Julius Caesar .pptx

Characters in the Play
• JULIUS CAESAR
• CALPHURNIA, his wife
• Servant to them
• MARCUS BRUTUS
• PORTIA, his wife
• LUCIUS, their servant
• Senators
• CICERO
• PUBLIUS
• POPILIUS LENA
• Patricians who, with Brutus,
conspire against Caesar
• CAIUS CASSIUS (PINDARUS IS LOYAL
SERVANT)
• CASCA
• CINNA
• DECIUS BRUTUS
• CAIUS LIGARIUS
• METELLUS CIMBER
• TREBONIUS
• Tribunes
• FLAVIUS
• MARULLUS

• Rulers of Rome in Acts 4
and 5
• MARK ANTONY
• LEPIDUS
• OCTAVIUS
• Servant to Antony
• Servant to Octavius
• Officers and soldiers in the
armies of Brutus and Cassius
• 1. LUCILIUS 10. STRATO
• 2. TITINIUS 11. VOLUMNIUS
• 3. MESSALA
• 4. LABEO (nonspeaking)
5. VARRO
• 6. FLAVIUS (nonspeaking)
7. CLAUDIUS
• 8. DARDANUS
• 9. YOUNG CATO 12. CLITUS

Act 1, Scene 1
• Synopsis:
• In Rome the people are taking a holiday to celebrate the
triumphant return of Julius Caesar.
• The tribunes Marullus and Flavius try to shame the
people into returning to their places of work by reminding
them how much they loved Caesar’s rival Pompey, whom
Caesar has destroyed and whose sons he has just
defeated.
• Enter Flavius, Marullus, and certain Commoners,
(including a Carpenter and a Cobbler,) over the stage.

Act 1, Scene 2
• Synopsis:
• A soothsayer advises Caesar that the Ides of March will be a
dangerous day for him.
• When Caesar and others exit, Cassius and Brutus remain behind.
• Cassius urges Brutus to oppose Caesar for fear that Caesar may
become king.
• After Brutus and Cassius talk with Casca about Mark Antony’s public
offer of the crown to Caesar, Brutus agrees to continue his
conversation with Cassius the next day.
• Cassius, alone at the end of the scene, expresses his surprise that
Brutus, who is one of Caesar’s favorites, is willing to conspire against
Caesar.
• Cassius decides to take immediate advantage of this willingness.
• Enter Caesar, Antony for the course, Calphurnia, Portia,
Decius, Cicero, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, a Soothsayer;
after them Marullus and Flavius and Commoners.

Act 1, Scene 3
• Synopsis:
• Casca, meeting Cicero, describes the marvels visible in the
streets that night and suggests that the marvels foretell
important events to come.
• Cicero having left, Cassius arrives to persuade Casca to
join the conspiracy to liberate Rome from the threat of
Caesar’s kingship.
• When Cinna joins them, Cassius sends Cinna to leave
letters where Brutus may find them and be persuaded
that his opposition to Caesar is desired by many.
• Thunder and lightning. Enter Casca and Cicero.

Act 2, Scene 1
• Synopsis:
• Brutus anxiously ponders joining the conspiracy against
Caesar.
• When he is brought one of the unsigned letters that
Cassius has had left for him to find, Brutus decides to act.
• Visited by the conspirators, he agrees to join them but
rejects their plan to kill Mark Antony as well as Caesar.
• When the other conspirators have left, Portia (Brutus’s
wife) begs of him an explanation for his sudden change of
mood.
• Brutus, joined by Caius Ligarius, departs for Caesar’s.
• Enter Brutus in his orchard.

Act 2, Scene 2
• Synopsis:
• It is now the Ides of March. Calphurnia (Caesar’s wife)
persuades him to stay home because she fears for his
safety.
• Decius Brutus, arriving to accompany Caesar to the
Capitol, convinces him that the senators plan to crown
Caesar that day but that they may never renew their offer
should they suspect he is afraid.
• Caesar changes his mind and decides to go. He is joined
by Brutus and the rest of the conspirators, as well as by
Mark Antony.
• Thunder and lightning. Enter Julius Caesar in his
nightgown.

Act 2, Scene 3
• Synopsis:
• Artemidorus (teacher of rhetoric and a loyal Roman) waits in the
street for Caesar in order to give him a letter warning him of the
conspiracy.
• Enter Artemidorus (reading a paper.)
• Act 2, scene 4
• Synopsis:
• Portia, who has been told of the conspirators’ plan to kill Caesar,
waits anxiously for news of their success.
• She meets the Soothsayer, who still fears for Caesar and wants
to warn him.
• Enter Portia and Lucius.

Act 3, Scene 1
• Synopsis:
• In the street Caesar brushes aside Artemidorus’s attempt to warn
him of the conspiracy.
• Once inside the Capitol, the conspirators gather around Caesar under
the guise of pleading for the return of an exile.
• Beginning with Casca they stab Caesar to death and bathe their arms
and hands in his blood.
• Ignoring Cassius’s advice, Brutus gives Antony permission to speak
at Caesar’s funeral.
• Pretending to support Brutus, Antony plans to use this opportunity
to turn the Roman people against the conspirators.
• Flourish. Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus; Brutus, Cassius,
Casca, Decius, Metellus, Trebonius, Cinna; Publius,
(Popilius, (Artemidorus, the Soothsayer, ) and other
Senators and Petitioners.)

Act 3, Scene 2
• Synopsis:
• Brutus explains to the people that the cause of Caesar’s assassination
was the preservation of the Roman Republic from Caesar’s ambition
to be king.
• Mark Antony, bringing in Caesar’s body, refutes Brutus’s charge of
ambition against Caesar, displays Caesar’s wounds, and reveals that
Caesar had made the common people his heirs.
• Inflamed by Antony’s words, the people set off to attack the
conspirators.
• A servant then informs Antony that Octavius Caesar (Antony’s ally)
has come to Rome and that is why Brutus and Cassius have been
forced to flee.
• Enter Brutus and Cassius with the Plebeians.

Act 3, Scene 3
• Synopsis:
• Cinna (the poet) is attacked and killed by the Roman
mob because his name is the same as that of one of
the conspirators.
• Enter Cinna the poet and after him the Plebeians.

Act 4, Scene 1
• Synopsis:
• Antony, Lepidus, and Octavius meet to condemn to death those
who may oppose them.
• Antony sends Lepidus to fetch Caesar’s will.
• Antony expresses contempt for Lepidus and plans with Octavius
to raise an army to fight the troops of Brutus and Cassius.
• Enter Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.
• Act 4, scene 2
• Synopsis:
• Brutus and Cassius each feel wronged by the other.
• They prepare to withdraw from the view of their armies for an
alternate dispute resolution privately in Brutus’s tent.
• Drum. Enter Brutus, Lucilius, (Lucius,) and the Army.
Titinius and Pindarus meet them.

Act 4, Scene 3
• Synopsis:
• Brutus and Cassius exchange accusations in Brutus’s tent.
• They grow angry with each other but are quickly
reconciled, and Brutus tells Cassius of Portia’s death.
• With Titinius and Messala they plot their military
strategy.
• Brutus overrides Cassius’s objections and insists that they
march to Philippi to challenge Mark Antony and Octavius.
• As Brutus reads in his tent after the meeting, he is visited
by the Ghost of Caesar, who threatens to visit Brutus
again at Philippi.

Act 5, Scene 1
• Synopsis:
• The opposing armies confront each other at Philippi.
• Before the battle, Brutus and Cassius exchange insults
with Antony and Octavius.
• Cassius is troubled by an omen of defeat, and he and
Brutus say farewell in case they die as a result of the
upcoming battle.
• Enter Octavius, Antony, and their army.

Act 5, Scene 2
• Synopsis:
• Brutus sends Messala to throw all Brutus’s legions into the battle.
• Alarum. Enter Brutus and Messala.
• Act 5, scene 3
• Synopsis:
• Cassius, mistakenly believing that the battle has been lost and that
Titinius has been taken captive, orders Pindarus to kill him.
• When Titinius returns, he puts his wreath of victory on Cassius’s
head and kills himself.
• Brutus orders his legions into battle again in order to conquer the
still undefeated Antony.
• Alarums. Enter Cassius (carrying a standard) and Titinius.

Act 5, Scene 4
• Synopsis:
• Brutus’s forces are defeated in the second battle.
• Lucilius calls attention to himself and away from
Brutus by announcing himself to be Brutus.
• Lucilius is captured, but Antony spares him.
• Alarum. Enter Brutus, Messala, Cato, Lucilius, and
Flavius.

Act 5, Scene 5
• Synopsis:
• Brutus begs four of his followers to assist him in his
suicide. All but the fourth decline.
• Brutus kills himself.
• Antony praises Brutus as the only honorable
conspirator.
• Octavius orders Brutus’s funeral rites.
• Enter Brutus, Dardanus, Clitus, Strato, and Volumnius.

Themes
• Fate vs. Free Will:
– Cassius rejects the belief in fate as passive and cowardly.
– He emphasizes that individuals were once masters of their destinies.
– The fault lies in people themselves, not in their stars.
• Philosophy on Fate and Freedom:
– The play suggests a delicate coexistence between fate and freedom.
– Caesar expresses a strange view on fearing death, highlighting its inevitability.
– Paralysis from fear is worse than death itself.
• Facing Death:
– Caesar encourages facing death bravely, recognizing events beyond human control.
– Surrendering to fear means losing freedom and agency.
– Death, as a necessary end, will come when it will come.
• Bravery and Honor:
– Facing death with bravery is seen as a noble course.
– Caesar's defeat is interpreted by Brutus as influenced by the force of people's devotion to him.
– Caesar's disregard for fate seems to have transcended it.
• Legacy of Caesar:
– Caesar's ghost symbolizes not just an apparition but the enduring force of people's devotion.
– The strong legacy of a man who defied fear of fate.

Public self versus private self
• Public vs. Private:
– Tragedy arises from neglecting private feelings for perceived public good.
– Characters blur the lines between their private and public identities.
• Brutus's Dilemma:
– Brutus sacrifices personal loyalties for what he perceives as the public good.
– He ignores Portia's pleas and proceeds with Caesar's murder, prioritizing public wishes.
• Cassius's Extreme Persona:
– Cassius's lack of a private life is noted by Caesar, indicating an obsession with his public persona.
– Caesar fears Cassius's ambition and ruthless scheming due to his cunningness and selfishness.
• Caesar's Tragic End:
– Neglecting private sentiments leads to Caesar's downfall.
– Despite brief consideration of personal concerns, Caesar succumbs to ambition, by attending the
Senate.
• Caesar's Misjudgment:
– Caesar confuses his omnipotent public image with his vulnerable human self.
– He refuses Artemidorus's warnings, believing in the strength of his public self to protect his private
self.

Misinterpretations and Misreadings
• Omens and Interpretation:
– Characters consistently fail to interpret omens accurately in the play.
– Cicero notes that individuals construe things based on their own perspectives, often missing the true purpose.
• Night of Portents:
– The night before Caesar's Senate appearance is filled with portents, but characters misinterpret them.
– Cassius sees danger to the state, but the signs warn of the destruction he himself poses.
• Calculated Misreadings:
– Cassius manipulates Brutus with forged letters, exploiting Brutus's trusting nature.
– The misinterpretation leads Brutus to join the conspiracy based on false pleas from the Roman people.
• Cassius's Death:
– Cassius's demise results from misinformation about Titinius being captured, leading him to seek death.
– Pindarus's incorrect conclusion plays a crucial role in Cassius's tragic misinterpretation.
• Political Survival:
– In the political world of Julius Caesar, the ability to read people and events is vital for survival.
– Success depends on understanding the public's opinion and the loyalty or resentment of fellow politicians.
• Antony's Mastery:
– Antony excels at reading situations, demonstrated in his funeral oration for Caesar.
– His accurate understanding of the crowd's emotions allows him to sway public opinion in his favor.

Inflexibility versus Compromise
• Stubbornness of Brutus and Caesar:
– Both Brutus and Caesar exhibit stubborn and inflexible qualities in the play.
– Their rigidity becomes a fatal flaw in the aggressive political environment.
• Success Through Adaptability:
– The play emphasizes that success in the political landscape requires adaptability, bargaining, and compromise.
– Brutus's rigid ideals make him susceptible to manipulation by Cassius.
• Brutus's Idealism:
– Brutus's unwavering belief in the purpose of the assassination blinds him to the need for political maneuvering.
– His honorable ideals lead to his downfall as he underestimates the necessity of justifying the murder politically.
• Caesar's Constancy:
– Caesar's pride in his steadfastness contributes to his downfall.
– Refusing to heed ill omens, he willingly goes to the Senate, falling into the hands of his murderers.
• Adaptability of Antony:
– Antony emerges as the most adaptable politician in the play.
– His speech to the citizens focuses on Caesar's generosity, but he later manipulates funds for political gain against Brutus and
Cassius.
• Ethical Dilemma with Antony:
– Antony's success in politics raises questions about morality.
– While presenting himself as honoring Caesar's will, his willingness to use funds for political expedience raises ethical concerns.
• Struggle for Solutions:
– The play suggests a conflict between firm moral principles and success in politics.
– Each character grapples with finding a different solution to navigate the challenging political landscape in ancient Rome.

Rhetoric and Power
• Rhetoric and Power:
– The play delves into the intricate relationship between rhetoric and power.
– The ability to influence and command through words alone is depicted as the most potent form of authority.
• Caesar's Absolute Authority:
– Caesar is established as possessing absolute authority through his words.
– When Caesar commands, it is promptly executed, showcasing the power of his verbal commands.
• Manipulation through Words:
– Antony's manipulation of words is evident in Act III, where he cleverly convinces the conspirators of his
alliance.
– His seemingly friendly gesture masks a hidden agenda, marking the conspirators for vengeance.
• Brutus's Use of Rhetoric:
– Brutus employs rhetoric when addressing the crowd in the Forum, justifying Caesar's killing.
– He appeals to the crowd's love of liberty and emphasizes his honorable reputation to validate the deed.
• Antony's Persuasive Rhetoric:
– Antony skillfully uses persuasive rhetoric to win the favor of the crowd.
– Through his words, he incites the masses into a frenzied state, showcasing the manipulative power of rhetoric.
• Manipulating Crowd Favor:
– Both Brutus and Antony manipulate the fickleness of the crowd's favor through effective rhetoric.
– The play illustrates how words can sway hearts and minds, shaping the course of political events.

Ethics vs Politics
• Ethical Dilemma of Caesar's Power:
– The core tension in Julius Caesar revolves around the ethical acceptability of Caesar's rise to power.
– The question arises whether individuals of good conscience can permit someone like Caesar to wield immense power over the
Roman citizens.
• Caesar's Political Success:
– Caesar achieves military victories for Rome, gaining popularity among both the common masses and wealthy families.
– Politically, Caesar's position seems unassailable due to his accomplishments for Rome.
• Ethical Implications for Conspirators:
– The conspirators, led by Brutus, grapple with the ethical dilemma of allowing Caesar's unchecked ambition.
– They feel ethically compelled to prevent Caesar from becoming unstoppable, despite his political success.
• Conflict between Ethics and Politics:
– The play explicitly addresses the clash between ethics and politics, notably in the speeches delivered by Brutus and Antony after
Caesar's assassination.
– Brutus contends that killing Caesar was ethically necessary to prevent his enslavement of the people.
• Brutus's Overestimation of Ethical Decisions:
– Brutus, in inviting Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral, believes he is making an ethical and honorable decision.
– However, he underestimates the public's response to ethical considerations, showcasing a lack of understanding of political
dynamics.
• Antony's Political Acumen:
– Antony emerges as the more skilled politician, capable of swaying the crowd with rhetoric and passion.
– Brutus's adherence to rigid morality limits his effectiveness as a politician, highlighting the fickle nature of Roman citizens.

Tyranny
• Central Question of Tyranny:
– The play revolves around the central question of what constitutes a tyrant, influencing Brutus's decision to kill Caesar.
• Brutus's Dilemma:
– Before deciding to kill Caesar, Brutus must determine whether Caesar is already a tyrant or if he will inevitably
become one.
• Caesar's Initial Refusal of Crown:
– Casca informs Brutus and Cassius that Caesar refused the crown three times, suggesting he may not seek total power
for himself.
• Cassius's Warning of Potential Tyranny:
– Cassius argues that even if Caesar doesn't start as a tyrant, he will become one if given absolute power.
• Crucial Scene in Act IV:
– The debate over whether Caesar was a tyrant reaches a crucial point in Act IV when Brutus and Antony speak over
Caesar's dead body.
• Brutus's Justification and Antony's Rebuttal:
– Brutus justifies Caesar's assassination by claiming he was preventing tyranny, while Antony disputes this, asserting
that Caesar was not a tyrant.
• Antony's Counterarguments:
– Antony counters Brutus's claims by highlighting instances where Caesar rejected personal power, shared victories
with the people, and included everyone in his will.
• Public Perception of Tyranny:
– The success of Antony's speech suggests that the perception of tyranny is subjective, with the public seeing Caesar as
a non-tyrant and the conspirators as enemies of Rome.

Honour
• Honor in Julius Caesar:
– In the Roman world depicted in the play, honor is characterized by selflessness, rationality, and pride.
• Brutus as the Embodiment of Honor:
– Brutus epitomizes honor, recognized by every character in the play for his reputation in this virtue.
• Cassius Exploiting Brutus's Honor:
– Cassius leverages Brutus's renowned honor to legitimize the conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
• Brutus's Honorable Motives:
– Even after causing strife, Brutus retains his honorable reputation, with Antony acknowledging that Brutus acted for the greater benefit of
Rome, not out of jealousy.
• Brutus's Rationality and Commitment:
– Brutus exhibits honor through rationality, weighing the assassination despite emotional revulsion and concluding that it is justified for
the greater good.
• Honorable Death:
– Choosing to take his own life rather than be captured, Brutus exemplifies honor by avoiding the appearance of weakness and preserving
his pride.
• Complications of Loyalty:
– Loyalty is a crucial element of honor in the play, portrayed through friendships such as Brutus and Cassius, and Caesar and Antony.
• Dangerous Loyalty:
– Excessive loyalty proves dangerous, as seen when Cassius uses his devotion to convince Brutus to join the conspiracy, leading to errors
and their eventual deaths.
• Antony's Loyalty and Betrayal:
– Antony demonstrates loyalty to Caesar and later to Octavius, using his loyalty to turn the Roman public against the conspirators, sparking
rioting and war.
• Honor through Friendship, Yet Destructive Loyalty:
– While characters demonstrate honor through deep friendships, the same loyalty contributes to the destruction of the Republic.

Symbols
• Women and Wives
• Calphurnia and Portia as Symbols:
– Primarily function as symbols for the private, domestic realm in the play.
• Pleading for Awareness:
– Both women plead with their husbands, Calpurnia in Act III, scene ii, and Portia in
Act II, scene I, urging them to be more aware of their private needs and feelings.
• Rebuffed Pleas:
– Despite their pleas, Caesar and Brutus rebuff their wives' requests, prioritizing
public matters over private concerns.
• Disregard for Private Emotions:
– Caesar and Brutus actively disregard their private emotions and intuitions,
emphasizing their focus on public affairs.
• Powerless Figures:
– Calpurnia and Portia emerge as powerless figures, willing but unable to help and
comfort Caesar and Brutus in their private struggles.

The Crown
• Symbolic Representation:
– The crown symbolizes absolute power and authority.
• Offer by Antony:
– Antony offers the crown to Caesar in Act I, creating apprehension among the conspirators.
• Fears Confirmed:
– The conspirators fear that Caesar is on the path to wielding absolute power and becoming a
dictator.
• Refusal and Theater:
– Caesar's three-time refusal of the crown is seen by conspirators as a theatrical gesture to
appear humble, heightening their suspicions.
• Casca's Insight:
– Casca's account suggests Caesar's hesitation, portraying his actions as ambitious and
manipulative.
• Alarm of Conspirators:
– Brutus and Cassius express alarm upon hearing about the procession, indicating their
recognition of the crown's symbolic significance.
• Exaggerated Refusal:
– Caesar's exaggerated refusal to wear the crown emphasizes its symbolic value, signifying his
ascent to the position of dictator.

The Ghost of Caesar
• Foreshadowing Brutus's Fate:
– Caesar's Ghost foreshadows Brutus's fate at the end of the play.
• Manifestation of Guilt:
– The Ghost's appearance in Act IV represents Brutus's guilt over his complicity in Caesar's
assassination.
• Haunted by Betrayal:
– Despite justifying his actions, Brutus feels haunted by betraying Caesar's trust.
• Identification as "Evil Spirit":
– The Ghost identifies itself as Brutus's "evil spirit," symbolizing inner conflict or the inherent
evil in Brutus.
• Symbol of Inner Conflict:
– The phantom symbolizes the ongoing inner conflict within Brutus, torn between his
commitment to Rome and his betrayal of a trusted friend.
• Acceptance of Fate:
– After a second sighting at Philippi, Brutus accepts his fate, acknowledging the consequences
of his actions.
• Final Words Reflecting Inner Struggle:
– Brutus's final words express the internal war within him, stating he didn't kill Caesar with
half as much willingness as he faced his own death.

Who are Antagonists
• Cassius as Manipulator:
– Cassius manipulates Brutus by planting false evidence and appealing to his
desire to protect Rome.
• Antony's Role in Brutus's Defeat:
– Antony's passionate speech to the crowd leads to a shift in public opinion,
resulting in civil war and Brutus's downfall.
• Caesar as a Potential Antagonist:
– Caesar, despite dying early in the play, poses a significant threat due to his
ambition and power-lust.
• Uncertainty about Caesar's Corruptibility:
– The audience remains uncertain whether power would corrupt Caesar as
feared by Brutus and the conspirators.
• Caesar's Ambition Threatening Stability:
– Caesar's ambition becomes a threat to the stability of the Roman Republic,
culminating in his assassination and tragic events.

Style
• Blank Verse and Prose:
– The play predominantly uses iambic pentameter, a form of blank verse, for much of the dialogue, especially in the speeches of
noble characters. However, prose is employed for the speech of commoners, adding variety to the language.
• Rhetorical Devices:
– Shakespeare employs various rhetorical devices, including metaphor, simile, antithesis, and parallelism. Characters often use
elaborate language and rhetorical flourishes, particularly in speeches.
• Soliloquies and Aside:
– Characters frequently deliver soliloquies, revealing their inner thoughts to the audience. Aside is also used, allowing characters
to share private reflections or comments directly with the audience.
• Symbolism and Imagery:
– The play contains rich symbolism and vivid imagery. For example, the recurring motif of omens and supernatural elements
adds depth to the narrative.
• Characterization through Language:
– Each character has a distinctive way of speaking, reflecting their social status, personality, and role in the play. Brutus, for
instance, often uses elevated and philosophical language.
• Political and Philosophical Discourse:
– "Julius Caesar" explores political themes and philosophical questions. Characters engage in debates about the nature of power,
tyranny, and the responsibilities of citizens.
• Pun and Wordplay:
– Shakespeare employs wordplay, puns, and double entendre throughout the play. This adds humor, complexity, and depth to the
dialogue.
• Verse Forms:
– Besides blank verse, the play includes rhymed couplets, especially in moments of heightened emotion or significant events. This
variation in verse forms contributes to the play's rhythmic diversity.

Tone
– Serious and elevated
– Reflects the lasting significance of events
• Lack of Humor:
– Little humor or levity
– Characters take themselves seriously, willing to die for ideals
• Brutus's Rationality:
– Calm, rational explanations even in intense moments
– Maintains stately dignity, faces death without hysteria
• Sense of Political Choices:
– Choices are viewed as political, not just personal
– Characters understand their actions' impact on history
• Departures in Tone:
– Scenes with Calpurnia and Portia provide emotional contrasts
– Reveals characters' conflicted inner lives and personal struggles
• Private Sacrifices for Ideals:
– Heroes sacrifice private lives for perceived higher ideals
– Highlights mistakes and internal conflicts of characters

Metaphors and Similes
• Act I: Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves. (1.2.136–139)
• Cassius's Envious Comparison:
– Cassius compares Caesar's rising power to the Colossus of Rhodes.
– Colossus symbolizes immense strength and dominance.
• Symbolic Insignificance:
– Cassius sees himself and Brutus as tiny and insignificant next to
Caesar.
– Highlights Cassius's envy and the perceived overwhelming power of
Caesar.

• However he puts on this tardy form.
This rudeness is a sauce to his good wit,
Which gives men stomach to digest his words
With better appetite. (1.2.295–298)
• Here Cassius uses a metaphor to explain that the
seemingly dimwitted Casca is actually quite clever; he
merely pretends to be daft, serving up his words with a
simple sauce that makes others hungry to hear his
ideas.

• I know he would not be a wolf
But that he sees the Romans are but sheep.
He were no lion were not Romans hinds. (1.3.105–
107)
• In this series of metaphors, Cassius downplays Caesar’s
greatness, arguing that Caesar only became a top
predator—a wolf and a lion—when he realized that
Romans were such easy prey—sheep and hinds (deer).

• Oh, he sits high in all the people’s hearts,
And that which would appear offense in us,
His countenance, like richest alchemy,
Will change to virtue and to worthiness.
• In this simile, Casca compares Brutus’s reputation to
alchemy, the goal of which was to transform common
metals into gold; likewise, the conspirators seek Brutus’s
support because they believe his reputation will transform
their criminal plot into a virtuous and worthy endeavor.

• And, to speak truth of Caesar,
I have not known when his affections swayed
More than his reason. But ’tis a common proof
That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder,
Whereto the climber upward turns his face.
But when he once attains the upmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend. So Caesar may. (2.1.19–27)
• In this extended metaphor, Brutus rationalizes his belief that
Caesar must be killed even though he has not yet abused his
power, comparing Caesar’s ambition to a ladder that, if he is
allowed to reach the top, may cause him to become too proud
and scorn the very people who elevated him to such a lofty
position.

• And therefore think him as a serpent’s egg—
Which, hatched, would as his kind grow mischievous—
And kill him in the shell. (2.1.32–34)
• In this simile, Brutus again rationalizes killing Caesar
before he has a chance to abuse his power, comparing
him to the egg of a poisonous snake that must be
crushed before it hatches.

Act III
• 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. (3.1.65–75)
• In this extended simile, Caesar boasts of his self-assurance by comparing
himself to the North Star, the only star in the sky that remains fixed in its
position throughout the night; in contrast, he dismisses all other men as
apprehensive, or self-doubting, likening them to the countless other stars
that continually shift their position.

• 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! (3.1.215–221)
• In this extended metaphor, Antony compares Caesar, just after his
assassination, to a hart (deer), over whose bloody body the hunters
(the conspirators) are still standing; Antony exults the fallen deer
(Caesar) by saying that the whole world was his forest, while at the
same time flattering the conspirators (and avoiding their anger) by
calling them princes.

Act V
• Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes. (5.5.17–18)
• In these lines, Brutus’s friend Clitus compares the
weeping Brutus to a container overflowing with grief; a
few moments before, Brutus had asked Clitus to kill
him, knowing that his army was on the brink of defeat.

• Villains, you did not so when your vile daggers
Hacked one another in the sides of Caesar.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like
hounds,
And bowed like bondmen, kissing Caesar’s feet,
Whilst damnèd Casca, like a cur, behind
Struck Caesar on the neck. O you flatterers! (5.1.40–45)
• In these lines, Antony uses a string of similes to mock the
conspirators for the cowardly way they killed Caesar; most
of them, he says, feigned servility, smiling and kissing
Caesar’s feet like submissive animals (apes and hounds) or
slaves (bondmen); meanwhile, Casca snuck up behind the
distracted Caesar like a cur (a mutt) to strike the first blow.

Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary
devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s
major themes.
• Omens and Portents:
– Repeated manifestation of omens and nightmares in the play.
– Symbolize Caesar's impending death.
• Fate and Misinterpretation:
– Themes of fate and misinterpretation associated with the omens.
– Reflects the characters' struggle to understand their destinies.
• Warning or Fate Announcement:
– Uncertainty whether omens are warnings or announcements of fate.
– Raises questions about the characters' ability to alter their destinies.
• Failure to Interpret:
– Characters consistently fail to interpret omens correctly.
– Highlights the dangers of overlooking and misunderstanding crucial details.

Letters
• Motif of Letters:
– Represents a counterpart to oral rhetoric in the play.
– Highlights the different dynamics between written communication and spoken
words.
• Oral Rhetoric vs. Written Letters:
– Oral rhetoric involves direct interaction between speaker and audience.
– Written letters rely on the recipient's interpretation and response.
• Power of a Written Letter:
– Brutus's reaction to Cassius's forged letter demonstrates the power of written
words.
– The impact depends on the reader, granting it full power.
• Caesar's Disregard for a Letter:
– Caesar's refusal to read Artemidorus's letter diminishes its potential power.
– Denial of personal affairs and a disregard for the written message.

Sickness
• Sickness as Motif:
– Recurrent theme, whether literal or metaphorical, throughout the play.
• Caesar as a Disease:
– Conspirators liken Caesar to a disease infecting the country and its
people.
– Cassius argues that absolute power in Caesar makes Rome truly sick.
• Assassination as a Cure:
– Killing Caesar seen as a cure for Rome's sickness, making sick men whole.
– Brutus describes the act as a remedy for the ailing state.
• Brutus's Internal Struggle:
– Portia notes Brutus's apparent sickness.
– Suggests Brutus's internal conflict, torn between loyalty to Caesar and his
principles.

Protagonist
• Brutus as Protagonist:
– Despite the title, Brutus serves as the central character and
protagonist.
– Caesar's death midway has limited influence on unfolding events.
• Central Role in Plot:
– Conspirators' plot gains legitimacy with Brutus's involvement.
– His respectability is crucial for the success of the assassination.
• Tragic Protagonist:
– Widely regarded as honorable, committed to ethics and honor.
– Tragic flaws, such as his inability to see others' lack of honor, lead to
destructive choices.
• Consequential Actions:
– Brutus's choice to kill Caesar results in destruction, both in the world
and his own downfall.

• Calpurnia's Dream:
– Calpurnia dreams of Caesar's statue bleeding, foreshadowing his imminent
assassination.
– This vision symbolizes the impending harm and political turmoil.
• Soothsayer's Warning:
– The soothsayer warns Caesar to "beware the Ides of March," foreshadowing
danger on that specific day.
– This sets the stage for Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March.
• Ghost of Caesar:
– Caesar's ghost appears to Brutus, foreshadowing the consequences and guilt
haunting Brutus.
– This supernatural occurrence hints at the turmoil to follow.
• Cassius's Fate:
– Cassius interprets omens and predicts his own death, foreshadowing the
tragic outcomes for conspirators.
– This adds an element of foreboding to the unfolding events.

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