ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Summary, Theme, Explanation along with difficult word meanings
Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Class 10 ICSE– Are you looking for Summary Theme and Lesson Explanation for ICSE Class 10 English Drama Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1. Get summary, theme, explanation along with difficult word meanings.
ICSE Class 10 Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1
By William Shakespeare
In Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the main event is Caesar’s assassination in the Senate House. He is stabbed to death by the conspirators. The scene starts when Caesar enters the Capitol and ignores a warning from Artemidorus. He also brushes off petitions from senators like Metellus Cimber. As the conspirators close in on him, Casca strikes the first blow, followed by the others. Brutus delivers the final stab, leading to Caesar’s death as he famously says, ‘Et tu, Bruté?’. The rest of the scene highlights how the conspirators try to control the people of Rome and Antony’s plan to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Summary
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Summary in Hindi
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Theme
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Explanation
Related:
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Question Answers
- Julius Caesar Act 3, Scene 1 Character Sketch
- ICSE Class 10 English Lesson Notes
Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1 Summary
Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is the play’s climax, where the conspirators assassinate Caesar. The scene begins with Caesar entering the Capitol. He ignores a soothsayer’s warning that the ‘Ides of March are not gone’ and dismisses a letter from Artemidorus that exposes the plot. Caesar, in a show of arrogance, states that he’ll deal with personal matters last, even though the letter is about his personal safety.
Just before the murder, Popillius Lena, an acquaintance of the conspirators, says to Cassius, ‘I wish your enterprise today may thrive’. Cassius panics, thinking their plan is exposed, but Brutus assures him that Popillius is not speaking of their plot because Caesar’s reaction is normal. Trebonius then draws Mark Antony away from the scene, an important step in the plan.
The conspirators, led by Metellus Cimber, approach Caesar with a petition to end his brother’s banishment. When Metellus kneels, Brutus and Cassius join in, pleading for the same favor. Caesar, in a moment of hubris, boasts that he is ‘as constant as the northern star’ and cannot be swayed by flattery. He refuses their pleas.
At this moment, Casca shouts, ‘Speak, hands, for me!’ and strikes the first blow. The other conspirators follow, and Caesar is stabbed repeatedly. The final stab comes from his dear friend Brutus, which prompts Caesar’s famous last words, ‘Et tu, Bruté?—Then fall, Caesar’. He dies.
After the assassination, a panicked crowd flees. The conspirators, with their hands and swords covered in Caesar’s blood, declare that ‘Ambition’s debt is paid’. Brutus then has them all bathe their hands in the blood, an act meant to symbolize their commitment to liberty and their shared responsibility for the deed.
Antony’s servant enters and kneels before Brutus, offering Antony’s loyalty and asking to meet with him to understand why Caesar had to die. Antony himself soon arrives. He kneels before Caesar’s body and laments his death. He shakes hands with the conspirators, a symbolic gesture of peace, but also one that allows him to count his enemies. Cassius is suspicious of Antony, but Brutus trusts him and grants his request to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
Brutus agrees on two conditions: Antony cannot blame the conspirators, must say that he speaks with their permission, and must speak after Brutus. Antony agrees to these terms. After the conspirators leave, Antony is alone with Caesar’s body and reveals his true intentions. He delivers a powerful soliloquy, promising revenge for Caesar’s death and predicting a bloody civil war that will turn Italy into a land of ‘domestic fury and fierce civil strife’. He then exits with Caesar’s body to prepare for the funeral, intending to incite the public against the conspirators.
Summary of Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1 in Hindi
शेक्सपियर के जूलियस सीज़र का अधिनियम 3, दृश्य 1 नाटक का चरमोत्कर्ष है, जहाँ षड्यंत्रकारी सीज़र की हत्या करते हैं। दृश्य सीज़र के कैपिटल में प्रवेश करने के साथ शुरू होता है। वह एक भविष्यवक्ता की चेतावनी की अनदेखी करता है कि ‘मार्च के इडेस नहीं गए हैं’ और आर्टेमिडोरस के एक पत्र को खारिज कर देता है जो साजिश को उजागर करता है। सीज़र, अहंकार के प्रदर्शन में, कहता है कि वह व्यक्तिगत मामलों को सबसे पहले निपटाएगा, भले ही पत्र उसकी व्यक्तिगत सुरक्षा के बारे में हो।
हत्या से ठीक पहले, साजिशकर्ताओं के परिचित पोपिलियस लेना कैसियस से कहते हैं, ‘काश आज आपका उद्यम फलता-फूलता’। कैसियस यह सोचकर घबरा जाता है कि उनकी योजना उजागर हो गई है, लेकिन ब्रूटस उसे आश्वासन देता है कि पॉपिलियस उनकी साजिश के बारे में बात नहीं कर रहा है क्योंकि सीज़र की प्रतिक्रिया सामान्य है। ट्रेबोनियस तब मार्क एंटनी को दृश्य से दूर खींचता है, जो योजना में एक महत्वपूर्ण कदम है।
मेटेलस सिम्बर के नेतृत्व में साजिशकर्ता अपने भाई के निर्वासन को समाप्त करने के लिए एक याचिका के साथ सीज़र के पास जाते हैं। जब मेटेलस घुटने टेकता है, तो ब्रूटस और कैसियस शामिल हो जाते हैं, उसी पक्ष के लिए गुहार लगाते हैं। सीज़र, अहंकार के एक क्षण में, दावा करता है कि वह ‘उत्तरी तारे की तरह स्थिर’ है और चापलूसी से प्रभावित नहीं हो सकता है। वह उनकी दलीलों को अस्वीकार कर देता है।
इस समय, कास्का चिल्लाता है, ‘बोलो, हाथ, मेरे लिए!’ और पहला प्रहार करता है। अन्य षड्यंत्रकारी उनका पीछा करते हैं और सीज़र को बार-बार चाकू मारा जाता है। अंतिम छुरा उसके प्रिय मित्र ब्रूटस से आता है, जो सीज़र के प्रसिद्ध अंतिम शब्दों, ‘एट टू, ब्रूट?-फिर गिरना, सीज़र’ को प्रेरित करता है। वह मर जाता है।
हत्या के बाद, घबराए हुए लोग भाग जाते हैं। षड्यंत्रकारी, अपने हाथों और तलवारों को कैसर के खून से ढककर, घोषणा करते हैं कि ‘महत्वाकांक्षा का ऋण चुका दिया गया है’। ब्रूटस तब उन सभी के हाथों को खून से नहलाता है, एक ऐसा कार्य जो स्वतंत्रता के प्रति उनकी प्रतिबद्धता और कार्य के लिए उनकी साझा जिम्मेदारी का प्रतीक है।
एंटनी का नौकर प्रवेश करता है और ब्रूटस के सामने घुटने टेकता है, एंटनी की वफादारी की पेशकश करता है और यह समझने के लिए उससे मिलने के लिए कहता है कि सीज़र को क्यों मरना पड़ा। एंटनी स्वयं जल्द ही आता है। वह कैसर के शरीर के सामने घुटने टेकता है और उसकी मृत्यु पर विलाप करता है। वह षड्यंत्रकारियों के साथ हाथ मिलाता है, शांति का एक प्रतीकात्मक संकेत, लेकिन यह भी कि वह अपने दुश्मनों को गिनने की अनुमति देता है। कैसियस को एंटनी पर संदेह है, लेकिन ब्रूटस उस पर भरोसा करता है और सीज़र के अंतिम संस्कार में बोलने के उसके अनुरोध को स्वीकार कर लेता है।
ब्रूटस दो शर्तों पर सहमत होता हैः एंटनी साजिशकर्ताओं को दोष नहीं दे सकता, उसे यह कहना चाहिए कि वह उनकी अनुमति से बोलता है, और उसे ब्रूटस के बाद बोलना चाहिए। एंटनी इन शर्तों से सहमत हैं। षड्यंत्रकारियों के जाने के बाद, एंटनी सीज़र के शरीर के साथ अकेला रहता है और अपने सच्चे इरादों को प्रकट करता है। वह सीज़र की मौत का बदला लेने का वादा करते हुए और एक खूनी गृहयुद्ध की भविष्यवाणी करते हुए एक शक्तिशाली स्वगत भाषण देता है जो इटली को ‘घरेलू रोष और भयंकर नागरिक संघर्ष’ की भूमि में बदल देगा। फिर वह षड्यंत्रकारियों के खिलाफ जनता को उकसाने के इरादे से अंतिम संस्कार की तैयारी के लिए सीज़र के शरीर के साथ बाहर निकलता है।
Theme of Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1
Public vs. Private
The central theme is the tension between the conspirators’ public duty to Rome and their private relationships. Brutus, in particular, wrestles with this conflict. He justifies his actions as necessary for the ‘liberty’ and ‘freedom’ of Rome, sacrificing his personal love for Caesar for what he believes is the greater good. However, his private morality is strained, as shown by his desperate attempt to rationalize the murder. This is underscored by Caesar’s dying words, ‘Et tu, Bruté?’ which highlight the betrayal of a friendship for a political ideal.
Ambition and its Consequences
The play directly addresses the theme of ambition. The conspirators, especially Brutus, claim to have killed Caesar because of his excessive ambition. They believe he would have become a tyrant and destroyed the Roman Republic. This is a recurring justification for their actions, and it’s a theme that is presented as a dangerous, corrupting force. Caesar himself is portrayed as highly ambitious, refusing to repeal his brother-in-law’s banishment and proclaiming himself as ‘constant as the northern star’. The conspirators believe their violent act is the only way to curb this ambition, showing that unchecked ambition can lead to a violent downfall.
Fate vs. Free Will
Throughout the scene, there’s a strong undercurrent of fate and premonition. The soothsayer’s warning, ‘the ides of March are come, but not gone’, is a chilling reminder that the day’s events are predetermined. Artemidorus’s letter, which could have saved Caesar, is ignored. This suggests that despite the characters’ attempts to control their destiny i.e. to stop a tyrant or to gain power, they are ultimately pawns in a larger, inescapable narrative. Antony’s soliloquy at the end of the scene solidifies this, as he prophesies a civil war, suggesting that the consequences of their actions are already set in motion, a tragic fate for all involved.
Setting of the Scene
The setting for Act 3, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar is the Roman Capitol. Specifically, the action takes place in and around the senate house where Caesar is to be crowned king. The atmosphere is tense and crowded, filled with senators, citizens, and the conspirators. The scene shifts from the bustling street just outside the Capitol to the interior of the senate house where the assassination occurs. The public nature of the setting is crucial, as the conspirators believe they are performing a noble, public act for the good of Rome.
Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene 1 Explanation
Play:
A trumpet sounds. CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA,
DECIUS, METELLUS, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY,
LEPIDUS, POPILLIUS, and PUBLIUS enter, along with a
crowd that includes ARTEMIDORUS and the SOOTHSAYER.
CAESAR
[to the SOOTHSAYER] The ides of March are come.
SOOTHSAYER
Ay, Caesar, but not gone.
ARTEMIDORUS
[offering his letter] Hail, Caesar! Read this schedule.
DECIUS
[offering CAESAR another paper]
Trebonius doth desire you to o’er-read,
At your best leisure, this his humble suit.
Word Meanings
Ides of March: The fifteenth day of March, a date famously associated with Caesar’s death.
Ay: An archaic word for ‘yes’.
Hail: A greeting to express respect or honor.
Schedule: A written document, a scroll or letter.
Doth: An archaic form of ‘does’.
O’er-read: To read over.
Leisure: Free time.
Humble suit: A modest or respectful request or petition.
Explanation of the above dialogues— A trumpet sounded as Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popillius, and Publius entered, accompanied by a crowd that included Artemidorus and the Soothsayer. Caesar addressed the Soothsayer, stating that the ides of March had come. The Soothsayer replied that they had indeed come, but were not yet gone. Artemidorus, offering his letter, greeted Caesar and asked him to read his schedule. Decius then offered Caesar another paper, telling him that Trebonius desired him to read his humble suit at his best leisure. The first lines immediately bring back the prophecy of the ‘ides of March’, with Caesar’s dismissive comment and the Soothsayer’s ominous reply creating a sense of impending doom. The fact that Caesar ignores two direct warnings from the Soothsayer and Artemidorus, establishes his hubris and seals his fate. This moment is not just about a missed opportunity but about Caesar’s character flaw: his overwhelming pride makes him believe he is immune to threats. The exchange also highlights the conspirators’ cunning, as Decius distracts Caesar with a trivial request, ensuring he does not read Artemidorus’s crucial letter.
Play:
ARTEMIDORUS
O Caesar, read mine first, for mine’s a suit
That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar.
CAESAR
What touches us ourself shall be last served.
ARTEMIDORUS
Delay not, Caesar. Read it instantly.
CAESAR
What, is the fellow mad?
PUBLIUS
[to ARTEMIDORUS] Sirrah, give place.
CASSIUS
[to ARTEMIDORUS]
What, urge you your petitions in the street?
Come to the Capitol.
CAESAR and the crowd with him go up to the senate house.
Word Meanings
Suit: A petition or a formal request.
Touches Caesar nearer: Refers to a matter of great personal importance or urgency to Caesar’s own well-being.
Sirrah: A term used to address a man or a boy, often implying inferiority or a lack of respect.
Give place: To step aside or move out of the way.
Urge: To press or plead with someone to do something.
Petitions: Formal written requests, often signed by many people, appealing to authority with respect to a particular cause.
Capitol: The building where the Roman Senate met; the seat of the Roman government.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Artemidorus urged Caesar to read his letter first, saying that it was a suit that touched him more closely. He pleaded with the great Caesar to read it. Caesar replied that what concerned him personally would be served last. Artemidorus then insisted that Caesar should not delay but read it instantly. In response, Caesar asked if the fellow was mad. Publius, addressing Artemidorus, told him to make way. Cassius, also speaking to Artemidorus, questioned why he was pressing his petitions in the street and told him to come to the Capitol. Following this, Caesar and the crowd with him proceeded to the senate house. His decision to prioritize public business over his own personal safety, symbolized by the letter from Artemidorus, reveals a fatal flaw. He believes he is so above ordinary concerns that a direct warning about his life can be dismissed as a minor inconvenience or even madness. This scene is a prime example of dramatic irony, as the audience knows the contents of the letter and the grave danger Caesar is in, while he remains oblivious.
Play:
POPILLIUS
[to CASSIUS] I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
CASSIUS
What enterprise, Popillius?
POPILLIUS
Fare you well.
POPILLIUS approaches CAESAR.
BRUTUS
[to CASSIUS] What said Popillius Lena?
CASSIUS
[aside to BRUTUS]
He wished today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discoverèd.
BRUTUS
Look how he makes to Caesar. Mark him.
Word Meanings
Enterprise: A project or undertaking. In this context, it refers to the plot to assassinate Caesar.
Thrive: To prosper or be successful.
Fare you well: A formal way of saying goodbye.
Aside: A remark made by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by the other characters in the play.
Purpose: The goal or objective of the group, which is to murder Caesar.
Discoverèd: A poetic form of ‘discovered’, meaning to be found out or revealed.
Makes to: An archaic phrase meaning approaches or moves toward.
Mark: To pay attention to or observe closely.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Popillius approached Cassius and said he wished their enterprise would thrive that day. Cassius, feigning ignorance, asked what enterprise Popillius was referring to. Popillius simply bid him farewell and walked toward Caesar. Brutus, having witnessed the exchange, asked Cassius what Popillius Lena had said. Cassius, speaking softly to Brutus so others couldn’t hear, repeated that Popillius had wished their enterprise might thrive that day and expressed his fear that their purpose had been discovered. Brutus told him to look at Popillius and watch how he was approaching Caesar. This short exchange highlights Cassius’s paranoid and suspicious nature, contrasting sharply with Brutus’s calm and rational demeanor.
Play:
CASSIUS
Casca, be sudden, for we fear prevention
—Brutus, what shall be done? If this be known,
Cassius or Caesar never shall turn back,
For I will slay myself.
BRUTUS
Cassius, be constant.
Popillius Lena speaks not of our purposes.
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change.
CASSIUS
Trebonius knows his time. For, look you, Brutus.
He draws Mark Antony out of the way.
TREBONIUS and ANTONY exit.
Word Meanings
Prevention: The act of being stopped or hindered from carrying out a plan.
Constant: To be firm, unwavering, or calm in a difficult situation.
Purposes: Intentions or plans;
Draws.. out of the way: To lead someone away or divert their attention.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Cassius urged Casca to be swift, stating that they feared being stopped. He then turned to Brutus, asking what they should do. He added that if their plot were discovered, either he or Caesar would not survive, because he would kill himself. Brutus calmly told Cassius to remain steadfast, explaining that Popillius Lena was not talking about their plan. He pointed out that Popillius was smiling and Caesar’s expression had not changed. Cassius then noted that Trebonius was following their plan and had successfully led Mark Antony away from the scene, as Trebonius and Antony exited. This exchange highlights the differing temperaments of Cassius and Brutus. Cassius’s panic and threat of suicide reveal his impulsive, fearful nature, showing the pressure the conspirators face. In contrast, Brutus remains calm and rational, interpreting Popillius’s smile and Caesar’s expression to deduce that their plot remains secret. This solidifies Brutus as the moral leader but also reveals his overconfidence and idealism, leading him to misjudge situations, a flaw that will be evident in his dealings with Antony.
Play:
DECIUS
Where is Metellus Cimber? Let him go
And presently prefer his suit to Caesar.
BRUTUS
He is addressed. Press near and second him.
CINNA
Casca, you are the first that rears your hand.
CAESAR
Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his senate must redress?
METELLUS
[kneeling]
Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart—
Word Meanings
Presently: (archaic) At once; immediately.
Prefer: To present or offer for consideration.
Suit: A formal request or petition.
Addressed: Prepared and ready for a specific task.
Rears: To raise or lift up.
Amiss: Wrong; not as it should be.
Redress: To set right; to remedy or correct.
Puissant: Having great power or influence; mighty.
Humble: Showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance; submissive.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Decius asks where Metellus Cimber is and urges him to go and present his petition to Caesar right away. Brutus replies that Metellus is ready and tells the others to move closer and support him. Cinna reminds Casca that he is the one who will strike first. Caesar then asks if everyone is ready and what is wrong that he and the senate must fix. Kneeling, Metellus Cimber begins his plea, telling the high and mighty Caesar that he brings a humble heart before his seat. The most tragic irony lies in Caesar’s own words, ‘What is now amiss that Caesar and his senate must redress?’ He is completely unaware that the very thing that is ‘amiss’ is the plot against his life, which the conspirators are about to ‘redress’ in the most violent way. Metellus’s subservient speech, full of flattery, is also ironic because it is merely a pretense to get close enough to kill the man he is praising.
Play:
CAESAR
I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men
And turn preordinance and first decree
Into the law of children. Be not fond,
To think that Caesar bears such rebel blood
That will be thawed from the true quality
With that which melteth fools —I mean, sweet words,
Low-crookèd curtsies, and base spaniel fawning.
Thy brother by decree is banishèd.
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
Word Meanings:
Prevent: To stop or get in the way of an action.
Couchings: Bowing or kneeling in a subservient manner.
Courtesies: Polite acts or gestures.
Preordinance: A previously established law or decree.
Fond: Foolish or naive.
Rebel blood: A rebellious or weak disposition; blood that is easily moved to change.
Thawed: Softened, melted, or made to change.
Low-crookèd curtsies: Deep, low bows showing great deference.
Spaniel fawning: Fawning or showing excessive, dog-like devotion.
Spurn: To reject with disdain or contempt.
Cur: A mongrel or stray dog, used as a term of contempt.
Explanation of the above dialogue— Caesar told Metellus Cimber that he had to stop him. He said that such humble crouching and low courtesies might inflame the passions of ordinary men and change a firm, initial law into one made by children. He warned him not to be foolish enough to think that Caesar had such rebellious blood that could be softened from its true nature by things that melt fools, such as sweet words, bent curtsies, and servile fawning. He stated that Cimber’s brother had been banished by law, and if he were to bend, pray, and fawn for him, Caesar would spurn him out of his way like a dog. He concluded by asserting that Caesar does not commit wrongs, nor will he be appeased without reason. This conversation is a powerful display of Caesar’s arrogance and hubris. He positions himself as a figure of ultimate constancy, comparing his resolve to a fixed, unmovable law, completely different from ordinary men who might be swayed by emotion. The language he uses is deeply condescending; he views the conspirators’ pleas as ‘base spaniel fawning’, reducing.
Play:
METELLUS
Is there no voice more worthy than my own
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar’s ear
For the repealing of my banished brother?
BRUTUS
[kneeling] I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery,
Caesar,
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
CAESAR
What, Brutus?
CASSIUS
[kneeling] Pardon, Caesar. Caesar, pardon.
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber.
Word Meanings
Repealing: The act of revoking or canceling a law or decree. Here, it means to end his brother’s banishment.
Flattery: Excessive and insincere praise given to someone to please them.
Enfranchisement: The giving of a right or privilege, in this case, the right to return from exile.
Pardon: An act of forgiving a person for an offense.
Doth: An archaic third-person singular present form of the verb ‘do’.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Metellus asked if there was no voice more worthy than his own to sound more sweetly in Caesar’s ear for the repealing of his banished brother. Brutus knelt and said that he was kissing Caesar’s hand, but not in flattery, desiring that Publius Cimber might have an immediate freedom of repeal. Caesar then asked Brutus what he wanted. Cassius also knelt and begged Caesar’s pardon, saying he was falling as low as to his foot to beg for the enfranchisement of Publius Cimber. It reveals the conspirators’ strategic manipulation and Caesar’s arrogant inflexibility. The dialogue shows Metellus’s subservient plea, which is part of a plan to get close to Caesar. Brutus and Cassius follow his lead, feigning humility to justify their presence and get within striking distance.
Play:
CAESAR
I could be well moved if I were as you.
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me.
But I am constant as the northern star,
Of whose true-fixed and resting quality
There is no fellow in the firmament.
The skies are painted with unnumbered sparks.
They are all fire and every one doth shine,
But there’s but one in all doth hold his place.
So in the world. ‘Tis furnished well with men,
And men are flesh and blood, and apprehensive,
Yet in the number I do know but one
That unassailable holds on his rank,
Unshaked of motion . And that I am he
Let me a little show it even in this:
That I was constant Cimber should be banished,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
Word Meanings
Firmament: The sky or the heavens.
Unnumbered sparks: Countless shining stars.
Apprehensive: it means capable of understanding or perception, rather than fearful.
Unassailable: Unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated.
Unshaked of motion: Not moved or swayed by emotion or external influence.
Cimber: Refers to Publius Cimber, whose banishment Metellus Cimber and the other conspirators are begging to have repealed.
Explanation of the above dialogue— Caesar said that he could be moved if he were like them, and that if he could be persuaded by prayers, then prayers would have moved him. However, he proclaimed that he was as constant as the northern star, whose truly fixed and still quality had no equal in the sky. He continued, explaining that the skies were filled with countless shining sparks, all of them fire, but only one of them truly held its place. In the same way, the world was well furnished with men, who were flesh and blood and capable of understanding, yet among them, he knew of only one who held his rank without being assailed or shaken. He declared that he was that man and offered to show it by remaining constant in his decision that Cimber should be banished, and that he would continue to keep him banished. This monologue illustrates Caesar’s hubris and marks the dramatic peak before his assassination. By likening himself to the northern star, he claims an unwavering superiority over others he views as weak. This comparison elevates him to a god-like status, reflecting the conspirators’ fears of his ambition. Ironically, as he asserts his permanence, he is on the brink of death, demonstrating that he is merely human and not a deity. This moment effectively captures the theme of fate versus free will, as Caesar’s pride ultimately seals his destiny.
Play:
CINNA
[kneeling] O Caesar—
CAESAR
Hence! Wilt thou lift up Olympus?
DECIUS
[kneeling] Great Caesar—
CAESAR
Doth not Brutus bootless kneel?
CASCA
Speak, hands, for me!
CASCA and the other conspirators stab CAESAR. BRUTUS stabs
him last.
CAESAR
Et tu, Bruté? —Then fall, Caesar.
[dies]
Word Meanings
Olympus: In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the home of the gods. Caesar uses the reference to imply that the conspirators’ pleas are an impossible and futile task.
Bootless: This means futile, useless, or pointless.
Et tu, Bruté?: A Latin phrase meaning ‘And you too, Brutus?’ It is an iconic line expressing profound surprise, shock, and a sense of ultimate betrayal.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Cinna knelt and began to speak to Caesar. Caesar interrupted him, telling him to get away and asking if he intended to lift up Mount Olympus, a feat of impossible effort. Decius also knelt and addressed Caesar as Great Caesar’, but Caesar interrupted again, asking if Decius’s kneeling was as pointless as Brutus’s. Casca then called on his hands to speak for him, at which point he and the other conspirators stabbed Caesar. Brutus delivered the final stab. As he was being stabbed, Caesar looked at Brutus and asked, ‘And you too, Brutus?’ He then said that he must fall.Caesar’s final words, ‘Et tu, Bruté?’, are the most significant. They are not an exclamation of physical pain but of deep emotional betrayal. It shows that for Caesar, the greatest wound was not the physical one but the one delivered by his most trusted friend. His last phrase, ‘Then fall, Caesar’, is an acknowledgment that his reign, his life, and his entire identity cannot survive such a betrayal.
Play:
CINNA
Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the streets.
CASSIUS
Some to the common pulpits, and cry out,
“Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!”
Confusion. Some citizens and senators exit.
BRUTUS
People and senators, be not affrighted.
Fly not. Stand still. Ambition’s debt is paid.
CASCA
Go to the pulpit, Brutus.
DECIUS
And Cassius too.
BRUTUS
Where’s Publius?
CINNA
Here, quite confounded with this mutiny.
METELLUS
Stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s
Should chance—
BRUTUS
Talk not of standing. —Publius, good cheer.
There is no harm intended to your person,
Nor to no Roman else. So tell them, Publius.
CASSIUS
And leave us, Publius, lest that the people,
Rushing on us, should do your age some mischief.
BRUTUS
Do so. And let no man abide this deed
But we the doers.
PUBLIUS exits.
Word Meanings
Proclaim: To announce officially or publicly.
Pulpits: Public platforms or raised stands from which a speaker addresses an audience.
Enfranchisement: The giving of a right or privilege, especially the right to vote; here, it means to be set free.
Affrighted: Frightened or afraid.
Ambition’s debt is paid: The punishment for Caesar’s ambition (his murder) has been delivered.
Confounded: Confused or bewildered.
Mutiny: An open rebellion against a legitimate authority, especially by soldiers or sailors. Here, it refers to the chaotic scene and the assassination itself.
Stand fast together: To hold a position firmly; to stick together and not retreat.
Good cheer: A cheerful or happy state of mind.
Abide: To accept or tolerate.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Cinna exclaimed that liberty, freedom, and tyranny were dead. He urged them to run from there and proclaim it about the streets. Cassius then suggested that some of them should go to the common pulpits and cry out for liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement. As confusion broke out and some citizens and senators exited, Brutus urged the people and senators not to be afraid, telling them not to flee and to stand still, as ambition’s debt had been paid. Casca told Brutus to go to the pulpit, and Decius added that Cassius should go too. Brutus then asked where Publius was. Cinna replied that he was right there, quite annoyed by the mutiny. Metellus suggested that they all stand fast together, lest some friend of Caesar’s should chance upon them. Brutus interrupted, telling him not to talk of standing. He told Publius to be of good cheer, reassuring him that no harm was intended to his person or to any other Roman, and urged him to tell the others the same. Cassius also told Publius to leave them, in case the people, rushing on to them, should do mischief. Brutus agreed, and said that no man should abide by that deed but the doers. Publius then exited. This short but crucial extract portrays the chaotic immediate aftermath of Caesar’s assassination and reveals the conspirators’ differing reactions and priorities.
Play:
TREBONIUS enters.
CASSIUS
Where is Antony?
TREBONIUS
Fled to his house amazed.
Men, wives, and children stare, cry out, and run
As it were doomsday.
BRUTUS
Fates, we will know your pleasures.
That we shall die, we know. ‘Tis but the time,
And drawing days out, that men stand upon.
CASSIUS
Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life
Cuts off so many years of fearing death.
Word Meanings
Amazed: Overwhelmed with surprise or terror; astonished.
Doomsday: The last day of the world’s existence; here used to describe a scene of chaos and widespread panic.
Fates: In classical mythology, the three goddesses who were believed to control human destiny and life.
Stand upon: To attach importance to something; to care about or be concerned with.
Explanation of the above dialogues— After the assassination, Trebonius entered the scene. Cassius asked him where Antony was. Trebonius replied that Antony had been so amazed and frightened that he had fled to his house. He added that men, women, and children were all staring, crying out, and running as if it were the end of the world. Brutus then stated that they would soon learn the will of the Fates. He said that while they knew they would all die, it was only the timing and how long they could prolong their lives that truly concerned men. Cassius responded by saying that anyone who shortens their life by twenty years also shortens their years of fearing death.
Play:
BRUTUS
Grant that, and then is death a benefit.
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridged
His time of fearing death. Stoop, Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar’s blood
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords.
Then walk we forth, even to the marketplace,
And waving our red weapons o’er our heads
Let’s all cry, “Peace, freedom, and liberty!”
CASSIUS
Stoop, then, and wash.
The conspirators smear their hands and swords with CAESAR’s blood.
CASSIUS
How many ages hence
Shall this our lofty scene be acted over
In states unborn and accents yet unknown!
BRUTUS
How many times shall Caesar bleed in sport,
That now on Pompey’s basis lies along
No worthier than the dust!
CASSIUS
So oft as that shall be,
So often shall the knot of us be called
“The men that gave their country liberty.”
DECIUS
What, shall we forth?
CASSIUS
Ay, every man away.
Brutus shall lead, and we will grace his heels
With the most boldest and best hearts of Rome.
Word Meanings
abridged: to shorten or lessen, in this case, to cut short Caesar’s life.
Stoop: to bend the body forward and downward, as if in a gesture of humility or in this case, to kneel.
lofty: very high, grand, or impressive; noble.
accents: a distinctive way of speaking a language, often associated with a particular country, region, or class; here, it refers to future languages.
Pompey’s basis: the base or pedestal of the statue of Pompey the Great, where Caesar’s body has fallen.
knot: a close group of people; here it refers to the conspirators.
grace his heels: to honor or follow closely behind someone.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus told the conspirators that if they granted his point, then death was a benefit, and they were in fact Caesar’s friends because they had shortened his time of fearing death. He urged the Romans to stoop and bathe their hands and swords in Caesar’s blood up to the elbows. He suggested they then walk forth to the marketplace, waving their bloody weapons over their heads, and all cry out, ‘Peace, freedom, and liberty!’ Cassius agreed and told them to stoop and wash. After the conspirators smeared their hands and swords with Caesar’s blood, Cassius wondered how many ages from now their ‘lofty scene’ would be acted over in future nations and languages. Brutus also speculated about how many times Caesar would ‘bleed in sport’ in the future, given that he now lay on the base of Pompey’s statue, no more worthy than dust. Cassius responded that as often as that scene was re-enacted, their group would be called ‘The men that gave their country liberty’. Decius then asked if they should go forth, and Cassius replied that every man should go, with Brutus leading, and they, as the boldest and best hearts of Rome, would follow him.
Play:
ANTONY’S SERVANT enters.
BRUTUS
Soft! Who comes here? A friend of Antony’s.
ANTONY’S SERVANT
[kneeling] Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel.
[falls prostrate] Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall
down,
And, being prostrate, thus he bade me say:
Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest.
Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving.
Say I love Brutus, and I honor him.
Say I feared Caesar, honored him, and loved him.
If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony
May safely come to him and be resolved
How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death,
Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead
So well as Brutus living , but will follow
The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus
Thorough the hazards of this untrod state
With all true faith. So says my master Antony.
Word Meanings
Prostrate: Lying stretched out on the ground with one’s face downward, often as a sign of submission or adoration.
Vouchsafe: To give, grant, or condescend to give, as a favor or privilege.
Resolved: To be fully informed or assured; to have one’s questions answered.
Hath deserved to lie in death: An archaic way of saying ‘deserved to be killed’.
Untrod state: A new, untrodden, and uncertain political situation or government. It refers to the state of Rome after Caesar’s assassination, which has no clear ruler or direction.
Thorough: A poetic and archaic form of ‘through’.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus asked softly who was coming, identifying the person as a friend of Antony’s. Antony’s servant knelt and then fell to the ground, explaining that his master had instructed him to kneel and prostrate. He said that Antony had told him to say that Brutus was noble, wise, valiant, and honest. He also said that Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. He continued, saying that he (Antony) loved and honored Brutus. He also claimed to have feared, honored, and loved Caesar. The servant then stated that if Brutus would guarantee Antony’s safety, allowing him to come and learn why Caesar deserved to die, Antony would not love Caesar dead as much as he would love Brutus alive. The servant concluded by saying that Antony would follow Brutus’s fortunes through all the dangers of this new political situation with complete loyalty. This passage highlights Antony’s cunning and foresight, contrasting sharply with Brutus’s naive trust. It sets up the central conflict of the play, where Antony’s political shrewdness will ultimately triumph over Brutus’s idealism.
Play:
BRUTUS
Thy master is a wise and valiant Roman.
I never thought him worse.
Tell him, so please him come unto this place,
He shall be satisfied and, by my honor,
Depart untouched.
ANTONY’S SERVANT
[rising] I’ll fetch him presently.
ANTONY’S SERVANT exits.
BRUTUS
I know that we shall have him well to friend.
CASSIUS
I wish we may. But yet have I a mind
That fears him much, and my misgiving still
Falls shrewdly to the purpose.
Word Meanings
Valiant: possessing or showing courage or determination; brave.
Presently: right away or immediately. In Shakespeare’s time, this word meant ‘at the present time’, or ‘without delay’.
Untouched: unharmed or not physically harmed.
Well to friend: to be a good friend or ally. The phrase means to have someone’s friendship and support.
Misgiving: a feeling of doubt or apprehension about the outcome or consequence of something; a sense of foreboding.
Falls shrewdly to the purpose: proves to be accurate or very relevant to the situation. ‘Shrewdly’ means in a clever or astute way, and ‘to the purpose’ means relevant or on point.
Explanation of the above dialogues— After Antony’s servant knelt before him, Brutus told the servant that his master, Antony, was a wise and valiant Roman whom he had never considered anything less than that. Brutus then instructed the servant to tell Antony that if he wished to come to that place, he would be satisfied with the explanation and would be able to leave unharmed, by Brutus’s honor. The servant rose and said he would go and fetch Antony right away, then exited. After the servant left, Brutus expressed his belief that they would have Antony as a good friend. Cassius, however, responded that he hoped they would, but that he had a mind that feared Antony greatly. He added that his misgivings often proved to be accurate in such matters. Cassius understands that Antony’s initial submissive behavior is a ruse. He recognizes Antony’s potential for revenge and knows that his own instincts for danger are rarely wrong. Brutus’s noble but flawed judgment versus Cassius’s pragmatic but suspicious nature, with the former’s error ultimately paving the way for Antony to become the dominant force.
Play:
ANTONY enters.
BRUTUS
But here comes Antony.—Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
—I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank.
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
Fulfill your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die.
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
Word Meanings
Dost thou lie so low?: A poetic way of asking, ‘Do you lie here so lifeless and defeated?’
Spoils: Plunder or goods taken from a defeated enemy in war.
Shrunk to this little measure: Reduced to this small, insignificant form (referring to a corpse).
Let blood: To kill. The phrase is a medical term for bloodletting, which the conspirators used as an analogy to justify their act as a purging of Rome’s political disease.
Rank: Overgrown or corrupt; a reference to a plant that has grown excessively and is unhealthy. Antony uses this term to mirror the conspirators’ view of Caesar’s ambition.
Bear me hard: To hold a grudge against me or to dislike me.
Purpled hands: Hands stained with blood.
Reek and smoke: To give off a strong, unpleasant odor and steam, referring to the fresh blood on their hands.
Apt to die: Ready to die; willing to die.
Mean of death: Method of death.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Brutus welcomed Antony as he entered the scene. Antony, upon seeing Caesar’s body, cried out to the fallen leader, asking if his great conquests, glories, triumphs, and spoils had truly been reduced to such a small form. He then bid Caesar farewell. Turning to the conspirators, he said he did not know what they intended to do or who else they planned to kill, or who was considered corrupt. He declared that if he himself was to be killed, there was no hour more fitting than the one in which Caesar died, nor any instrument more worthy than their swords, which had been made valuable by the world’s most noble blood. He begged them to fulfill their pleasure now if they held a grudge against him, adding that even if he lived for a thousand years, he would not find a better time or way to die than there, by Caesar’s side and at the hands of the age’s greatest men. This monologue is a masterful example of Antony’s political cunning. Antony’s complex blend of genuine grief and strategic deception makes the speech a crucial turning point, as it convinces Brutus to trust him, ultimately leading to Antony’s successful manipulation of the Roman populace.
Play:
BRUTUS
O Antony, beg not your death of us.
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel—
As by our hands and this our present act
You see we do —yet see you but our hands
And this the bleeding business they have done.
Our hearts you see not. They are pitiful.
And pity to the general wrong of Rome—
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony.
Our arms in strength of malice and our hearts
Of brothers’ temper do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Word Meanings
Bloody: Covered in blood, or characterized by violence and bloodshed.
Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering to others.
Pitiful: Deserving or inspiring pity or compassion
General wrong of Rome: The overall harm or injustice that Caesar’s ambition was causing the Roman Republic.
Leaden points: The tips of their swords are blunt or dull like lead. Brutus uses this metaphor to mean that they have no intention of harming Antony, suggesting their swords are harmless to him.
Malice: The intention or desire to do evil; ill will.
Reverence: Deep respect for someone or something.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus told Antony not to beg for his death from them. He explained that although their hands and their current act made them appear bloody and cruel, Antony was only seeing their hands and the bloody deed they had done. He said that Antony could not see their hearts, which were pitiful. He continued by saying that it was pity for the general wrong of Rome that drove them to kill Caesar. He added that just as one fire drives out another, so their pity for Rome drove out their pity for Caesar. Brutus assured Antony that their swords had leaden points for him and that they received him with all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence. He stated that their arms, which were strong with malice, and their hearts, which were of a brother’s temper, welcomed him in. This passage is a powerful example of Brutus’s idealism and naivety. Brutus’s trust in Antony and his belief that he can win him over with words of kindness and reverence proves to be a fatal miscalculation. The speech showcases Brutus’s tragic flaw: his inability to see the world as it is, full of political deception and ruthless ambition.
Play:
CASSIUS
Your voice shall be as strong as any man’s
In the disposing of new dignities.
BRUTUS
Only be patient till we have appeased
The multitude, beside themselves with fear,
And then we will deliver you the cause,
Why I, that did love Caesar when I struck him,
Have thus proceeded.
Word Meanings
Dignities: This refers to positions of high rank, honor, or public office. In this context, it means the new political power and titles that would be created and distributed after Caesar’s death.
Appeased: To soothe, pacify, or calm someone by satisfying their demands or anxieties.
Multitude: A large crowd of people.
Proceeded: To carry out an action or series of actions.
Struck: The past tense of ‘strike’, meaning to hit forcefully.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Cassius told Antony that his opinion would be as powerful as anyone else’s when it came to distributing new dignities. Brutus then asked Antony to be patient until they had calmed down the frightened crowd. Brutus said that after the crowd had been appeased, he would explain to Antony the reason why he had proceeded with the assassination, even though he had loved Caesar at the very moment he struck him. The contrast between Cassius’s practical offer of power and Brutus’s idealistic offer of an explanation highlights the very dynamic that will lead to the downfall of the conspirators.
Play:
ANTONY
I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand.
[shakes hands with the conspirators]
First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you.
—Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand.
—Now, Decius Brutus, yours. —Now yours, Metellus.
—Yours, Cinna. —And, my valiant Casca, yours.
—Though last, not last in love, yours, good Trebonius.
—Gentlemen all, alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer
—That I did love thee, Caesar, O, ’tis true.
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes—
Most noble!—in the presence of thy corse?
Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds,
Weeping as fast as they stream forth thy blood,
It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies.
Pardon me, Julius! Here wast thou bayed, brave hart;
Here didst thou fall; and here thy hunters stand,
Signed in thy spoil, and crimsoned in thy lethe.
O world, thou wast the forest to this hart,
And this indeed, O world, the heart of thee.
How like a deer, strucken by many princes,
Dost thou here lie!
Word Meanings
Credit: Reputation or credibility.
Slippery ground: An unstable or dangerous position.
Conceit: To think of or to judge.
Corse: A dead body or corpse.
Bayed: Cornered or trapped, like an animal at the end of a hunt.
Hart: A male deer.
Sign’d in thy spoil: Marked by taking part in the destruction of the spoils.
Crimson’d in thy lethe: Stained red (crimsoned) with your blood. Lethe is a river in Greek mythology that causes forgetfulness, but here it metaphorically refers to blood.
Strucken: Struck.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Antony told the conspirators that he had no doubt about their wisdom. He then asked each of them to give him his bloody hand. As he shook hands with each man, he addressed them by name. He said he would first shake hands with Marcus Brutus, then Caius Cassius, followed by Decius Brutus, Metellus, Cinna, and finally, his valiant Casca. He then addressed the last conspirator, Trebonius, telling him that though he was last, he was not last in his love. Antony then paused and asked the gentlemen what he should say.He continued by explaining that his reputation now stood on such shaky ground that they must think of him in one of two ways: as either a coward or a flatterer. He then turned to Caesar’s body, admitting that it was true he had loved him. He asked if Caesar’s spirit were looking down on them, would it not grieve him more than his death to see his Antony making peace and shaking the bloody hands of his enemies in the presence of his body. He declared that even if he had as many eyes as Caesar had wounds, and if those eyes could weep as fast as the blood streamed from the wounds, it would still be more fitting than making peace with his enemies. He then begged Julius to pardon him. He said that Caesar, a brave heart, was cornered like a stag here, that he fell here, and that his hunters stood here, marked by their victim and stained with his blood. He lamented that the world was like a forest for this stag and that Caesar was indeed the world’s heart. He concluded by exclaiming how Caesar lay there like a deer struck by many princes.
Play:
CASSIUS
Mark Antony—
ANTONY
Pardon me, Caius Cassius.
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
CASSIUS
I blame you not for praising Caesar so.
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be pricked in number of our friends?
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY
Therefore I took your hands, but was indeed
Swayed from the point by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all
Upon this hope: that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
Word Meanings
Compact: An agreement or a contract.
Pricked: To be marked or listed. Here, it means to be officially counted or included in a list of their friends.
Swayed from the point: To be diverted or distracted from the main issue or topic.
Conceit: To regard or think of something in a certain way; to imagine.
Lethe: In Greek mythology, a river in the underworld whose water caused forgetfulness. Here, it is used poetically to refer to blood, suggesting a bloody act that will not be forgotten.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Cassius tried to interrupt Antony, but Antony asked for his pardon. He then explained that only Caesar’s enemies would speak of him in a way that he had just done, and therefore, for a friend, it was just ‘cold modesty’. Cassius responded that he did not blame him for praising Caesar. He then asked Antony what kind of deal he wanted to make with them. He wanted to know if Antony would be counted among their friends or if they should continue with their plans without him. Antony replied that he had shaken their hands for that very reason, but he had been distracted from the main point by looking at Caesar’s body. He stated that he was friends with all of them and loved them all, but on one condition: that they would give him reasons why and in what way Caesar was considered a dangerous man. This short exchange is a crucial moment in the play, highlighting Antony’s shrewdness and Cassius’s political pragmatism.
Play:
BRUTUS
Or else were this a savage spectacle!
Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.
ANTONY
That’s all I seek.
And am moreover suitor that I may
Produce his body to the marketplace,
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
BRUTUS
You shall, Mark Antony.
CASSIUS
Brutus, a word with you .
[aside to BRUTUS] You know not what you do.
Do not consent
That Antony speak in his funeral.
Know you how much the people may be moved
By that which he will utter?
Word Meanings
Savage spectacle: A brutal, barbaric, and cruel public display.
Good regard: Sound, well-reasoned, or valid arguments.
Suitior: A person who makes a request or a petition.
Pulpit: A platform or raised structure from which a speaker addresses an audience, in this case, a platform in the Roman Forum.
Moved: To be emotionally stirred or influenced to take action.
Utter: To speak or express something out loud
Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus said that if their reasons were not full of good regard, the assassination would be a savage spectacle. He added that even if Antony were Caesar’s son, he should be satisfied with their reasons. Antony replied that this was all he sought. He was also a suitor to be allowed to take Caesar’s body to the marketplace and speak from the pulpit as a friend during his funeral. Brutus granted his request. Cassius then took Brutus aside and told him that he did not know what he was doing. He urged him not to consent to letting Antony speak at the funeral, warning him about how much the people might be moved by what Antony would say. This short but pivotal exchange highlights the fundamental difference between Brutus and Cassius. Brutus, ever the idealist, believes that their noble reasons for assassinating Caesar are so compelling that they will convince anyone, including a close friend like Antony. Cassius, on the other hand, is a ruthless pragmatist. He immediately recognizes Antony’s request for what it is: a political trap. He correctly foresees that Antony will use his eloquence to manipulate the crowd’s emotions and turn them against the conspirators.
Play:
BRUTUS
[aside to CASSIUS] By your pardon.
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Caesar’s death.
What Antony shall speak, I will protest,
He speaks by leave and by permission,
And that we are contented Caesar shall
Have all true rites and lawful ceremonies.
It shall advantage more than do us wrong.
CASSIUS
[aside to BRUTUS] I know not what may fall. I like it not.
BRUTUS
Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar’s body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
And say you do ’t by our permission.
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral. And you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
ANTONY
Be it so.
I do desire no more.
BRUTUS
Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Everyone exits except ANTONY.
Word Meanings
Pardon: An apology or a request for forgiveness.
Pulpit: A raised platform or lectern in a church or public hall from which a person may deliver a sermon or speech.
Protest: To declare or affirm solemnly.
Leave: Permission or consent.
Rites: A religious or other solemn ceremony or act.
Conceited: To have an idea or belief about something, to imagine.
Pricked: To mark a name on a list with a pinprick, signifying selection or choice.
Bootless: Useless or futile.
Bootless knelt: Knelt in vain.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Brutus, speaking aside to Cassius, begged his pardon and said that he himself would go into the pulpit first to show the reason for Caesar’s death. He added that he would declare that whatever Antony spoke, he would speak by the conspirators’ leave and permission, and that they were content for Caesar to have all true rites and lawful ceremonies. Brutus believed this would do them more good than harm. Cassius, speaking aside to Brutus, replied that he did not know what might happen and that he did not like it. Brutus then addressed Mark Antony, telling him to take Caesar’s body. He commanded Antony not to blame them in his funeral speech, but to speak all the good he could of Caesar and to say that he did so by their permission. Otherwise, Antony would have no hand at all in the funeral. Brutus added that Antony would speak in the same pulpit where he was going, but only after his own speech was finished. Antony agreed, saying that he desired no more than what Brutus had offered. Brutus then instructed Antony to prepare the body and follow them. Everyone else exited, leaving only Antony. This short scene is a crucial moment in the play, showcasing Brutus’s idealism and fatal misjudgment against Cassius’s pragmatic caution.
Play:
ANTONY
O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever livèd in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy—
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue—
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men.
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy.
Blood and destruction shall be so in use,
And dreadful objects so familiar,
That mothers shall but smile when they behold
Their infants quartered with the hands of war,
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds,
And Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge,
With Ate by his side come hot from hell,
Shall in these confines with a monarch’s voice
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war,
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Word Meanings
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man: You are the remains of the most noble man.
Tide of times: The passage of time, or the course of human history.
Dumb mouths: Mute or speechless mouths. In this context, it refers to Caesar’s wounds.
Ope their ruby lips: Open their red lips. The red color refers to blood.
Domestic fury: Fury within one’s own country; civil strife.
Fierce civil strife: Intense and violent conflict between citizens of the same country.
Cumber: To overwhelm, burden, or weigh down.
Quartered: Torn or cut into pieces.
Fell deeds: Cruel or deadly deeds.
Ranging for revenge: Roaming or searching for revenge.
Ate: The Greek goddess of discord, ruin, and vengeance.
Confines: The territory or boundaries of a place.
Cry “Havoc!”: A military command that meant to give no quarter and allow for general slaughter.
Let slip the dogs of war: To unleash the brutal forces of war.
Carrion men: Dead, rotting men.
Explanation of the above dialogues— Antony spoke to the bleeding body of Caesar, asking for its pardon for being meek and gentle with those butchers. He said that Caesar was the ruins of the noblest man who had ever lived. He proclaimed woe to the hand that had shed that costly blood. Antony then said that over Caesar’s wounds, which were like dumb mouths opening their ruby lips to beg for the voice of his tongue, he would now prophesy. He foretold that a curse would fall upon men, and that domestic fury and fierce civil strife would burden all of Italy. He said that blood and destruction would become so common and dreadful sights so familiar that mothers would smile when they saw their infants dismembered by the hands of war. Antony continued his prophecy, stating that all pity would be suffocated by the routine of cruel deeds, and that Caesar’s spirit, ranging for revenge with the goddess Ate beside him, would come hot from hell. He added that Caesar’s spirit would, in those confines, with a monarch’s voice, cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war, so that the foul deed would smell above the earth with the unburied bodies of men groaning for burial. This soliloquy is a masterclass in dramatic irony and foreshadowing. Antony, alone with Caesar’s body, sheds his feigned friendship with the conspirators and reveals his true, vengeful nature. The speech serves as a prophetic curse, not just on the assassins but on all of Rome.
Play:
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT enters.
ANTONY
You serve Octavius Caesar, do you not?
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
I do, Mark Antony.
ANTONY
Caesar did write for him to come to Rome.
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
He did receive his letters and is coming.
And bid me say to you by word of mouth—
[sees CAESAR’s body] O Caesar!—
ANTONY
Thy heart is big. Get thee apart and weep.
Passion, I see, is catching, for mine eyes,
Seeing those beads of sorrow stand in thine,
Began to water. Is thy master coming?
OCTAVIUS’ SERVANT
He lies tonight within seven leagues of Rome.
Word Meanings
Thy heart is big: This means your heart is full of emotion or grief.
Passion is catching: This means that intense emotion, like sorrow, spreads from one person to another.
Beads of sorrow: This is a poetic metaphor for tears.
Seven leagues: A league is an old unit of distance, typically about three miles. Therefore, seven leagues would be approximately 21 miles.
Explanation of the above dialogues— After the conspirators had left the scene, Antony was joined by Octavius’s servant. Antony asked the servant if he served Octavius Caesar, to which the servant replied that he did. Antony then mentioned that Caesar had written for Octavius to come to Rome. The servant confirmed that Octavius had received the letters and was on his way. He then added that Octavius had told him to convey a message to Antony, but upon seeing Caesar’s body, the servant cried out in grief. Antony, seeing the servant’s sorrow, told him that his heart was full and that he should go aside and weep. He then remarked that grief seemed to be contagious, as his own eyes began to water upon seeing the servant’s tears. Antony then repeated his question, asking if his master was coming, and the servant replied that he would be staying seven leagues away from Rome that night.
Play:
ANTONY
Post back with speed, and tell him what hath chanced.
Here is a mourning Rome, a dangerous Rome,
No Rome of safety for Octavius yet.
Hie hence, and tell him so.—Yet, stay awhile.
Thou shalt not back till I have borne this corse
Into the marketplace. There shall I try,
In my oration, how the people take
The cruèl issue of these bloody men.
According to the which, thou shalt discourse
To young Octavius of the state of things.
Lend me your hand.
They exit with CAESAR’s body.
Word Meanings
Hath chanced: Archaic form of ‘Has happened’.
Hie hence: Archaic form of ‘Go quickly from this place’.
Corse: Archaic form of ‘A corpse or dead body’.
Oration: A formal public speech, especially one delivered on a special occasion.
Cruèl issue: A grim or terrible outcome. The ‘issue’ here refers to the assassination.
Discourse: To speak or write formally about a subject. Here, it means to report or inform.
Bloody men: A derogatory term for the conspirators, portraying them as bloodthirsty murderers.
Explanation of the above dialogues—Antony told the servant to go back quickly and tell Octavius what had happened. He said that Rome was now a place of mourning and danger, and not a safe place for Octavius to be just yet. He then told the servant to hurry and tell him this. However, he then immediately stopped the servant, saying he couldn’t go back until Antony had carried Caesar’s body to the marketplace. Antony said that there, in his speech, he would test how the people would react to the cruel deed of the conspirators. The servant was then to tell young Octavius about the situation based on how the people reacted. Finally, Antony asked the servant to lend him a hand. They then both exited with Caesar’s body.
Conclusion
In Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, the main event is Caesar’s assassination in the Senate House. He is stabbed to death by the conspirators. The scene starts when Caesar enters the Capitol and ignores a warning from Artemidorus. He also brushes off petitions from senators like Metellus Cimber. As the conspirators close in on him, Casca strikes the first blow, followed by the others. Brutus delivers the final stab, leading to Caesar’s death as he famously says, ‘Et tu, Bruté?’. The rest of the scene highlights how the conspirators try to control the people of Rome and Antony’s plan to speak at Caesar’s funeral. Students can take help from this post to understand Act 3, Scene 1 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 10, to get a quick recap of the play.