar might
Have stood against the world. Now lies he there,
And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong—
Who, you all know, are honorable men.
I will not do them wrong. I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,
Than I will wrong such honorable men.
But here’s a parchment with the seal of Caesar.
I found it in his closet. ‘Tis his will.
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.

Word Meanings
Reverence: Deep respect. In this context, it means no one is showing Caesar the respect he deserves.
Disposed: Inclined or willing to do something. Antony says he is not disposed to stir their hearts to mutiny.
Mutiny: An open rebellion against lawful authority. Here, it refers to the public rebellion against the conspirators.
Parchment: A stiff, flat, thin material made from the prepared skin of an animal, used as a durable writing surface. In this case, Caesar’s will.
Testament: A person’s last will.
Napkins: small handkerchiefs.
Bequeathing: Leaving property or money to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
Legacy: An amount of money or property left to someone in a will.
Issue: one’s children or descendants.

Explanation of the above dialogues—The day before, the word of Caesar had so much power it could have stood against the entire world; but now he lies there, dead, and even the poorest person would not give him the respect he deserved. Antony then said to the masters in the crowd that if he were inclined to stir their hearts and minds to mutiny and rage, he would be doing a wrong to Brutus and a wrong to Cassius, who, as they all knew, were honorable men. He insisted that he would not do them wrong. He would rather choose to wrong the dead, wrong himself, and wrong the crowd than to wrong such honorable men. Antony then introduced a new element, holding up a parchment with Caesar’s seal on it, which he said he found in Caesar’s closet. He identified it as Caesar’s will. He suggested that if the common people were to just hear this testament which he said he did not intend to read, pardon him, they would be so moved that they would go and kiss Caesar’s wounds and dip their handkerchiefs in his sacred blood. They would even beg for a single hair of his to keep as a memory, and upon their death, they would mention it within their wills, leaving it as a rich inheritance to their children. This passage marks the pivotal moment in Antony’s funeral oration, where he transitions from subtle irony to direct manipulation. His opening lines evoke a sense of profound loss and injustice, contrasting Caesar’s past power with his current state of helplessness. He uses the phrase ‘honorable men’ with biting sarcasm, systematically stripping it of its meaning by juxtaposing it with Caesar’s virtues and the injustice of his death. This verbal irony is a core component of his strategy. The introduction of Caesar’s will is a masterstroke of reverse psychology. By pretending he does not intend to read it, Antony makes the crowd desperate to hear it. He understands that humans desire what is forbidden or withheld. He moves from abstract reasoning to emotional, tangible provocation, effectively turning the crowd into the instrument of his revenge.

Play
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
We’ll hear the will. Read it, Mark Antony!
ALL
The will, the will! We will hear Caesar’s will.
ANTONY
Have patience, gentle friends. I must not read it.
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.
And, being men, bearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad.
‘Tis good you know not that you are his heirs.
For, if you should—Oh, what would come of it!

Word Meanings
Patience: The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Meet: appropriate or suitable.
Inflame: To arouse or excite strong feelings in someone; to ignite anger or passion.
Heirs: Persons who inherit or are entitled to inherit property, rank, title, etc., on the death of another.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The Fourth Plebeian demanded that Mark Antony read Caesar’s will. The entire crowd echoed this demand, shouting that they wanted to hear the will. Antony responded by asking for their patience, claiming that he should not read it. He said it was not appropriate for them to know how much Caesar loved them. He reasoned that because they were men, not inanimate objects like wood or stones, hearing the will would enrage them and drive them mad. Antony concluded that it was better they remain ignorant of the fact that they were Caesar’s heirs, for if they knew, he could not predict the chaos that would ensue. This exchange is a prime example of Antony’s master manipulation of the crowd. He uses reverse psychology to make the plebeians more desperate to hear the will by pretending to withhold it. He also uses pathos, or emotional appeal, to flatter the crowd, calling them ‘men’ and implying their love for Caesar is too great to handle such a generous revelation.

Play
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Read the will. We’ll hear it, Antony.
You shall read us the will, Caesar’s will.
ANTONY
Will you be patient? Will you stay awhile?
I have o’ershot myself to tell you of it.
I fear I wrong the honorable men
Whose daggers have stabbed Caesar. I do fear it.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
They were traitors! “Honorable men”!
ALL
The will! The testament!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
They were villains, murderers. The will! Read the will!
ANTONY
You will compel me, then, to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? And will you give me leave?

Word Meanings
Compel: To force or oblige someone to do something.
O’ershot myself: A figurative phrase meaning to have gone too far or said something unintentionally that has led to a negative consequence.
Corpse: A dead body, especially of a human.
Descend: To move or fall downward.
Leave: Permission to do something.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The Fourth Plebeian demanded that Antony read the will, insisting they had to hear it. Antony asked for their patience and to stay a while, claiming he had made a mistake by even mentioning the will. He expressed fear that reading it would wrong the ‘honorable men’ whose daggers had stabbed Caesar. At this, the Fourth Plebeian shouted that they were traitors, not ‘honorable men’, and the entire crowd demanded to hear the will. The Second Plebeian called the conspirators villains and murderers, again insisting Antony read the will. Antony then asked if they would truly compel him to read it. He then requested they form a ring around Caesar’s body and asked for permission to descend from the pulpit to show them the man who wrote the will. This short but pivotal exchange reveals the full extent of Antony’s manipulation. He is not being forced to read the will; he is using a strategic delay to incite the crowd further. By asking for permission to descend from the pulpit, he is moving from a position of authority to one of intimacy, making a physical connection with the people and Caesar’s body, which will be his next powerful tool.

Play
ALL
Come down.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Descend.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
You shall have leave.
ANTONY comes down from the platform.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
A ring!
Stand round.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Stand from the hearse. Stand from the body.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Room for Antony, most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Nay, press not so upon me. Stand far off.
ALL
Stand back. Room! Bear back.

Word Meanings
Descend: To move or go down to a lower level.
Leave: Permission to do something; in this case, permission to come down from the pulpit.
A ring! / Stand round: A command to form a circle around Caesar’s body.
Hearse: A vehicle or a stand for carrying a coffin to a grave. In this context, it refers to the platform or stretcher on which Caesar’s body lies.
Press not so upon me: Don’t crowd me so closely.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The plebeians, now fully swayed by Antony’s words, collectively shouted for him to come down from the platform. The Second and Third Plebeians affirmed his request, granting him permission to descend. As Antony stepped down and approached Caesar’s body, the Fourth Plebeian called for the crowd to form a circle around him, while the First Plebeian instructed everyone to stand back from the hearse and the body itself. The Second Plebeian, now completely won over, made a path for ‘most noble Antony’. Antony, in turn, requested that the crowd not press in so closely on him, asking them to stand farther away. The entire crowd then began shouting for people to stand back and make room for him. The citizens’ complete change of heart is evident in their actions and words. They have gone from being suspicious of Antony to referring to him as ‘most noble’, a title they previously reserved for Brutus.

Play
ANTONY
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now.
You all do know this mantle. I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on.
‘Twas on a summer’s evening in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii.
Look, in this place ran Cassius’ dagger through.
See what a rent the envious Casca made.
Through this the well-belovèd Brutus stabbed.
And as he plucked his cursèd steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar followed it,
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knocked, or no.
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar’s angel.
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all.
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,
Quite vanquished him. Then burst his mighty heart,
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey’s statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourished over us.
Oh, now you weep, and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity. These are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar’s vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marred, as you see, with traitors.
[lifts up CAESAR’s mantle]

Word Meanings
Mantle: A loose, sleeveless cloak or cape.
Nervii: A powerful and fierce Gallic tribe defeated by Caesar, a victory that cemented his military reputation.
Rent: A tear or rip in a piece of cloth.
Envious: malicious or full of spite, referring to Casca’s resentment toward Caesar.
Unkindly: Cruelly or unnaturally.
Vanquished: Defeated completely. Caesar was defeated by the ingratitude of his best friend, not by the physical blows.
Treason: The crime of betraying one’s country or a ruler. Antony labels the conspirators’ act as treasonous, undermining their claim of patriotism.
Dint: the force or impact of a blow, but Antony uses it to refer to the ‘force of pity’ that moves the crowd to tears.
Vesture: Clothing, particularly an outer garment like the mantle.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Antony told the crowd that if they had any tears, they should prepare to cry now. He stated that they all knew Caesar’s mantle and recalled the first time Caesar wore it: one summer evening in his tent on the day he defeated the Nervii. Antony then pointed to the mantle, showing the crowd the spot where Cassius’s dagger ran through. He drew attention to the tear that the jealous Casca made and then to the place where the beloved Brutus stabbed him. As Brutus pulled his blade out, Antony described how Caesar’s blood followed it, as if rushing out to see if Brutus’s knock was truly so unkind. Antony reminded them that Brutus was Caesar’s closest friend, his ‘angel’. He called on the gods to witness how dearly Caesar loved him. Antony declared that Brutus’s stab was the most unkindest of all because when Caesar saw his trusted friend stab him, the sheer ingratitude vanquished him. His mighty heart burst, and covering his face with his cloak, he fell at the base of Pompey’s statue. Antony exclaimed what a great fall that was, causing everyone, including himself and the crowd, to fall while bloody treason prospered. He then acknowledged the crowd’s tears, recognizing their pity. He asked them why they wept just at the sight of Caesar’s wounded cloak and then, lifting the mantle, showed them Caesar himself, marred and disfigured by the traitors’ wounds. He juxtaposes the glory of Caesar’s victory over the Nervii with the treachery of his death. He also highlights the contrast between the ‘well-beloved Brutus’ and the ‘unkindest cut of all’, emphasizing the profound betrayal that killed Caesar more than the daggers.

Play
FIRST PLEBEIAN
O piteous spectacle!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
O noble Caesar!
THIRD PLEBEIAN
O woeful day!
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
O traitors, villains!
FIRST PLEBEIAN
O most bloody sight!
SECOND PLEBEIAN
We will be revenged.
ALL
Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
ANTONY
Stay, countrymen.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Peace there! Hear the noble Antony.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
We’ll hear him. We’ll follow him. We’ll die with him.

Word Meanings
Piteous: Deserving of pity or compassion; a pathetic sight.
Spectacle: A public show, display, or scene, especially one that is dramatic or impressive.
Woeful: Full of sorrow or distress; very sad.
About: An archaic command meaning ‘to the task’ or ‘to get going’.
Slay: To kill in a violent way.
Live: Survive; to remain alive.

Explanation of the above dialogues— The first plebeian exclaims that the sight is a pitiful spectacle. The second plebeian cries out, ‘O noble Caesar!’ The third says it is a woeful day, while the fourth denounces the conspirators as traitors and villains. The first plebeian calls it a most bloody sight, and the second declares that they will be revenged. All of the plebeians collectively shout for revenge, to seek out the conspirators, to burn, fire, kill, and slay them, and to let no traitor live. Antony tells them to stay, and the first plebeian orders silence so they can hear the noble Antony. The second plebeian says that they will hear, follow, and die with him.

Play
ANTONY
Good friends, sweet friends! Let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honorable.
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it. They are wise and honorable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
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.

Word Meanings
Mutiny: A rebellion against authority.
Blunt: Frank or direct in speech, without subtlety.
Orator: A public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled.
Right on: In a direct, straightforward manner.
Dumb: Mute or unable to speak.
Ruffle up: To stir or agitate.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Antony tells the people that he doesn’t want to stir them up to a sudden flood of rebellion. He reminds them that those who did this deed are honorable. He says that he does not know what private reasons they might have had for doing it, but they are wise and honorable men who will surely answer with reasons. He claims he has not come to steal away their hearts.He says that he is not a great speaker, as Brutus is, but rather, as they all know him, a plain, blunt man who loved his friend. He adds that the men who gave him public permission to speak about Caesar knew this very well. He claims that he lacks the wit, words, worth, action, utterance, or power of speech to stir men’s emotions. He says he only speaks plainly, telling them what they themselves already know and letting Caesar’s wounds, which are like poor, dumb mouths, speak for him. Antony then says that if he were Brutus and Brutus were Antony, there would be an Antony who would stir up their emotions and give every wound of Caesar a voice, which would make even the stones of Rome rise up in rebellion. Antony’s speech is a masterclass in rhetorical manipulation. His use of reverse psychology is paramount; by telling the crowd he doesn’t want to stir them to mutiny, he is planting the very idea of mutiny in their minds. He repeatedly claims to be a ‘plain blunt man’ who is ‘no orator’ and lacks the power to stir men’s blood. This feigned humility is deeply ironic, as his entire speech is a calculated performance that is actively rousing the crowd’s emotions and moving them toward violent action.

Play
ALL
We’ll mutiny.
FIRST PLEBEIAN
We’ll burn the house of Brutus.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Away, then! Come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY
Yet hear me, countrymen. Yet hear me speak.
ALL
Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY
Why, friends, you go to do you know not what.
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not. I must tell you then.
You have forgot the will I told you of.
ALL
Most true. The will! Let’s stay and hear the will.
ANTONY
Here is the will, and under Caesar’s seal
To every Roman citizen he gives—
To every several man—seventy-five drachmas.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Most noble Caesar! We’ll revenge his death.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
O royal Caesar!
ANTONY
Hear me with patience.
ALL
Peace, ho!

Word Meanings
Mutiny: An open rebellion against the proper authorities, especially by soldiers or sailors. Here, the citizens’ revolt against the conspirators.
Drachmas: An ancient Greek silver coin. In the Roman context, it was a form of currency.
Several: means each individual or every single person.
Royal: Having the status of a king or queen; belonging to a king.

Explanation of the above dialogues— After being incited by Antony, the plebeians declare that they will mutiny and burn Brutus’s house. They shout for one another to go find the conspirators. Antony, however, tells them to wait and listen to him once more. The crowd quiets down, now eagerly calling him ‘noble Antony’. Antony then questions them, asking why they are so ready to mutiny when they don’t even know why they love Caesar so much. He tells them they have forgotten about the will he mentioned earlier. The crowd immediately remembers and agrees to stay and listen to the will. Antony holds up the document and reveals that it is under Caesar’s own seal. He announces that Caesar, in his will, gives a large sum of money, seventy-five drachmas, to every single Roman citizen. The Second Plebeian shouts about how noble Caesar was and vows to avenge his death. Another citizen calls him ‘royal Caesar’. Antony tells them to be patient and listen.After successfully inciting the mob’s rage, he uses reverse psychology to both control them and solidify their loyalty. He asks them why they are acting on emotions they don’t understand, making them feel a need for a concrete reason for their anger, which he then provides. He uses the will as the ultimate trump card. The will’s contents are a direct monetary gift and public parks are tangible, personal benefits that resonate more deeply with the common people than Brutus’s abstract concepts of honor and liberty.

Play
ANTONY
Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbors and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber. He hath left them you
And to your heirs forever—common pleasures,
To walk abroad and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! When comes such another?
FIRST PLEBEIAN
Never, never.—Come, away, away!
We’ll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors’ houses.
Take up the body.
SECOND PLEBEIAN
Go fetch fire.
THIRD PLEBEIAN
Pluck down benches.
FOURTH PLEBEIAN
Pluck down forms, windows, anything.
PLEBEIANS exit with CAESAR’s body.
ANTONY
Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot.
Take thou what course thou wilt!
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT enters.
ANTONY
How now, fellow?
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
Sir, Octavius is already come to Rome.
ANTONY
Where is he?
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
He and Lepidus are at Caesar’s house.
ANTONY
And thither will I straight to visit him.
He comes upon a wish. Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything.
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
I heard him say, Brutus and Cassius
Are rid like madmen through the gates of Rome.
ANTONY
Belike they had some notice of the people
How I had moved them. Bring me to Octavius.
They exit.

Word Meanings
Arbors: Shaded places, often with benches, made by a framework of plants or vines.
On this side Tiber: Referring to the west bank of the Tiber River, where Caesar had personal land and property. The phrase roots the benefit in a specific, known location.
Recreate: To refresh or revive oneself; to enjoy leisure. It means to relax and enjoy the gardens.
Brands: Torches made from burning or partially burned pieces of wood.
Forms: In this context, it refers to long benches or seats, similar to benches in a church or public hall.
Mischief: Playful or malicious behavior. Here, it is personified as a powerful, destructive force.
Thither: To or toward that place.
Upon a wish: Happening exactly as desired or hoped for.
Belike: Most likely or probably.
Notice: Information or warning.

Explanation of the above dialogues— Antony continues his speech by revealing another part of Caesar’s will. He announces that Caesar has bequeathed all of his private gardens, walkways, and newly planted orchards on the side of the Tiber River to the people of Rome. These are for their enjoyment, to walk and relax in, and they are to be held by them and their heirs forever. He asks the crowd if they could ever hope for another Caesar like this. The First Plebeian responds with fervor, shouting that there will never be another Caesar like him. The crowd immediately demands to burn Caesar’s body in a holy place and use the torches to burn the traitors’ homes. They begin to take up the body and demand fire, while others shout to pull down benches, forms, windows, and anything they can use for the pyre and as weapons. The plebeians then exit with Caesar’s body, now a furious mob.Antony watches them go and says to himself that his plan has worked. He speaks to ‘Mischief’, personifying it as a force that he has unleashed, and tells it to take whatever course it will. A servant from Octavius enters and informs Antony that Octavius has already arrived in Rome and is at Caesar’s house with Lepidus. Antony expresses his happiness that Octavius’s arrival coincides perfectly with his wishes. The servant also tells Antony that he heard Brutus and Cassius have ridden out of Rome like madmen. Antony correctly deduces that they must have found out about his speech and how he had stirred up the people. He then asks the servant to take him to Octavius. Antony’s final lines are a chilling confirmation of his cunning; he reveals his true Machiavellian nature, seeing the chaos he has unleashed not as a risk but as a successful ‘work’ and a sign that ‘Fortune is merry’. The news of Brutus and Cassius fleeing confirms his victory and sets the stage for the civil war that will dominate the next acts.

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Conclusion 

In Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, public opinion undergoes a dramatic shift. Brutus explains to the citizens of Rome why the conspirators killed Caesar. However, Mark Antony delivers a powerful and emotional speech that turns the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators. This scene takes place at Caesar’s funeral in the Roman Forum and is a turning point. The people go from accepting the assassination to becoming angry and vengeful, leading to civil unrest and war. Students can take help from this post to understand Act 3, Scene 2 and also learn the difficult word meanings to get a better grasp of Julius Caesar. This post includes a summary of Julius Caesar, which will help students of ICSE class 9, to get a quick recap of the play.

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