Scene Notes
Act One, Scene One
 Shakespeare captures the interest of audience with a spirited
crowd scene
 Citizens are jubilantly awaiting Caesar’s return after his
victory over Pompey
 Two tribunes (an elected official to protect plebeians) curb the
rejoicing
 They reprimand the citizens for their fickleness
 They order the crowd to disperse and they go their separate
ways to remove decorations from the statues (ie. Wreaths
around Caesar’s statues)
Developments
 Tension is created between the citizens who support Caesar
and tribunes who do not
 Cobbler shows contempt for the tribunes
 Establishes that the common citizen supports Caesar, but their
support is erratic
 The tribunes establish that Caesar has enemies and that
Caesar’s ambition must be curbed
Act One, Scene Two
 Introduction to Caesar as his entourage goes through streets of
Rome during a race during the Lupercalian festivities (Hint:
Lupine)
 A soothsayer foreshadows, “Beware the Ides of March”
 Cassius and Brutus stay behind.
 Brutus expresses his fears that, although he loves Caesar, Caesar
will accept offer to be “king”
 Cassius describes Caesar as a man of “feeble temper” (line129)
and not a god
 Cassius warns of the danger to Rome
 Caesar returns and is suspicious of Cassius’s look
 Casca reveals that Caesar was offered the crown three times and
each time he refused, but more and more reluctantly
 Brutus, Casca and Cassius agree to meet later
 In a soliloquy, Cassius indicates his plan to draw Brutus into the
conspiracy. He will throw letters into Brutus’s window about
how highly Brutus is regarded and hint at Caesar’s ambition
Developments:
 Caesar’s power is evident
 Caesar is superstitious, hoping that a touch from a racer will
improve his wife’s fertility – this connect to his dynastic
ambitions
 Foreshadowing – the soothsayer
 Brutus internal conflict is introduced: “Vexed I am/Of late with
passions of some difference” (lines 39-40)
 Cassius’s comments introduce the theme of envy
 Cassius establishes his conviction that action must be taken and he
reveals his willingness to use deceit to draw Brutus in
Act One, Scene Three
 It is the eve of the ides of March
 The scene opens with Casca & Cicero – Casca recounts ominous
signs
 Cassius enters and upbraids Casca for being afraid; he then enlists
him in the conspiracy
 Cassius promises that if Caesar is offered a crown tomorrow, he
will take his own life
 Cinna enters and urges Cassius to “win the noble Brutus to our
party”
 Cassius provides Caesar with forged letter to plant so that Brutus
will find them
 The three men leave to meet the other conspirators, and Cassius
agrees that Brutus is necessary to their plans
Developments
 Tension is heightened in this scene by the storm and growing plot
 Casca’s fear of unnatural happenings suggest a belief in divine
order, this develops the theme of free will vs. destiny
 Cicero points out that people may have a tendency to see in events
what they wish to see
 Cassius displays a defiant attitude, contrasting himself to Casca
 Cassius’s manipulative nature is further revealed by using Casca’s
fears to enlist him in the conspiracy
 The conspirators ironically desire that honour be attached to their
deed
 Cassius emerges as the leader of the conspiracy
Act Two, Scene 1
 Brutus is having difficulty sleeping, as he is worried about Caesar
and his potential danger to Rome
 Lucius (his servant), brings him one of the letters planted by Cinna
 Cassius and other conspirators enter and once assured that Brutus
is won over to their cause, they discuss plans
 Brutus makes 1st big mistake by insisting that the men do not need
to swear an oath (one in the group will betray them)
 Brutus makes his 2nd big mistake by not including Cicero, the great
orator (they later find out that they have no one to offset the
influence of Mark Antony. Antony and Octavian later kill Cicero
suggesting that he may have been loyal to the conspirators)
 Cassius then suggests Antony should be killed along with Caesar,
but Brutus makes his 3rd big mistake by vetoing this idea. (Antony
will later “checkmate” them)
 Decius volunteers to make sure Caesar will attend the senate mtg
 Once the conspirators leave, Portia pleads with her husband to tell
her what is troubling him
Developments
 Brutus’s soliloquy develops his internal conflict
 Brutus’s motives are based more on what Caesar may become,
than on what he presently is
 Images of light and darkness create an atmosphere of uncertainty,
secrecy and impending evil
 Brutus’s idealistic nature is apparent in the three mistakes he
makes
 Portia is loving, determined and loyal – Brutus shows his gentle
side with he agrees to confide in her
 As the scene ends, the forces opposed to Caesar are clearly defined
and the plan to murder him is set
Act 2, Scene 2
 Storm can still be heard
 Caesar is awake due to storm and Calphurnia’s crying out in sleep
 Caesar calls upon his augurers (religious officials who interpret bad
omens) to perform a sacrifice so that they might foretell the future
 Calphurnia urges Caesar to stay home today
 Once the augurers declare it is not a day to go to the Capitol, he
proclaims “Danger knows full well/That Caesar is more dangerous
than he” (lines 44-45).
 Decius enters and when Caesar declares he will not go, Decius says
he will be scorned if he gives no reason
 Decius further manipulates Caesar by reminding him that the
senators have decided to give him a crown
 Caesar agrees to go
 The other conspirators arrive to accompany Caesar
Developments
 Lots of foreshadowing with storm, Calphurnia’s stress and the
augurers’ forecast
 Calphurnia is depicted as loving and determined
 Caesar’s comments that he is immune to danger show him to be
courageous, but also over confident
 The plot against Caesar gains momentum
 Decius plays on Caesar’s vanity
 Shakespeare uses dramatic irony when Caesar offers wine to those
who are planning to kill him
Act 2, Scene 3
 Artemidorus has written Caesar a letter warning him about the
conspiracy to assassinate him
 Somehow he has discovered the names of the specific conspirators
 He plans to wait in the street until Caesar passes by, and posing as a
petitioner, pass of the letter that may save his life
Developments
 Artemidorus’s comments indicate that not all Romans consider
Caesar a tyrant
 He characterizes Caesar as virtuous and implies that envy is the
main motive for the plot
Act 2, Scene 4
 Portia is anxious and agitated – she instructs Lucius to run to the
Capitol, but neglects to tell him the errand
 When he asks, she tells him she wishes to know how Brutus is and
what Caesar does
 The soothsayer enters and reveals that he is afraid harm will come to
Caesar, and he is going to the Capitol to try to warn him
Developments
 This scene delays the main action and creates suspense
 Portia’s agitation suggests that Brutus has told her about the
conspiracy
 The soothsayer increases Portia’s apprehension by indicating that he
wishes to warn Caesar
 The audience is left wondering whether the soothsayer will reach
Caesar in time and whether or not Caesar will heed it
Act 3, Scene 1
 Caesar does not heed the soothsayer and delays Artemidorus
 He proceeds into the Senate house surrounded by faithful
followers and the conspirators
 There is a moment of near panic when Cassius fears the
conspiracy has been discovered
 Metellus Cimber kneels before Caesar to plead his suit and the
conspirators crowd around them
 The conspirators strike suddenly and Caesar sees that even his
trusted friend, Brutus, is among them.
 In the turmoil following the assassination, Brutus takes charge.
He suggests that they bathe their hands in Caesar’s blood as a
symbolic gesture to show that they bring “peace, freedom and
liberty” to Rome
 When Antony returns to the scene, he first briefly grieves Caesar
and offers to die beside him
 Brutus assures Antony it was for the good of Rome, and Cassius
offers him some honours in the new power structure
 Antony asks to speak at Caesar’s funeral.
 Cassius is highly suspicious, fearing Antony will move the
people. Brutus over-rides him, and assures Cassius that he will
speak before Antony to calm the people
 When Antony is left with Caesar’s body, he expresses his grief,
his hatred of the conspirators, and his desire for revenge
 Octavius’s servant enters with the news that his master is outside
Rome. Antony warns it is dangerous. The servant will wait
until after Antony’s oration and report to Octavius on the
people’s reaction to Caesar’s murder
Act 3, Scene 1 Developments
 This scene is the major crisis in the play – all scenes have been
building toward it
 Caesar’s last words, “Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!” indicate
that even his friend has betrayed him, and this he cannot fight
 Brutus remains calm and takes control. His idealistic nature is
evident when he assumes the public will side with him.
 Cassius shows shrewd judgment of character and the political
situation when his is concerned about the effects of Antony’s
funeral oration
 Brutus misjudges Antony when he agrees to let him speak
 Antony is shrewd in his dealings with the conspirators. He says
that he is willing to be faithful to Brutus once he understands the
reasons for the murder, but when he is alone, he reveals his
loyalty to Caesar
 Antony’s soliloquy foreshadows a funeral speech that will
inflame the Roman citizens and bring civil war
 Antony emerges as a formidable political foe
Act 3, Scene 2
 The citizens demand to know why Caesar was killed
 Brutus speaks in a calm and reasonable tone, presenting himself as a
man who loved Caesar, but who loved Rome and freedom more
 The citizens are swayed by Brutus’s speech
 Antony’s speech starts out by suggesting he will not discredit the
conspirators, but as the speech unfolds he skilfully appeals to the
emotions of the citizens and incites them to mutiny against the
assassins
 He reads Caesar’s will that promises gifts for the citizens
 Convinced of Caesar’s love for them, the citizens are ready to burn
the conspirators’ houses
 Antony is satisfied - he receives word that Lepidus and Octavius
have arrived and Brutus and Cassius have fled
Developments
 This scene focuses on the contrast between Brutus and Antony
 Brutus’s speech is in prose – direct and straightforward
 Antony’s speech is in verse – more emotional
 Brutus misjudges the citizens by assuming they will
automatically support him
 When the citizen says “Let him be Caesar”, it shows they
misunderstand Brutus’s intent
 It is ironic that Brutus encourages the citizens to listen to Antony
 Antony’s speech reveals his oratorical and manipulative skills
 He never directly accuses the conspirators, referring to them as
“honourable” men
 The forces against Brutus gain strength
Act 3, Scene 3
 Cinna the poet (not the conspirator) is on his way to Caesar’s
funeral
 He is accosted by an angry mob of citizens
 They mistake him for Cinna the conspirator
 Ignoring his protests, they kill him and continue looking for other
conspirators
Developments
 Shakespeare dramatizes mob mentality and the irrational violence
cased by Antony’s funeral speech
 The mood of impending disaster builds as the mob goes off to
seek out the conspirators
Act 4, Scene 1
 Antony, Octavius and Lepidus are coldly calculating who must
die
 Antony send Lepidus to get Caesar’s will, so they can determine
how to reduce the legacy that Caesar left the people and use the
money for themselves
 When Lepidus leaves, Antony denigrates him
 Octavius and Antony plan to use Lepidus and then get rid of him
 Antony and Octavius decide to unite their forces and prepare for
battle against the conspirators
Developments
 Rome is now ruled by a cold-blooded triumvirate
 Antony’s ruthlessness and calculating nature is revealed
 The scene ironically reveals that though Brutus may have felt
Caesar’s death was necessary to save Rome from tyranny, his
actions have resulted in an even more oppressive dictatorship
Act 4, Scene 2
 Brutus is at a camp in Sardis, Asia Minor, awaiting the arrival of
Cassius
 He expresses doubt about the strength of their alliance
 Cassius arrives and publicly accuses Brutus of having done him
wrong. Brutus quietly upbraids Cassius for not presenting a
united front to their armies, and invites him to speak privately
Developments
 Action has shifted from Rome to Sardis
 There is division and doubt between Brutus and Cassius
 Cassius shows frustration; Brutus remains calm and shows good
leadership by urging Cassius to speak privately
Act 4, Scene 3
 This quarrel scene between Brutus and Cassius begins when
Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes
 Cassius is offended and they furiously exchange insults
 Brutus complains that Cassius did not send him money when he
needed it
 Eventually, their anger is spent and Brutus confides that he is
grieving over the death of Portia
 The men are reconciled
 Titinius and Messala enter with news that Octavius and Antony
are marching to Philippi with a mighty army
 Messala then gives news of Portia’s death (???)
 Cassius believes that they should wait for the enemy to come to
them (they will be tired and short of supplies), but Brutus argues
they should march to Philippi (while they are at the height of
strength). Cassius relents.
 Late at night, the ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus and tells him
that he will see him at Philippi
Developments
 The moral outlooks of Brutus and Cassius are compared
 The argument reminds the audience of Brutus’s misjudgments
 It is ironic that Brutus condemns Cassius for taking bribes, but
then rebukes him for not having sent him the money from those
bribes
 Brutus exemplifies the “stoicism” (mastery over emotions) when
he puts aside his grief over Portia to deal with the dangers at hand
 Cassius shows his talents for practical matters in his strategizing
over the battle, but he again allows Brutus to override him
 The appearance of Caesar’s ghost bodes ill for the conspirators