ICSE Class 9 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Summary, Theme, Explanation along with difficult word meanings
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ICSE Class 9 Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2
By William Shakespeare
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the scene occurs in Caesar’s house during a fierce storm on the morning of the Ides of March. Calpurnia wakes up from a dream that predicts Caesar’s murder and urges him to stay home. She describes her vision of his statue bleeding. At first, Caesar ignores the bad signs and his wife’s pleas. However, he feels proud and decides to stay home. Then, Decius Brutus arrives and cleverly interprets Calpurnia’s dream as a good sign. He tells Caesar that he must be at the Senate to receive a crown. This convinces Caesar to change his mind again and agree to go to the Capitol.
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Summary
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Summary in Hindi
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Theme
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Explanation
Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Question Answers
- Julius Caesar Act 2, Scene 2 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 9 English Lesson Notes
Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 2 Summary
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Julius Caesar, the play opens with Caesar at his home, concerned about the stormy weather and a series of bad omens. He tells a servant to have the priests perform a sacrifice and report back on what the gods say. His wife, Calpurnia, enters and begs him not to leave the house, explaining that she has had a terrible nightmare in which she saw his statue spouting blood and smiling Romans bathing their hands in it. She also recounts other strange and frightening events seen by the watch, such as a lioness giving birth in the streets and graves opening up. Caesar, however, dismisses her fears, stating that death is a necessary part of life and that he is more dangerous than danger itself.
The servant returns with the priests’ findings: they could not find a heart within the sacrificed animal, which is a very bad omen. Despite this, Caesar remains determined to go to the Capitol, saying that staying home would be a cowardly act. Calpurnia, desperate, gets down on her knees and pleads with him to stay. She suggests that he pretend to be sick and send Mark Antony to the Senate in his place. Caesar, out of love for her, agrees to this plan.
Just as he is about to send a message, Decius Brutus arrives to escort him to the Senate. Caesar informs him that he will not be coming, giving the excuse that he is not feeling well. Decius, however, insists on knowing the real reason, worried that he will be laughed at. Caesar then reveals Calpurnia’s dream to him. Decius, a member of the conspiracy, cunningly reinterprets the dream, claiming it signifies that Caesar’s ‘reviving blood’ will bless Rome and that great men will seek his favor. He then appeals to Caesar’s pride, mentioning that the Senate plans to offer him a crown that day and that they might change their minds if he does not show up. He also suggests that people will think Caesar is afraid and hiding because of his wife’s dreams. Flattered and convinced by Decius’s words, Caesar changes his mind again.
As a number of the conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, arrive to accompany him, Caesar welcomes them warmly, unaware of their true intentions. He invites them all to have some wine before they leave for the Capitol together. The scene ends with Brutus and Trebonius making brief asides, highlighting the conspirators’ deception and their deadly plan, while Caesar remains oblivious to the impending danger.
Summary of Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 2 in Hindi
जूलियस सीज़र के अधिनियम 2, दृश्य 2 में, नाटक की शुरुआत सीज़र के साथ उसके घर पर होती है, जो तूफानी मौसम और अशुभ शकुनों की एक श्रृंखला के बारे में चिंतित होता है। वह एक नौकर से कहता है कि वह पुजारियों को एक बलिदान करने के लिए कहे और भगवान जो कहते हैं उस पर वापस रिपोर्ट करें। उसकी पत्नी, कालपुर्निया, प्रवेश करती है और उससे घर से बाहर न निकलने की विनती करती है, यह समझाते हुए कि उसे एक भयानक दुःस्वप्न का सामना करना पड़ा है जिसमें उसने उसकी मूर्ति को खून बहाते हुए और मुस्कुराते हुए रोमनों को उसमें हाथ नहाते हुए देखा। वह घड़ी द्वारा देखी गई अन्य अजीब और भयावह घटनाओं को भी याद करती है, जैसे कि एक शेरनी सड़कों पर जन्म देती है और कब्रें खुलती हैं। हालांकि, सीज़र उसके डर को खारिज करते हुए कहता है कि मृत्यु जीवन का एक आवश्यक हिस्सा है और वह खतरे से भी अधिक खतरनाक है।
नौकर पुजारियों के निष्कर्षों के साथ लौटता हैः वे बलि दिए गए जानवर के भीतर एक दिल नहीं पा सके, जो एक बहुत ही बुरा शगुन है। इसके बावजूद, सीज़र कैपिटल जाने के लिए दृढ़ रहता है, यह कहते हुए कि घर पर रहना एक कायरतापूर्ण कार्य होगा। कलपुर्निया, हताश, अपने घुटनों पर बैठ जाती है और उससे रहने की विनती करती है। वह सुझाव देती है कि वह बीमार होने का नाटक करता है और उसके स्थान पर मार्क एंटनी को सीनेट भेज देता है। सीज़र, उसके लिए प्यार से, इस योजना के लिए सहमत हो जाता है।
जैसे ही वह एक संदेश भेजने वाला है, डेशियस ब्रूटस उसे सीनेट ले जाने के लिए आता है। सीज़र उसे बताता है कि वह नहीं आएगा, यह बहाना देते हुए कि वह अच्छा महसूस नहीं कर रहा है। डेसिअस, हालांकि, असली कारण जानने पर जोर देता है, इस चिंता में कि वह हँसेगा। सीज़र तब उसे कैल्पर्निया के सपने के बारे में बताता है। साजिश का एक सदस्य, डेशियस, चालाकी से सपने की फिर से व्याख्या करता है, यह दावा करते हुए कि यह दर्शाता है कि सीज़र का ‘पुनर्जीवित रक्त’ रोम को आशीर्वाद देगा और महान पुरुष उसका पक्ष लेंगे। फिर वह सीज़र के गौरव से अपील करता है, यह उल्लेख करते हुए कि सीनेट उस दिन उसे एक मुकुट देने की योजना बना रहा है और अगर वह नहीं आता है तो वे अपना मन बदल सकते हैं। वह यह भी सुझाव देता है कि लोग सोचेंगे कि सीज़र अपनी पत्नी के सपनों के कारण डर गया है और छिपा हुआ है। डेशियस के शब्दों से खुश और आश्वस्त होकर, सीज़र ने फिर से अपना मन बदल लिया।
जैसे ही ब्रूटस और कैसियस सहित कई साजिशकर्ता उसके साथ आने के लिए पहुंचते हैं, सीज़र उनका गर्मजोशी से स्वागत करता है, उनके सच्चे इरादों से अनजान होता है। वह उन सभी को एक साथ कैपिटल के लिए रवाना होने से पहले कुछ शराब पीने के लिए आमंत्रित करता है। दृश्य ब्रूटस और ट्रेबोनियस के साथ समाप्त होता है, जो साजिशकर्ताओं के धोखे और उनकी घातक योजना को उजागर करते हैं, जबकि सीज़र आसन्न खतरे से अनजान रहता है।
Theme of Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 2
Fate vs. Free Will
In this scene, Caesar is faced with a choice: to listen to the warnings and stay home, or to ignore them and go to the Capitol. Calpurnia’s terrifying dream and the strange signs reported by the priests suggest that his death is fated. However, Caesar initially dismisses these omens, believing that he can overcome any threat. He says, ‘What can be avoided whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?’ This suggests a belief in a predetermined destiny. Yet, he also asserts his own power and free will, saying, ‘Caesar shall go forth’. He sees staying home as an act of cowardice, a betrayal of his own powerful identity. In the end, his decision to go is a direct result of Decius Brutus’s manipulation, which shows how human actions can alter or perhaps fulfill what seems to be a preordained fate.
Superstition and Omens
The scene is filled with superstition and a focus on omens. Calpurnia’s dream and the priests’ findings, which is a sacrifice without a heart, are presented as clear warnings of danger. The play uses these elements to create a sense of foreboding and tension. The audience knows that Caesar’s death is coming, and these supernatural signs amplify the tragic nature of the events. Calpurnia’s belief in these signs is very strong, while Caesar’s is more complex. He initially dismisses them as general warnings to the world, but later gives in to Calpurnia’s pleas. This highlights the contrast between the superstitious beliefs of the time and Caesar’s own hubris.
Pride and Hubris
Caesar’s character is defined by his overwhelming pride, or hubris. He sees himself as invincible and more powerful than danger itself. He famously says, ‘Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once’. He believes his strength and reputation are enough to make him immune to threats. This pride makes him blind to the clear and present danger around him. It also makes him easy to manipulate. When Decius Brutus reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream and suggests that staying home would make him look weak and afraid, Caesar’s pride is wounded. His fear of appearing cowardly is greater than his fear of death. His decision to go to the Senate is ultimately a choice driven by pride, which leads to his downfall.
Manipulation and Deception
The final and most crucial theme is manipulation. Decius Brutus is a master of this. He arrives and finds Caesar has already decided to stay home. Instead of arguing directly, he plays on Caesar’s biggest weakness: his pride. He reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream in a positive, flattering way, and then warns Caesar that the Senate might change their minds about giving him a crown if he doesn’t show up. He also suggests that people will mock him, saying he is afraid or controlled by his wife’s dreams. This skillful deception works perfectly. Decius knows exactly what to say to make Caesar change his mind, proving that even the most powerful men can be led to their doom by clever and false words. This scene shows how easy it is to deceive someone who is blinded by their own ego.
Setting of the Scene
The scene takes place on the morning of March 15th, also known as the Ides of March. The weather is very stormy and frightening, with thunder and lightning. This bad weather sets a dark and tense mood for the events to come. The entire scene is set inside Caesar’s house in Rome. We are in a private and personal space, which makes the conversation between Caesar and his wife, Calpurnia, feel more intimate. The conspirators later come to this same house to lead Caesar away. The atmosphere is filled with tension and a sense of foreboding. Calpurnia’s bad dreams and the strange omens reported by the watch create a feeling of danger. Despite this, Caesar remains confident and stubborn. He ignores the warnings, which creates a dramatic contrast and adds to the suspense of the scene.
Julius Caesar Act 2 Scene 2: Scene Explanation
Play:
Thunder and lightning. CAESAR enters, wearing a nightgown.
CAESAR
Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace tonight.
Thrice hath Calphurnia in her sleep cried out,
“Help, ho! They murder Caesar!” —Who’s within?
A SERVANT enters.
SERVANT
My lord.
CAESAR
Go bid the priests do present sacrifice
And bring me their opinions of success.
SERVANT
I will, my lord.
The SERVANT exits.
CALPHURNIA enters.
CALPHURNIA
What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house today.
CAESAR
Caesar shall forth. The things that threatened me
Ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanishèd.
Word Meanings
Hath: An old form of the word ‘has’
Forth: Forward; out
Ne’er: A short form of the word ‘never’
Vanishèd: An old form of the word ‘vanished’ or disappeared
Explanation of the above dialogues—During a night of thunder and lightning, Caesar enters in his nightgown and remarks that neither heaven nor earth has been at peace. He explains that his wife, Calpurnia, cried out three times in her sleep, shouting for help because someone was murdering him. He then calls for a servant. The servant replies, ‘My lord’, to which Caesar orders him to go tell the priests to perform a sacrifice right away and to bring back their opinion on what will happen in the future. The servant agrees and leaves. Calpurnia then enters and asks Caesar what he intends to do. She tells him that he is not to leave the house that day. Caesar replies that he will go forth and that the things that have threatened him have only ever been behind him. He believes that when they see his face, they will vanish.
Play:
CALPHURNIA
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 whelpèd in the streets,
And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead.
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol.
The noise of battle hurtled in the air.
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! These things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
Word Meanings
Stood on ceremonies: to pay attention to or care about rituals and omens.
Recounts: to tell or describe something that happened.
Horrid sights: very frightening or horrible things seen.
Whelpèd: to have given birth to a cub (in this case, by a lioness).
Yawned: to open very wide, like a yawn.
Yielded up: to give back or release.
Fierce fiery warriors: powerful and aggressive soldiers who looked like they were on fire.
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war: in organized lines and groups, like an official army formation.
Drizzled: to rain in a very fine, light way.
Hurtled: move with great speed and noise, or to make a roaring sound.
Neigh: high-pitched sound a horse makes.
Shriek and squeal: to make a loud, sharp cry.
Beyond all use: something that is not normal or customary.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Calpurnia told Caesar that she had never cared much about omens and rituals before, but that now they frightened her. She said that in addition to the strange things they had heard and seen, there was someone inside who was telling them about the most horrible sights seen by the night watchmen. She said a lioness had given birth in the streets and that graves had opened up and given back their dead. She reported that fierce, fiery warriors had fought in the clouds in organized groups, and that it had rained blood on the Capitol. She said that the sound of battle had roared through the air, that horses had neighed, and that dying men had groaned, and that ghosts had shrieked and squealed in the streets. Calpurnia then exclaimed that these things were not normal and that she was afraid of them.
Play:
CAESAR
What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth, for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
CALPHURNIA
When beggars die there are no comets seen.
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
CAESAR
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear,
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
Word Meanings
Purposed: Decided or planned.
Blaze forth: To shine brightly, like a fire.
Valiant: Brave or courageous.
Taste of death: To experience death.
Wonders: Surprising or strange events.
Necessary end: An unavoidable or certain conclusion.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Caesar asked what could be avoided if the gods had already decided its outcome. He said that he would go forth anyway, because he believed the bad predictions were for everyone in the world, not just for him. Calpurnia replied that when poor people die, no one sees strange signs in the sky. She said that the heavens only light up to announce the death of powerful leaders. Caesar then stated that cowards die many times because they are always afraid, but brave people only truly face death once. He said that of all the strange things he had ever heard, it seemed most odd to him that men would be afraid of death, since it is an unavoidable end that will happen when it is meant to.
Play:
The SERVANT enters.
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.
CAESAR
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.
No, Caesar shall not. Danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he.
We are two lions littered in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible.
And Caesar shall go forth.
Word Meanings
Augurers: These were priests in ancient Rome who predicted the future by studying the behavior of birds and the entrails of sacrificed animals.
Stir forth: This is an old-fashioned way of saying ‘to go out’ or ‘to leave’
Entrails: The internal organs of an animal.
Offering: An animal that has been sacrificed to the gods.
Littered: Born; used to describe the birth of animal offspring.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Caesar asked the servant what the augurers had said. The servant told him that they did not want him to go out that day. He explained that when they pulled out the internal organs of a sacrificed animal, they could not find a heart inside the creature. Caesar replied that the gods had done this as a sign to shame cowardice. He said that he would be like a beast without a heart if he were to stay at home out of fear. He declared that he would not, stating that Danger knows very well that Caesar is more dangerous than he is. He then said that he and Danger were like two lions born on the same day, and that he was the elder and more terrible one. He ended by confidently declaring that he would go out.
Play:
CALPHURNIA
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.
[kneels] Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
CAESAR
Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And for thy humor I will stay at home.
CALPHURNIA stands.
DECIUS enters.
CAESAR
Here’s Decius Brutus. He shall tell them so.
DECIUS
Caesar, all hail! Good morrow, worthy Caesar.
I come to fetch you to the senate house.
Word Meanings
Consumed: it means to be overwhelmed or taken over by something. Calpurnia is saying that Caesar’s overconfidence has completely taken over his good judgment.
Humor: to give in to someone’s wishes or moods.
Fetch: to go and get someone to bring them back.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Calpurnia told Caesar, ‘Alas, my lord’, and said that his wisdom was being consumed by his overconfidence. She pleaded with him not to go out that day. She suggested he could blame her fear, not his own, for keeping him in the house. Calpurnia then proposed sending Mark Antony to the Senate House to tell everyone that Caesar was not feeling well. She then knelt down and begged him to listen to her. Caesar agreed, saying that Mark Antony would go and tell the senators that he was not well, and that he would stay home to humor her. Just then, Decius Brutus arrived. Caesar told Decius that he would tell the senators he wasn’t coming. Decius greeted Caesar and told him he had come to get him for the Senate House.
Play:
CAESAR
And you are come in very happy time
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come today.
“Cannot” is false, and that I dare not, falser.
I will not come today. Tell them so, Decius.
CALPHURNIA
Say he is sick.
CAESAR
Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretched mine arm so far
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go
tell them Caesar will not come.
DECIUS
Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laughed at when I tell them so.
Word Meanings
In very happy time: This phrase means ‘at a very good or fortunate moment’.
To bear my greeting: This means ‘to carry my message’ or ‘to deliver my regards’.
False: not true or a lie
Falser: This is a more intense way of saying ‘more false’ or ‘even more of a lie’.
In conquest stretched mine arm so far: This refers to Caesar’s military victories and his powerful reach across the known world. It’s a way of saying he has been so successful and powerful.
Graybeards: A slang term for ‘old men’. Here, it refers to the senators.
Lest: This means ‘in case’ or ‘so that… not’.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Caesar told Decius Brutus that he had come at a very good time to bring Caesar’s greetings to the senators and to tell them that he would not come that day. Caesar added that it would be false to say he could not come, and even more false to say that he dared not. He repeated to Decius that he would not come that day and told him to go and tell the senators that. Calpurnia then told Decius to say that Caesar was sick. But Caesar responded by questioning whether he, a great conqueror, should tell a lie. He asked if he had achieved so many victories just to be afraid to tell the old senators the truth. He then told Decius to go and tell them that he would not come. Decius Brutus respectfully asked Caesar to give him a reason for his absence. He was concerned that he would be laughed at by the senators if he simply told them that Caesar was not coming without any explanation.
Play:
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.
Calphurnia here, my wife, stays me at home.
She dreamt tonight she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood. And many lusty Romans
Came smiling and did bathe their hands in it.
And these does she apply for warnings and portents
And evils imminent, and on her knee
Hath begged that I will stay at home today.
Word Meanings
Lusty: strong and full of life.
Apply: To interpret or consider a dream to be a certain thing.
Portents: Signs or warnings of a future event, especially a bad one.
Imminent: About to happen very soon.
Hath: An old form of the word ‘has’.
Spouts: Streams or jets of liquid.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Caesar told Decius Brutus that he was not coming to the Senate because it was his decision to do so, and that should be enough of a reason for the Senate. However, because he cared for Decius, he would tell him the real reason. He explained that his wife, Calpurnia, was keeping him at home. He said she had a dream the previous night in which she saw his statue, and blood was gushing from it like a fountain with a hundred spouts. Many healthy, strong Romans came to the statue, smiling, and washed their hands in the blood. Caesar explained that his wife took this dream as a warning of upcoming dangers and begged him on her knees to stay home that day.
Play:
DECIUS
This dream is all amiss interpreted.
It was a vision fair and fortunate.
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics, and cognizance.
This by Calphurnia’s dream is signified.
Word Meanings
Amiss: In a wrong or imperfect way.
Fortunate: Lucky or favored by good luck.
Signifies: Means or represents something.
Tinctures: A small amount of a quality or substance; in this context, it refers to a mark of honor or distinction.
Relics: Valued objects from the past; here, it suggests things that represent a person’s importance or historical significance.
Cognizance: Knowledge or awareness; here, it means recognition or a symbol of being known and respected.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Decius told Caesar that his wife’s dream was wrongly interpreted. He said it was a good and lucky vision. According to him, the statue spouting blood from many pipes, in which many smiling Romans bathed, meant that great Rome would draw life-giving blood from Caesar. He also said that great men would seek out Caesar for honors, fame, and recognition. Decius said this was the true meaning of Calpurnia’s dream.
Play:
CAESAR
And this way have you well expounded it.
DECIUS
I have, when you have heard what I can say.
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock
Apt to be rendered for someone 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?”
Pardon me, Caesar. For my dear, dear love
To your proceeding bids me tell you this,
And reason to my love is liable.
CAESAR
How foolish do your fears seem now, Calphurnia!
I am ashamèd I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
Word Meanings
Expounded: Explained or interpreted in detail.
Concluded: Decided or agreed upon.
Mock: A joke, insult, or an act of ridicule.
Apt to be rendered: Likely to be said or done.
Liable: it means that his reason or good judgment is subject to his love, or is overruled by it.
Yield to: To give in or surrender to.
Proceeding: it refers to Caesar’s actions and advancement in power.
Lo: A word used to draw attention to something, similar to “look” or “behold.”
Explanation of the above dialogues—Caesar first says that Decius has explained Calpurnia’s dream very well. Decius agrees and says that there is something more that Caesar should know. He reveals that the Senate has decided to give Caesar a crown that very day. Decius warns Caesar that if he sends a message saying he won’t come, the senators might change their minds. He adds that it would also be a great joke for someone to say they should end the Senate meeting and reschedule it for another time when Caesar’s wife has better dreams. He asks if people won’t start whispering that Caesar is afraid if he hides himself away. Decius then asks for forgiveness, saying that his great love for Caesar’s advancement and success forces him to tell Caesar this, and that his love is more important than being polite. Caesar then exclaims how foolish Calpurnia’s fears now seem to him. He says that he is ashamed that he gave in to them. He then asks for his robe, as he has decided to go to the Senate.
Play:
BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, CINNA, and PUBLIUS enter.
CAESAR
And look, where Publius is come to fetch me.
PUBLIUS
Good morrow, Caesar.
CAESAR
Welcome, Publius.
—What, Brutus, are you stirred so early too?
—Good morrow, Casca. —Caius Ligarius,
Caesar was ne’er so much your enemy
As that same ague which hath made you lean.
—What is ’t o’clock?
BRUTUS
Caesar, ’tis strucken eight.
CAESAR
I thank you for your pains and courtesy.
Word Meanings
Ague: A fever accompanied by chills or shivering. Here, Caesar is referring to a sickness that made Caius Ligarius look thin.
Pains: to their effort or trouble.
Courtesy: politeness or good manners.
Stirred: it means ‘out of bed’ or “up so early’.
lean: offering little reward, substance, or nourishment; meagre or thin.
Explanation of the above dialogues—As Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius, Cinna, and Publius entered, Caesar remarked that Publius had arrived to get him. Publius greeted Caesar. Caesar welcomed him and then asked Brutus why he was up so early too. He greeted Casca and then addressed Caius Ligarius, telling him that Caesar had never been as much of an enemy to him as the fever that had made him thin. He then asked what time it was. Brutus replied that it was eight o’clock. Caesar thanked them for their effort and politeness.
Play:
ANTONY enters.
CAESAR
See, Antony, that revels long a-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.
—Now, Cinna. —Now, Metellus. —What, Trebonius,
I have an hour’s talk in store for you.
Remember that you call on me today.
Be near me, that I may remember you.
Word Meanings
Revels: to enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way, especially with drinking and dancing.
Notwithstanding: in spite of or nevertheless.
At blame: to be at fault or to be responsible for something.
In store for you: an idiom that means something is saved up or waiting for you. Caesar is saying he has a long talk planned for Trebonius.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Antony enters, and Caesar remarks to the others that Antony, who usually stays up late and parties, is up and awake. He then greets Antony, and Antony returns the greeting. Caesar then tells his servants to prepare things inside, saying that it is his fault that everyone has been waiting for him. He then addresses Cinna, Metellus, and Trebonius, telling Trebonius that he has an hour of talk saved up for him. He asks him to remember to visit him that day and to stay close to him so that he can remember to talk to him.
Play:
TREBONIUS
Caesar, I will. [aside] And so near will I be
That your best friends shall wish I had been further.
CAESAR
Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me.
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
BRUTUS
[aside] That every “like” is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus earns to think upon.
All exit.
Word Meanings
Aside: In a play, this is a remark or a short passage that a character speaks directly to the audience, and the other characters on stage are not supposed to hear it. It reveals the character’s private thoughts.
Straightway: immediately or without delay.
That every ‘like’ is not the same: Here, ‘like’ is used as a noun, referring to the act of being similar or appearing as something. Brutus’s thought means that just because they are acting like friends and are similar in their social standing, they do not all have the same, genuine feelings of friendship.
Yearns: To yearn for something means to have a strong and deep longing or desire for it.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Trebonius assured Caesar he would be near him, but then he privately thought that he would be so close that Caesar’s best friends would wish he had stayed far away. Caesar then invited everyone, whom he called his good friends, to go inside to drink some wine with him. He said that after they had some wine, they would go to the Senate together, as friends. Brutus, speaking to himself, reflected sadly on the fact that even though they were acting like friends, not all of them had the same true feelings of friendship for Caesar.
Conclusion
In Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the scene occurs in Caesar’s house during a fierce storm on the morning of the Ides of March. Calpurnia wakes up from a dream that predicts Caesar’s murder and urges him to stay home. She describes her vision of his statue bleeding. At first, Caesar ignores the bad signs and his wife’s pleas. However, he feels proud and decides to stay home. Then, Decius Brutus arrives and cleverly interprets Calpurnia’s dream as a good sign. He tells Caesar that he must be at the Senate to receive a crown. This convinces Caesar to change his mind again and agree to go to the Capitol. Students can take help from this post to understand Act 2, 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.