Act III, scene i
1. What is Caesar’s response to Metellus Cimber?
Caesar tells Metellus that he does not want to be flattered.
2. What character trait does Caesar recognize in himself? Explain his meaning using
quotations from the play.
Caesar recognizes that he is “constant as the Northern Star”. He suggests that he is not
only unique, but also changeless in position.
3. What are Caesar’s last words? Explain their meaning.
Caesar’s last words are “Et tu, Brute?” This is Greek for “And even you, Brutus?” Caesar
expresses his shock at Brutus’ betrayal of him.
4. What does Antony suggest to the conspirators in his opening speech in this scene?
Antony suggests that if the conspirators intend to kill him, they should do it at once, for
there would be no better place for him to die than beside Caesar.
5. Cite lines from the play which indicate that Antony’s feelings for Caesar are
unchanged. What is Antony’s plan?
Antony reveals that his feelings for Caesar are unchanged when he expresses his
admiration for Caesar to the crowds. For example, he says of Caesar, “Thou are the ruins
of the noblest man/That ever lived in the tide of times./Woe to the hand that shed this
costly blood! Over thy wounds, now do I prophesy…/Domestic fury, and fierce civil
strife…” Antony believes Caesar to have been noble. He also expresses that there will be
chaos within Rome. He sees himself as an instrument of vengeance.
Act III, scene ii
1. Why do the people divide themselves between Brutus and Cassius to hear their
stories?
The people divide themselves between Brutus and Cassius because Brutus suggests that
they divide the crowd.
2. What reason(s) does Brutus give for killing Caesar?
Brutus explains that the conspirators killed Caesar because although he was valiant, he
was ambitious. Brutus says that he loved Rome more than Caesar, therefore, he found it
necessary to kill him. Had Caesar lived, all Romans would have gone to their graves as
slaves.
3. How does Antony describe Caesar in his “Friends, Romans, countrymen…” speech?
Antony describes Caesar as a loyal, faithful, and just friend. He recognizes that Brutus
describes Caesar as ambitious, however, he also points out that Caesar refused the
crown three times, which indicates his reluctance to take power.
4. Find the irony in Antony’s “Good friends, sweet friends…” speech.
Brutus’ speech demonstrates verbal irony. He says that he is not a orator, with the “wit,
nor words, nor speech” to “stir men’s blood”, while he has completed a speech that has
stirred the crowd to follow him instead of Brutus. He also says that if he were Brutus,
the spirits of the crowd would be ruffled. This is ironic because Antony means the
opposite of what he has said – in a sense, he has taken on the role of Brutus as the
crowd’s favourite.
5. What does Caesar leave to the Roman people?
Caesar leaves seventy-five drachmas.
Act III, scene iii
1. What confusion occurs in this scene?
A group of Plebians confuse Cinna the Poet with Cinna, one of the conspirators.
2. What does the scene reveal about the mob?
This scene reveals that the mob is not only easily swayed in their views, but also quick
to take extreme measures.