Julius Caesar Act II Sc1,2,3,4 Notes
Character
Brutus
Selection
Ln 12-18 “He
would be
crowned. How
that might
change his
nature,
there’s…”
Exposition
Connection to
garden with the
snake in the old
testament. In a
republic, receiving
the crown gives him
the ability of
becoming
dangerous.
Brutus
Ln 18-21 “Th’
abuse of
greatness is
when it
disjoins
remorse from
power; and, to
speak truth…”
Brutus
“Think him of a
serpent’s egg…
Brutus thinks that
Caesar believes that
people need to
separate remorse
from power. Caesar
does not usually use
emotion to sway
power. It is believed
that once Caesar
gets to the top of
the ladder, he will
be more arrogant.
A serpent is usually
represented by evil.
It is needed to kill
the egg before the
evil hatches.
Analysis/ Inference
Snakes are not always a bad thing.
They control rats. The rats are
relative to the senate. Notion to the
plague brought on by the rats.
Trouble brought on by the senate.
Animals in place of people in the
holocaust. Cats vs. mice. Rats are
then considered weak. They each
rely on each other.
Brutus does not give Caesar a
chance to get to his ultimate top
before judging him. He does not
actually know if Caesar will be
worse or better once on top. There
is no evidence stating that Caesar
does or does not support his
actions. People think differently
when being ruled than ruling, point
of view. Can Caesar even get any
more arrogant?
All free-will results in
demoralization. He is stating that he
needs to kill Caesar before he does
good or bad. By criticizing Caesar
controlling others fates, they are
balancing his power by turning this
point back on him. Compares to
abortion, deciding someone’s fate
before they are born.
Brutus
Thomas
Brutus Jace
L- 79-81
“O, then by
day where wilt
thou find a
cavern dark
enough to
mask thy
monstrous
visage”
L- 45-46
“Give so much
light that I may
read by them”
Brutus
Patricia
L-162-165
Cassius
Ashley
L-183-184 “yet
I fear him…”
Cassius
Jessica
L-141
Cassius
Chloe
L-90-93
Brutus knows that
he isn’t doing a
good thing. He isn’t
a mindless person.
More m
More moral culpability for an
introspective philposopher to
commit violence then there is for a
hired soldier.
He can pick out that
everyone is
dangerous or there
is distress. More
able to pick up on
omens.
Brutus makes the
distinction. If they
kill both antony and
ceasar, they are
murderers. If they
kill only ceasar they
are acting on the
behalf of Rome.
Cassius is smart,
being cautious and
thinking about the
consequences.
Cassius feels that
they should include
cicero in the
conspiracy.
Cassius acts as a
follower to make
Foreshadow that Brutus will back
out or should back out.
Brutus is moralizing his actions
against ceasar. Things have to be
done in a noble way, killing antony
would not be noble. Flawed thinking
(?). Distinction between
assassination and mass murder.
Characterizes cassius as one who
strategizes. Shows cassius’ focus on
practicality.
Cicero is very intelligent and older, it
backs the conspirators’ cause.
Shows Brutus’ relationship with
Cassius, a possible flaw in the
Casca Elliot
L-143 “indeed
he is not fit.”
Trebonius
Amanda
L-190 “there is
no fear…”
Decius
Devon
L-207-211
Brutus
Chloe
L327-“A piece
of work…”
Brutus
Samantha l
L288-290- “You
are my true
and honorable
wife…”
Brutus feel the
leader.
Casca agrees with
two opposite views
within seconds of
each other, showing
his lack of thought.
Talking of Antony,
Trebonius is
convincing Cassius
not to kill Antony,
there is no point.
Dessius admits
Ceasar is not gullible
or weak but he can
still use his own
words against him
to get him to the
capitol.
He is not doubting
himself. What they
are going to do is for
the better of the
people. He is more
confident
Relationship is very
different from
Caesar. Brutus is
dominant but wants
to listen to his wife
but Caesar doesn’t.
conspirators’ group. Cassius has no
moral qualms.
Casca is extremely weak minded.
This low caliber kind of person is
necessary for a successful plot.
Shows the general idea of Antony.
Relates to Japanese view on USA
during WW2, didn’t expect the
response of an atomic bomb. The
conspirators think that they can kill
Ceasar without backlash from
Antony. Potential flaw in
conspirators’ plan.
Reveals a lot about Dessius. He is
loyal to the conspiracy.
He is becoming more confident,
since he is openly saying that the
better thing to do is to kill Caesar.
Brutus is capable of talking about
his own sadness and his love for his
wife, unlike Caesar and Calpurnia.
Brutus prides himself on not being
emotional but here he is showing
the emotions and is sort of higher
Portia
Tyler
L258-259
“Brutus is
wise…”
Portia
Ashley
L299-302 “I
have made
strong proof..."
Caesar
Calli
L33-34
“Cowards die
many times…”
Vs. They are similar.
He wants to keep
her thoughts in
mind like Caesar.
They both respect
their wives.
She knows that
something is wrong
with him. She knows
he is lying. A wife
like this is not
trustworthy.
It shows her
character. It is
mainly Portia
talking. She like to
hear herself talk.
She likes tension.
That is to be
expected in a
marriage to a young
woman, and it
makes her sound
needy. When
people say certain
things, they want
attention.
He is spurns
Calpurnia’s advice.
Puts up a shield of
confidence to try
and ignore what
Calpurnia said, but
than Caesar because he is able to do
this. Brutus is talking to his wife
about his feelings but he is actually
revealing his doubts about the plan,
unlike Caesar who never would.
They have a powerful relationship,
so she can tell if he is lying or not.
Their relationship seems that they
are equal towards each other. They
share with each other their own
feelings without sugar-coating it.
Maybe it is really because she is
upset about her father. It can be an
attempt to escape disassociation. It
can be a cry for help or a cry for
attention. She is in a very desperate
situation. Shakespeare includes this
idea of stress with self-harm. She
keeps trying to get the truth out of
him. He can easily see how she is
feeling with the wound but she
can’t see him. She is not necessarily
just hurting herself to get attention
but to try to get a point across. She
wants to help him. Maybe she is not
needy because she is trying to take
away the attention from herself.
He is okay with harsh things. H
Caesar
Devon
L41- “The
gods…”
Calpurnia
Brendon
L49 “Alas…”
Calpurnia
Jace
L50-51 “Do not
go forth…”
Decius
Nate
L85 “Your
statue
he really did take it
into mind.
Demonstrates his
mindset of a soldier.
Calpurnia had a very
good reason for
Caesar not to go,
but Caesar is too
caught up in his own
pride to notice.
It shows that
Calpurnia is an
honorable and
trustworthy wife.
She speaks her
thoughts.
Calpurnia recognizes
Caesar’s pride and
his
accomplishments.
She is anticipating
his objection to her
argument.
She dreamed about
her bloody body.
Rome will be
He is extremely arrogant. They
couldn’t have children. He
recognizes that his wife is worried
but he think everything will be okay.
He doesn’t want to look like a
coward in front of his own people.
How does everyone attack Caesar
for being narcissistic? It’s only a
dream. There had been other bad
omens. It’s not just her dream but
also everything that had happened.
This guy has done so many things so
why does he have to pay attention
to his wife’s dream?
It is similar to Brutus and Portia.
Going back to the Elizabethan
queen. The wife is like the people.
They want to say that the queen
needs to think it over again.
She has probably done something
similar to this. Calpurnia doesn’t use
love, she uses pleasure to get what
she wants. Time-tested marriages.
He is saying the same thing but he
meant that is wasn’t the actual
blood. What Caesar is made of will
spouting
blood..."
Artemidorus
Taylor
Portia
Cielo
Soothsayer
Kalee
L
L
L
revived. You are
going to bleed to
death and
everything will get
better.
revive Rome. This sounds like a last
ditch effort. He is desperate. This is
his job. Used to show Caesar’s
manipulation. It shows his weakness
in his want for power. Why do you
have to kill him? They don’t realize
that it is easy to manipulate him.
They aren’t confident in themselves.