Act I textbook page

Act 1, scenes 1 and 2 take place on the streets of ancient Rome February 15, 44 BC Meet the characters who open the play... 2

Tribunes – government officials (sort of like police) These 2 tribunes do not like the fact that Caesar is becoming so popular. They think Caesar is an egomaniac and is getting too popular and powerful. They want the commoners to not be so “fickle” – the commoners loved Pompey until just recently, and now they love Caesar who conquered Pompey Marullus and Flavius 3

Commoners of Roman (the Roman people) (plebians) They are simple people – not educated – and they tend to be fickle (they change their mind a lot) The commoners loved Caesar because he gave them lots of money and gifts. 4

Act 1, Scene 1 Flavius and Marullus walk into the streets and tell the commoners to get back to work Marullus talks to a cobbler in a long conversation about what the cobbler does in his profession Marullus starts to get angry when he thinks the cobbler is being a smart aleck. Flavius asks the cobbler why he’s not in his shop working The cobbler explains that he’s taking a vacation day to honor a triumph (parade celebrating a military victory), and to see Caesar walk through the city with the recent captives from the winning battle over Pompey. 5

Marullus is rude to the cobbler and attempts to downplay Caesar’s success. He then reminds the commoners that they used to celebrate Pompey Marullus reminds them that they are now celebrating the man who triumphed over Pompey and they are showing disloyalty. 6

The commoners leave, and Flavius tells Marullus that he should go to the capitol and remove any crowns that were placed on Caesar’s statue Flavius states that he will try tone down the celebrating of the victory, pointing out that if he can do that, then he regulate Caesar’s power “These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing / Will make him fly an ordinary pitch” 7

Flavius and Marullus represent a lot of Romans who are worried about Caesar’s growing power. Imagery – a bird is flying too high, but if some of his feathers are removed, he’ll come back down Caesar is getting too uppity and powerful – let’s do what we can to bring him down a notch. 8

Scene 2 Same time, a few blocks away. The upper class people were gathering – preparing for the Feast of Lupercal ceremony / race: Caesar Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia Antony –good friend of Caesar who will be one of the runners Other senators and politicians 9

Feast of Lupercal – ancient Romans were very superstitious. This festival was supposed to purify the city, releasing health and fertility. Young men dressed themselves in the skins of sacrificed goats and ran round the city with small leather whips in their hands gently striking the people who crowded near. Young women would line up on their route to be touched. This was supposed to ensure fertility, prevent sterility in women and ease the pains of childbirth. 10

Julius Caesar triumphant general and political leader of Rome rumors abound that he plans to be crowned king. highly competent and multi-talented condescending and arrogant frequently uses the third-person "Caesar" instead of the first- person "I" to refer to himself and also sometimes substitutes the kingly "we" for "I." depicts himself as a man of unshakable resolve, but he proudly and recklessly ignores warnings about his safety. 11

Calpurnia Caesar’s wife “barren” 12

Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony ) Marcus is also known as Mark Antony, or simply Antony. Loyal to Caesar He is an athlete and has a reputation as a “partier” Later (after Caesar’s death) we discover that he is cunning and pragmatic 13

Caesar tells Antony to be sure he touches Calpurnia as he runs by. Antony agrees: When Caesar says “do this,” it is performed. 14

Soothsayer (fortune teller – supposedly can see the future) calls out from the crowd telling him to beware the Ides of March. Caesar pauses and asks him to come forward and repeat what he says. Caesar then dismisses the warning and everyone leaves. 15

Marcus Brutus Roman senator -reputation as a noble and fair-minded statesman. HONORABLE His ancestors (hundreds of years earlier) helped to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic in Rome Cassius will be able to convince Brutus to turn against Caesar because it is for the good of Rome Brutus loves Rome 16

Clever and manipulative senator who persuades Brutus to join the assassination conspiracy. His primary motivation for conspiring against Caesar appears to be jealousy. Cassius 17

Brutus and Cassius remain and Cassius asks Brutus why he has not seemed himself lately. Brutus replies that he has been quiet because he’s plagued with conflicting thoughts. He assures Cassius that even though his mind is at war with itself, he won’t let his stresses affect their friendship. 18

Cassius declares that Brutus is unable to see what everyone else does, namely, that Brutus is widely respected. Brutus states he doesn’t want Caesar to be his king. He loves him, but he also loves honor, and he loves honor even more than he fears death. 19

Cassius hates the thought of kneeling before someone who isn’t superior and declares, “I was born as free as Caesar, so were you./We both have fed as well, and we can both/Endure the winter’s cold as well as he. Then Cassius recalls when Caesar dared him to swim to a distant point one time, Caesar became weak and Cassius had to drag him from the water. He then recounts how Caesar had a fever and a seizure in Spain. He can’t stand that this “weak” man is the head of the civilized world. 20

Colossus “ He doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus” Cassius is making an allusion (literary reference) to the Colossus of Rhodes, a famous statue of the god Apollo. He is suggesting that Caesar has become HUGE and powerful and that the rest of them are like little ants underneath him. 21

He explains that they owe their low status to the fact that they don’t take action. Then explains that Brutus’s name sounds just as good as Caesar’s name – suggesting that Caesar is no better than Brutus. And Brutus ponders over his words. 22

Brutus tells Cassius that he understands what Cassius is saying, and he needs to think about it for a while. 23

Caesar returns and comments to Antony that Cassius looks like a man who thinks too much and that those kind of men are dangerous. Antony tells him not to worry, and Caesar says he will avoid Cassius (he doesn’t enjoy life). Antony and Caesar leave. Casca, who had been with them during the race, stays behind to gossip with Brutus and Cassius. 24

Casca Will become one of the conspirators against Caesar When we first meet Casca in the play, he tells us how Caesar pretends to be humble and not ambitious, but Casca believes it to be an act and is disgusted by Caesar 25

Brutus and Cassius take Casca aside to ask him what happened at the ceremony after the race. Casca says that Antony offered to crown Caesar 3 times and he fell to the ground in a fit. Brutus states that he has probably has “the falling sickness” (epilepsy) 26

Even though Caesar had the seizure in front of the crowd, they still shouted support for him. Casca is disgusted with the dumb commoners who support Caesar. Casca mentions that Flavius and Marullus were “silenced” because they took the decorations off of Caesar’s statues. 27

Soliloquy Cassius is left alone on stage. He speaks his thoughts aloud so that the audience knows what he is planning. 28

Cassius then thinks that Brutus loves Caesar, but he is pretty sure he can be persuaded to join the conspiracy against Caesar “For who so firm that cannot be seduced?” Cassius plans on forging letters from “Roman citizens” declaring their support for Brutus and their fear of Caesar’s assent to power; he will throw them into Brutus’s house that night. 29