The Tragedy of Julius Caesar – a play by William Shakespeare
Background – Pompey is the leader of Rome. Caesar, due to his military skill, pleases the people
and is named part of the first triumvirate (group of three leaders) in Rome. Pompey does not like
the fact that he has to share leadership or that Caesar gets all kinds of love and praise from the
people, so he attacks Caesar. Caesar, being the outstanding general that he is, whups Pompey.
Pompey is exiled, the triumvirate ends, and Caesar is the sole leader of Rome. Pompey treated
certain people well and gave them special privileges; these people are particularly unhappy with
Caesar for getting rid of their main guy. Those people wish to remove Caesar from power. The
rest of the people like Caesar, but they seem to like whoever is in power.
Act I, scene i (822-824)
 Flavius and Marullus, tribunes, are big Pompey fans, upset that he’s gone
 They harass the townspeople for praising Caesar
o “two weeks ago, you were all “WOO HOO Pompey! How can you now
like Caesar, who defeated Pompey? You’re a bunch of mindless sheep”
 F and M agree to take down all of the ribbons and streamers decorating statues of
Caesar
o “these growing feathers, plucked from Caesar’s wing, will make him fly
an ordinary pitch who else would soar above the view of men and keep us
all in servile fearfulness” (I,i, 73-76)  Caesar thinks he’s way better
than we are; we’ll knock him down a peg or two.
I, ii (824-833)
 Feast of the Lupercal (Feb. 15th), celebrating fertility, with a race in which
participants who touch women will enable them to bear children. Caesar asks
Antony, a competitor, to touch Calpurnia, Caesar’s wife. Antony shows his status
as Caesar’s lackey by agreeing, “When Caesar says ‘Do this,’ it is performed”(I,
ii, 10).
 Soothsayer tells JC to “Beware the ides of March,” but JC blows him off.
NEVER IGNORE A SOOTHSAYER’S WARNING!
 JC and the crew go in for the race and festivities, Brutus and Cassius stay outside
 Cassius tells Brutus how great Brutus is and that everyone else thinks Brutus is
terrific, too. He also mentions that he’s not feeling the love from Brutus lately.
 Brutus tells him it’s not you, it’s me. Brutus has a lot on his mind, so he’s not
himself. They hear a ruckus from inside and Brutus says he’s afraid that the
people just picked JC as their king.
 Cassius says that if Brutus is afraid of that, he must not want it to happen.
Cassius sees this as an opportunity to get Brutus against Caesar and tells Brutus
about some problems with JC:
o JC challenges Cassius to a swimming race, then almost drowns so Cassius
has to save JC
o JC gets sick in Spain, cries out like a girl
o JC acts like he’s better than everyone else: “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” (I, ii, 135-138)
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o Cassius explains that Brutus is equal if not better than JC in every way, so
there’s no good reason why JC gets all the love.
Brutus hints that he knows what Cassius wants, but he can’t commit to that.
JC comes out, looks at Cassius and declares that he doesn’t trust Cassius.
o Let me have men about me that are fat . . . (I, ii, 192-214) JC wants
happy people, because they won’t challenge his authority. Cassius is
never happy with someone else in power.
JC is deaf in one ear (adds to the weaknesses Cassius lists) JC leaves.
Casca tells Brutus and Cassius what has happened at the festivities:
o Antony offers Caesar a crown three times. JC turns it down, but seems
like he wants it. Playing hard to get so he looks humble and the crowd
wants him more.
o The third time, JC faints. It’s actually a seizure. JC is an epileptic.
o JC apologizes and the people forgive him.
o Flavius and Marullus are silenced (exiled or executed) for removing the
items celebrating JC’s triumph. shows JC’s arrogance/tyranny.
Cassius ends with a soliloquy explaining that he knows JC hates him and JC loves
Brutus. Cassius wants Brutus on his side to overthrow JC. Cassius also says that
Cassius is too smart to fall for that, but Brutus is not. He’s also going to disguise
his handwriting and write letters to Brutus that talk about how much better Brutus
would be for Rome than JC is
I, iii – (833-837) Late March 14th, early March 15th (IDES OF MARCH, BABY!)
 It is a dark and stormy night.
 Casca comes onstage all freaked out and tells Cicero about funky stuff happening
in the streets:
o It’s raining fire
o Man walks down street with hand on fire, but hand is not burned
o Lion walks down middle of the street near the Capitol
o Women saw many men on fire
o Owl hooting and shrieking at midday
 Casca is convinced that the gods are either mad at each other or mad at the
Romans. He thinks the gods are angry about the plot to kill JC, so he’s afraid.
 Cassius comes in talking about what a great night is. Casca freaks on him, saying
these are bad omens.
 Cassius insists that there are no omens, opens his cloak and tells the gods to kill
him now if they’re so mad. Nothing happens. Cassius explains that the gods are
mad at JC for messing up the world.
 JC is going to take the crown tomorrow. Cassius says he’ll kill himself if that
happens and that the only reason JC is so powerful is because the people are
sheep who follow the person in power.
 Casca and Cassius start talking about the plot. Cinna arrives and Cassius tells
them that Brutus is ¾ of the way to joining them, and tonight they’ll talk Brutus
into being 100 percent in. Cinna will drops the letters from Cassius’s I, ii,
soliloquy where Brutus can find them.
 They’re going to Brutus’s!
II, i – (841-851) Brutus’s orchard, March 15th
 Brutus is up late, thinking about the conspiracy. Brutus says JC is a good guy, but
might be corrupted by power. Compares JC to serpent egg, says the only way to
prevent him from being corrupted by power is to kill him in his shell. Brutus
places the good of Rome before his faith in JC. Will join conspiracy.
 Reads one of Cassius’s letters to help reinforce the idea. Laments his lack of
sleep lately:
o “Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar . . . (II, i, 61-69)
Waiting to do something is killer. His worrying about this has
prevented him from sleeping
 Conspirators arrive wearing hooded cloaks, hiding their faces. Brutus says that’s
a mistake b/c they look like they’re up to something.
 Brutus agrees to join the conspiracy. He comes up with a few ground rules:
1. No taking an oath. They’re all honorable, so they don’t need one.
2. Don’t tell Cicero about this because he won’t do anything that he
doesn’t start himself.
3. They only kill JC, not Antony.
 BIG ARGUMENT! Cassius wants to kill Antony. Brutus says
they’ll seem like butchers, then. They’re going to kill JC cleanly,
honorably. Also, Antony’s like JC’s arm. Cut off the head and the
arm’s worthless. Cassius finally agrees.
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Brutus reminds everybody not to look sneaky. Act like everything’s fine and it
will be. DON’T LOOK SNEAKY WHEN YOU’RE BEING SNEAKY!
Conspirators leave; Portia, Brutus’s wife shows up.
Portia asks Brutus what’s wrong with him. He says it’s nothing and he’s just sick.
She says that if he’s sick, why’s he outside in the cold in the middle of the night?
He says he’s fine, she starts nagging him about not sleeping, not eating, not
trusting her to know that something’s wrong. Says she’s only a woman, but her
father was strong, Brutus picked her to marry, so she can take it.
STABS HERSELF IN THE THIGH TO PROVE HOW TOUGH SHE IS!
Brutus feels guilty about not telling her, tells her to go to bed and he will tell her
later. She leaves.
Brutus invites Caius Ligarius to the conspiracy.
II, ii – (851-855) – Caesar’s house
 JC’s freaked out b/c of the creepy storm and b/c Calpurnia keeps crying out in her
sleep, “Help, ho! They murder Caesar!”
 Calpurnia begs JC to stay home. He refuses.
 She keeps begging, JC says he has to go:
o “Cowards die many times before their deaths . . . “(32-37). Cowards die
all of the time because they’re so afraid of everything. Brave people only
die once. It’s stupid to fear death because we die when we’re supposed to
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die and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. I’M GOING TO THE
CAPITOL, YOU SILLY WOMAN!
The augurers say it’s a bad day to go to the Capitol. JC tries to blow them off
saying he’s more dangerous than a lion.
Calpurnia begs him one more time, saying he can blame it on her.
JC agrees. I’M NOT GOING TO THE CAPITOL. HAPPY, DEAR?
As planned, Decius Brutus shows up to make sure JC goes.
JC tells DB about Cal’s dream (II, ii, 75-82)
o JC’s statue is a fountain with 100 spouts that all pour blood. Romans all
smile and bathe in the blood.
o Cal says it’s a bad omen
o DB says it’s a positive vision, showing that JC will bring blood back to
Rome to revive it.
DB starts mocking JC. Oh, okay, I’ll just tell all of the people that you can’t go to
the Senate BECAUSE WIFEY DOESN’T WANT YOU TO. They’ll love that
and definitely want you for their king then.
JC agrees to go to the Capitol. I’M GOING TO THE CAPITOL, YOU SILLY
WOMAN!
Everyone else in the conspiracy shows up to get JC to the Capitol.
II, iii – (855) – Street near the Capitol
 Artemidorus reads a letter he has written to JC, warning of the conspiracy. He’s
going to give it to JC on JC’s way to the Capitol and stop the murder. DUN DUN
DUNNNNNN!!!!
II, iv – (855-857) – Another street
 Portia’s freaking out. Clearly, Brutus has told her about the conspiracy and she’s
worried about him. So much for the strong woman who can handle it.
 She sees the soothsayer, who is on his way to the Capitol to warn JC one more
time. DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!
Act III, scene i – (861-870) – Rome. Before the Capitol
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Caesar taunts soothsayer about not being dead; soothy tells him the day isn’t over
yet
Artemidorus tries to give JC the letter, JC says business before personal
Trebonius gets Antony out of the way
Metellus Cimber distracts JC by asking JC to unbanish his brother. JC says no,
ARROGANTLY
The conspirators join in, then THEY STAB CAESAR! Casca first, Brutus last
Caesar dies
They wash their hands in his blood (like the dream)
Antony’s servant asks if it’s safe for Antony to come. They say yes.
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Antony forgives the conspirators and asks to speak at JC’s funeral. Cassius
doesn’t like it but Brutus agrees under 2 conditions – 1. Brutus goes first. 2.
Antony can only say good things about the conspirators.
When they leave, Antony apologizes to JC’s body about being nice to the
conspirators. He was faking it, THE CONSPIRATORS WILL PAY FOR WHAT
THEY’VE DONE!
III, ii – (870-878) – The Forum
 Brutus explains to the plebeians that they killed JC for the good of Rome. He was
too ambitious. Not an elegant speech (in prose)
 The plebeians eventually agree. WOO HOO BRUTUS! WOO HOO
CONSPIRATORS! YOU SAVED US FROM JC!
 Antony speaks, in poetry, and calls the conspirators honorable while showing that
they weren’t. Talks about JC helping all of the people, giving them money in the
will.
 The plebeians agree with Antony. WOO HOO ANTONY! WOO HOO JC!
DEATH TO THE DIRTY CONSPIRATORS!
III, iii – (878-879) – A street in Rome.
 Cinna the Poet (NOT a conspirator) says he dreamed he had dinner with JC
(foreshadowing)
 The plebeians question him and attack him when they learn his name is Cinna,
even though he’s not Cinna the conspirator.
 Mob rule now governs, the people want blood!
Act IV, scene i – (884-885) – A house in Rome
 Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus are the new Triumvirate (3 leaders of Rome)
 They’re making a hit list of conspirators and/or political rivals to have killed
 Antony says they’ll take money from JC’s will to help them
 Antony also trashes Lepidus, saying he’s not fit
 ANTONY HAS BECOME POWER-HUNGRY! Break out the evil eyebrows.
 Brutus and Cassius are putting together an army to oppose AOL
IV, ii – (885-887) – Camp near Sardis
 Brutus is at the military camp, regretting what they’ve done with JC
 Cassius (and his army) shows up ANGRY!
 They start to argue, then move to tent bad to fight in front of men
IV, iii – (887-897)
 B and C are fighting because B punished someone for taking bribes the C said was
okay C, himself, also took bribes.
 B reminds C that they killed JC because bribery and corruption are wrong.
 B is also upset the C didn’t send B money
 C gets HEATED, says B loved JC more when B stabbed JC than he ever loved C.
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C BUSTS OUT HIS DAGGER, B. SETTLES DOWN
B is upset b/c Portia killed herself by swallowing a hot coal upset that B is gone
and AOL is so strong
B and C argue about moving the army
o B wants to go to Philippi so that AOL’s army can’t grow
o C wants to stay at Sardis so AOL’s army gets tired marching here
o C. gives in; they’ll go to Philippi; C. leaves.
B falls asleep, wakes up to JC’S GHOST IN HIS TENT!
JC tells Brutus JC will see B at Philippi  B’s guilty conscience, also foreshadows
B’s death.
V, i – (901-905) The plains of Philippi
 Antony and Octavius argue about the upcoming battle. A’s still being a jerk
 A and O meet with B and C before the battle, much trash-talking here.
o C tells B that if they’d killed A like C wanted, A wouldn’t be trash-talking
right now
 Cassius says it’s his birthday, but there are bad omens (death birds) all around
 Brutus and Cassius bid each other farewell, just in case.
 B wishes he knew what was going to happen, but is okay knowing that he’ll know by
the end of the day.
V, ii – (905) – Battlefield at Philippi
 Brutus sends Messala to give some papers to Cassius.
 B thinks he has found a way to defeat Octavius.
V, iii (905-909) – Another part of the battlefield
 Cassius is upset because his own men are running away.
 Titinius, C’s good friend, tells C that B pushed too hard against O and got beaten;
also A’s men are surrounding C and his men
 Pindarus convinces C to retreat more; they go up a hill
 C sends T to see who has just ridden into C’s camp
 P climbs a tree to see what happens, tells C:
o T. is surrounded by the men
o The men get off their horses and pull T. off his
o Titinius is captured/killed and the men shout for joy
 C is heart-broken at getting his friend killed
 C orders P to stab C with C’s dagger.
 CASSIUS IS DEAD! P runs away
 Titinius returns with Messala. Yes, I said TITINIUS RETURNS WITH MESSALA!
 The men who met T were Messala and his boys. P got it all wrong.
 T feels guilty and kills himself.
 B finds C’s and T’s bodies and feels bad, but will grieve for them later.
V, iv – (909) Battlefield
 Lucilius gets captured, pretends to be Brutus
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Antony comes, sees that it’s Lucilius, not Brutus
A allows L to live  A. is getting his honor back
V, v (910-912) Battlefield
 Brutus realizes A and O are going to win the battle
 B whispers something to each man around him; the men freak
 B is asking them to help him kill himself
 S agrees to hold B’s sword while B runs on it
 BRUTUS IS DEAD! Died on same sword he used for JC.
 A discovers B dead
 A praises B, showing A’ HAS HIS HONOR BACK COMPLETELY:
o B was most noble of all Romans. He killed JC b/c he thought it was best for
Rome. “This was a man!”
 O. declares the whole thing over