Act I introduces the main characters and sets up the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius seeks support to assassinate Caesar due to concerns over his ambition and power, while Brutus is conflicted. The crowd loves Caesar but he is suspicious of Cassius. Act II shows Brutus' internal struggle and Portia realizing her husband is keeping a secret. Calpurnia begs Caesar not to go to the Senate due to a bad dream, but Decius convinces him it is a good omen. Act III contains the climax where the conspirators kill Caesar after luring him into the Senate. Brutus and Antony then give opposing funeral speeches, turning the crowd against the assassins and

1. Major Events by Act:
Plot Diagram Act Events
Exposition Act I 3/15/44 B.C. – Feast of Lupercal
Cassius seeking support for conspiracy
Brutus conflicted about Caesar’s ambition
Caesar suspects Cassius
Tribunes skeptical about Caesar
Crowd loves that Caesar denies crown three times
Caesar faints and is angry that crowd doesn’t want him to
take the crown
Rising Action Act II Brutus’ inner conflict
Portia vs. Brutus (knows Brutus has a secret that he’s
struggling with)
Calpurnia vs. Caesar (dream makes her fear for Caesar’s
safety)
Decius reinterprets Calpurnia’s dream and convinces him
it’s a good omen
Climax Act III Conspirators bring petition to Caesar regarding Publius
as a way to get close to him
Conspirators stab Caesar 33 times!
Brutus and Antony delivery funeral speeches – crowd
likes Brutus then Antony – Antony gets them riled up
against the conspirators
Cinna (the poet) is killed after being mistaken for Cinna
(the conspirator); chaos in Rome!
Falling Action Act IV Brutus and Cassius are in Sardis planning for battle;
Ocravius and Antony are still in Rome planning for battle
Brutus and Cassius argue – alliance is crumbling –
Brutus accuses Cassius of accepting bribes (being just as
corrupt as Caesar was!) They make up before battle
Brutus tells Cassius that Portia has committed suicide by
swallowing hot coals
Caesar’s ghost visits Brutus in his tent and tells him he
will see him at Phillippi (the location of the battle)
Resolution/Denouement Act V Battle at Phillippi – future of Rome is at stake – 2nd
triumvirate (Antony, Octavius, Lepidus) vs Conspirators
(Brutus and Cassius)
Cassius misreads information on the battlefield (thinks
Titinius has been captured when in fact, he’s celebrating
Brutus’ success)
Cassius has his servant Pindarius kill him
Titinius kills himself out of guilt
Brutus, knowing he is defeated, has Strato kill him
Brutus is named the “noblest Roman” by Antony.