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N Julius Ceasar
N Julius Ceasar
Explanation in Detail
Probable questions
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and
actor. He was born on 26 April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
His father was a successful local businessman and his
mother was the daughter of a landowner. Shakespeare is
widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English
language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often
called England's national poet and nicknamed the Bard of
Avon. He wrote about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long
narrative poems, and a few other verses, of which the
authorship of some is uncertain. His plays have been
translated into every major living language and are
performed more often than those of any other playwright.
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18. She
was eight years older than him. They had three children:
Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith.
Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in
London as an actor, writer, and part-owner of a playing
company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as
the King's Men.
Around 1613, at the age of 49, he retired to Stratford , where
he died three years later. He died on 23 April 1616, at the age
of 52.
Shakespeare's plays remain highly popular today and are
constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse
cultural and political contexts throughout the world.
About the Story
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar is a tragedy by William
Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599. It is
one of several plays written by Shakespeare based on true
events from Roman history.
Julius Caesar (c. July 12 or 13, 100 BC to March 15, 44
BC) was a politically adept and popular leader of the
Roman Republic who significantly transformed what
became known as the Roman Empire by greatly expanding
its geographic reach and establishing its imperial system.
On the 15th March Caesar is urged not to go to the Senate
by his wife, Calphurnia, who has had dreamt that he will be
murdered, and she fears the portents of the overnight
storms.
About the Story
He is nevertheless persuaded by flattery to go and as
petitioners surround him Caesar is stabbed and dies as
Brutus gives the final blow. Against Cassius’s advice
Mark Antony is allowed by Brutus to speak a funeral
oration in the market place after Brutus has addressed
the people of Rome to explain the conspirators’ reasons
and their fears for Caesar’s ambition. Brutus calms the
crowd but Antony’s speech stirs them to rioting and the
conspirators are forced to flee from the city.
Shakespeare’s famous play, ‘Julius Caesar’ is in five
acts. The extracts given in this abridged version
cover only the important incidents happening just
before Caesar’s murder and ending with Antony’s
funeral speech in which he turns the tide against the
conspirators.
JULIUS CAESAR is the story of a man's personal dilemma over moral
action, set against a backdrop of strained political drama. Julius Caesar,
an able general and a conqueror returns to Rome amidst immense
popularity after defeating the sons of Pompey. (Pompey the Great, was a
military and political leader of the late Roman Republic) The people
celebrate his victorious return and Mark Antony offers him the Crown
which he refuses. Jealous of Caesar's growing power and afraid he may
one day become a dictator, Cassius instigates a conspiracy to murder
Caesar. He realizes that to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Romans, he
must win over the noble Brutus to his side for Brutus is the most trusted
and respected in Rome. Brutus, the idealist, joins the conspiracy feeling
that everyone is driven by motives as honourable as his own. Ironically,
Caesar is murdered at the foot of Pompey's statue.
In this Act Caesar wanders about in his night-gown and is kept awake
by Calpurnia’s nightmares. She called out in her sleep about
supernatural omens that spelled disaster. Calpurnia believes that such
bad omens are a premonition of evil and some harm would befall
Caesar. Caesar rebuffs her, refusing to give in to fear. Caesar deems
the signs to apply to the world in general and refuses to believe they
bore ill for him personally. Finally, Calpurnia prevails upon Caesar to
stay at home. Decius Brutus jeopardizes Calpurnia’s plan and forces
Caesar to go to the Senate, where the senators were waiting to offer a
crown to him. On his way, Caesar rejects the petition of Cimber to
revoke the orders for his brother’s banishment. This proves to be the
last nail in his coffin. Immediately afterwards, Casca and other senators
along with Brutus stab Caesar. Caesar’s last words are, “Et tu Brute?”
The conspirators turn to the plebians and start shouting slogans of
“Liberty, Freedom and Enfranchisement” as if they were
safeguarding the rights of all the Romans.
Mark Antony is too dumbstruck to see Caesar’s dead body in a
pool of blood, but tactfully restrains himself from making any
statements. He requests Brutus for allowing him to make a funeral
speech. Dismissing Cassius’ objection, Brutus allows him but only
after he has himself addressed the plebians. Antony uses his
excellent oratorical skills very cleverly and succeeds in inciting the
mob to mutiny and wreck havoc against the conspirators. Brutus
and others have to flee for their lives and Octavious Caesar
arrives to clinch the victory for Antony and save Caesar’s honour.
Explanation in Detail
Act II Scene II - Caesar's house.
Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR in his night-gown.
Hath – has
Caesar said that the heaven and the Earth had been
restless all night. His wife Calpurnia had been seeing
nightmares. She had cried thrice in her sleep and sought
help as she dreamt that Caesar was being murdered.
Caesar called out that who was there inside the room.
Explanation in Detail
Enter a servant
SERVANT: My lord?
CAESAR: Go bid the priest do present sacrifice and bring me their opinions of
success.
SERVANT: I will, my lord
Bid – call
A servant appeared.
The servant addressed Caesar as ‘My Lord’ and asked
for orders.
Caesar ordered him to call the priest and ask him to offer
sacrifices to God to get their opinions regarding his future
based upon the nightmares seen by Calpurnia.
Servant went out to do the needful.
Explanation in Detail
Enter CALPURNIA
CALPURNIA: What mean you, Caesar? Think you to walk forth?
You shall not stir out of your house to-day.
CAESAR: Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me
Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see
The face of Caesar, they are vanished.
Forth – ahead
Stir – move
Calpurnia appeared.
Calpurnia asked Caesar that what did he mean by walking ahead
out of the house despite the nightmares seen by her. She asked
him not to move out of the house that day as she feared him being
murdered.
Caesar replied that he shall walk ahead. He added that the
enemies who threatened to kill him only planned to do so behind
his back, but they did not have the courage to face him. When they
would see Caesar’s face, they would disappear due to fright.
Explanation in Detail
CALPURNIA: Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet now they fright me. There is one within,
Besides the things that we have heard and seen,
Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch.
A lioness hath whelped in the streets;
And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead;
Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds,
In ranks and squadrons and right form of war,
Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol;
The noise of battle hurtled in the air,
Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan,
And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets.
O Caesar! these things are beyond all use,
And I do fear them.
Explanation in Detail
stood on ceremonies - paid much attention to omens and forecasts
whelped – give birth to
right form of war - correct battle order
hurtled - clashed
beyond all use - most unnatural
Calpurnia replied that she never believed in omens and
forecasts, but this nightmare had scared her. Now she was
afraid as she had seen and heard horrible things in the
dream. She describes the nightmare where she saw a
lioness give birth to its young ones in the street. She saw
that the graves had opened, and the dead persons walked
out of them. She saw all the brave soldiers in the order of
their ranks fight in a bloody war and the noises could be
heard all around. There were sounds of the horses neighing
and the soldiers who were dying in pain. She said that all of
them were unnatural and, so she was in fear.
Explanation in Detail
CAESAR: What can be avoided
Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods?
Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions
Are to the world in general as to Caesar.
CALPURNIA When beggars die, there are no comets seen;
The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.
Comets – a heavenly object with a tail of fire
Blaze – set on fire
Caesar said that all the happenings had been pre – destined by God and what had
to happen would happen. So, he shall also continue his work and go ahead with it.
He said that Calpurnia’s nightmare applied to Caesar as it applied to the world in
general and it did not have any cause for him to fear of.
Calpurnia said that when a common man (referred as a ‘beggar’) died, there were
no heavenly predictions to indicate that but when a brave prince died, the heavens
who made such predictions got so disturbed that they set themselves on fire to
announce such great tragedies. She wanted to say that the nightmare that she
saw was so intense as if the heavens had set themselves on fire to forewarn of a
great tragedy – the murder of Caesar.
Explanation in Detail
CAESAR: Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard.
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
Re-enter Servant
What say the augurers?
Coward- a person who lacks courage
Valiant – the brave
necessary – inevitable
Augurers – soothsayers, foretellers
Caesar said that cowards die many times before their death – any act
of cowardice equaled to being dead. The brave men died only once in
their lifetime. He further added that out of all the amazing things that
he had heard, it was strange that men feared death. As death was
unavoidable and had to come one day, it would come when it had to.
So, he did not fear death.
The servant re – appeared.
Caesar asked the servant about the forecast made by the priests.
Explanation in Detail
Servant: They would not have you to stir forth to-day.
Plucking the entrails of an offering forth,
They could not find a heart within the beast.
CAESAR: The gods do this in shame of cowardice:
Caesar should be a beast without a heart,
If he should stay at home to-day for fear.
No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well
That Caesar is more dangerous than he:
We are two lions litter'd in one day,
And I the elder and more terrible:
And Caesar shall go forth.
Entrails – inner organs of a person or animal.
Litter’d – to be born
The servant said that the priests had advised that Caesar should not go out of the house that day. When the
inner organs of the animal that had been offered as a sacrifice were plucked open, they found that the
animal’s heart was not there.
Caesar replied that the God’s reacted by removing the animal’s heart as they looked down upon the cowardly
act of Caesar to fear death. He added that he would be that animal without the heart if he stayed back at
home that day. He refused to stay back and said that danger knew that Caesar was more dangerous than it.
He added that he and danger were like two lions who had been born on the same day and as he was
the elder one, was more terrible than danger. So, he announced that he shall go out of the house.
Explanation in Detail
CALPURNIA Alas, my lord,
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence.
Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear
That keeps you in the house, and not your own.
We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house:
And he shall say you are not well to-day:
Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this.
CAESAR: Mark Antony shall say I am not well,
And, for thy humour, I will stay at home.
streets.
Stab - to injure someone with a sharp
pointed object such as a knife
Tyranny – dictatorship, rule of terror
Proclaim – to announce officially
Explanation in Detail
CASSIUS: Some to the common pulpits, and cry out
'Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement!'
Pulpits – raised platform, stage
BRUTUS: But here comes Antony.
Re-enter ANTONY
Welcome, Mark Antony.
ANTONY: O mighty Caesar! dost thou lie so low?
Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils,
Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.
Cassius asked the senators to stand on the stage and announce that they
had gained freedom from slavery.
Brutus announced the entry of Mark Antony who was a true friend of Caesar.
Antony re – entered the senate.
Brutus welcomed Antony.
Antony was heartbroken to see his dear friend Caesar’s dead body. He said
that the powerful Caesar was lying so low on the ground and that all his
achievements, victories and trophies of wars were insignificant because
such a noble man had been betrayed and murdered by his own men. He bid
him farewell.
Explanation in Detail
I know not, gentlemen, what you intend,
Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour so fit
As Caesar's death hour, nor no instrument
Of half that worth as those your swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.
I do beseech ye, if you bear me hard,
Now, whilst your purpled hands do reek and smoke,
He addressed the senators and said that he did not know the
reason behind killing Caesar who was the most noble Roman. He
said that for him, there was none other better time to get killed than
the time when the great Caesar had been killed, none other better
sword to get killed with than the sword with which Caesar had been
killed. The sword which had killed Caesar was rich as it was
smeared with the blood of the most noble man in the world. He
begged the senators that if they hated him, now when their hands
were smeared with Caesar’s blood, they smelled of it, they should
fulfil their desire of killing him too.
Explanation in Detail
Fulfil your pleasure. Live a thousand years,
I shall not find myself so apt to die:
No place will please me so, no mean of death,
As here by Caesar, and by you cut off,
The choice and master spirits of this age.
spoils - trophies of war shrunk – reduced in size
little measure - small piece of ground on which your body lies
beseech – beg
bear me hard - bear a grudge against me
purpled hands – the colour of the hands turned purple as they were
soaked in Caesar’s blood which had dried and turned purple in colour
reek – stench master - powerful
If he lived for a thousand more years, he shall not find a better time to
die than that time, no better place to die than there and no better person
to die at the hands of than those who had murdered Caesar. He
addressed the conspirators as the masters of the age as they were the
rulers of Rome and would destine the future of the Romans.
Explanation in Detail Brutus tried to justify the act of the senators. He asked
Antony not to beg for death. He said that they appeared to
BRUTUS: O Antony, beg not your death of us. be cruel as he saw their hands which were full of Caesar’s
Though now we must appear bloody and cruel, blood. He could not see their hearts which were full of pity
Yet see you but our hands for the people of Rome. Their hearts had pity for Caesar
also but as fire drives out fire, so did their pity for the
And this the bleeding business they have done: Romans drove out their pity for Caesar and so, they killed
Our hearts you see not; they are pitiful; him. For Antony, their swords were blunt, their arms may
And pity to the general wrong of Rome-- appear to be full of hatred, but their hearts considered him
to be their brother. They welcomed him to the senate with
As fire drives out fire, so pity pity—
love and respect.
Hath done this deed on Caesar. For your part,
To you our swords have leaden points, Mark Antony:
Our arms, in strength of malice, and our hearts
Of brothers' temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.
Hath – has Leaden points – here, blunt edges
in strength of malice - which may appear to be
hostile
reverence - respect
Explanation in Detail
CASSIUS: Your voice shall be as strong as any man's
In the disposing of new dignities.
ANTONY: I doubt not of your wisdom.
Let each man render me his bloody hand:
Gentlemen all, --alas, what shall I say?
My credit now stands on such slippery ground,
That one of two bad ways you must conceit me,
Either a coward or a flatterer.
That I did love thee, Caesar, O, 'tis true:
dignities – honours conceit - consider
Cassius said to Antony that his opinions would be considered
while appointing new officers.
Antony said that all the senators were wise, and he had no doubt
about it. He asked all the conspirators to shake their hands soaked
with Caesar’s blood with him. He added that the senators may
consider him to be either a coward or a flatterer. He could not
justify himself, but the fact was that he loved Caesar.
Explanation in Detail
If then thy spirit look upon us now,
Shall it not grieve thee dearer than thy death,
To see thy Antony making his peace,
Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes,
Most noble! in the presence of thy corse?
CASSIUS: Mark Antony,--
ANTONY: Pardon me, Caius Cassius:
The enemies of Caesar shall say this;
Then, in a friend, it is cold modesty.
foes - enemies
corse – corpse
modesty – understatement
Caesar’s soul would be watching them and would be saddened to
see that Caesar’s friend Antony was befriending and shaking
hands with his enemies in the presence of his dead body.
Cassius reacts and calls Antony.
Antony begged Cassius to excuse him. He added that even
Caesar’s enemies would feel like that for him because Caesar was
such a good man. He, being a friend of Caesar was being modest
and reasonable in saying such things for him.
Explanation in Detail
CASSIUS: I blame you not for praising Caesar so;
But what compact mean you to have with us?
Will you be prick'd in number of our friends;
Or shall we on, and not depend on you?
ANTONY: Therefore I took your hands, but was, indeed,
Sway'd from the point, by looking down on Caesar.
Friends am I with you all and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.
compact – agreement
Cassius said to Antony that he did not blame him for praising Caesar. He asked
that what agreement did he have with the conspirators – was he a
friend of theirs or should they proceed without him.
Antony replied that he shook hands with them because he considered them to
be a friend. He was swayed by emotions as he saw Caesar’s dead body, but he
was their friend and loved them. He asked them that now that they were friends,
they would explain that how and why was Caesar dangerous for Rome that they
murdered him. He hoped that they would reply to his question.
Explanation in Detail Brutus replied to his question and said that their hearts
were so full of serious consideration and reason that if
BRUTUS: Our reasons are so full of good Antony was Caesar’s son, he too would be satisfied
regard with it.
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar, Mark Antony was satisfied with their reasoning. (He
pretended to be satisfied so that he could take revenge
You should be satisfied. else, he feared that they would murder him too). He
ANTONY: That's all I seek: requested the senators to allow him to take Caesar’s
body to the stage in the market place and give a
And am moreover suitor that I may
speech at Caesar’s funeral.
Produce his body to the market-place; Brutus allowed Mark Antony to do that.
And in the pulpit, as becomes a friend,
Speak in the order of his funeral.
good regard - serious consideration
BRUTUS: You shall, Mark Antony.
Suitor – a person who makes a petition or
request
order- ceremony
Explanation in Detail Cassius called Brutus to a side and talked to him.
He said that Brutus did not realize the consequence
CASSIUS: Brutus, a word with you. of what he was doing. He asked him not to allow
Aside to BRUTUS Antony from giving the speech at Caesar’s funeral
as his speech would make the Romans sympathize
You know not what you do: do not consent with Caesar.
That Antony speak in his funeral: Brutus said that he sought permission to be the first
Know you how much the people may be one to give a speech and tell the Romans the
reason for Caesar’s death. Then he would
moved
announce that Antony would give a speech and that
By that which he will utter? he had the permission to do so.
BRUTUS: By your pardon;
I will myself into the pulpit first,
And show the reason of our Caesar's death:
What Antony shall speak, I will protest
He speaks by leave and by permission.
Pardon – to excuse
will- will go
protest- announce
Explanation in Detail
CASSIUS: I know not what may fall; I like it not.
BRUTUS: Mark Antony, here, take you Caesar's body.
You shall not in your funeral speech blame us,
But speak all good you can devise of Caesar,
And say you do it by our permission;
Else shall you not have any hand at all
About his funeral: and you shall speak
In the same pulpit whereto I am going,
After my speech is ended.
Antony replied that he did not want anything more than the chance to give a
speech in praise of Caesar.
Brutus ordered him to prepare the body for funeral and then come to the
stage.
The conspirators exit, and Antony is alone with Caesar’s body.
Antony said that Caesar’s body was bleeding and was like a piece of Earth
as it had been rendered lifeless. Antony sought pardon from Caesar as he
was being gentle with his murderers. He added that Caesar was the noblest
man that would ever be born on the Earth.
Explanation in Detail
Over thy wounds now do I prophesy, --
Which, like dumb mouths, do ope their ruby lips,
To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue--
A curse shall light upon the limbs of men;
Domestic fury and fierce civil strife
Shall cumber all the parts of Italy;
light – fall cumber - burden
Prophesy – predict the future
Dumb mouths – refers to the wounds which cannot speak
Ope – open
Ruby lips – refers to the wounds smeared in blood. They
look like lips which are Ruby – red in colour.
He took an oath over Caesar’s blood and the wounds on his
body which were unable to speak and looked like ruby – red
coloured lips. He took an oath that his voice and the words
that he spoke would bring a curse upon the limbs of those
men who had murdered Caesar. He vowed that there shall
be anger, war, blood, destruction all over Italy.
Explanation in Detail Mothers shall see that their newborn children have
Blood and destruction shall be so in use been cut into pieces at the hands of the war which
And dreadful objects so familiar will ensue. No one shall have pity in their hearts
That mothers shall but smile when they behold any longer as they will become used to such sights
of terrible deeds. Caesar’s soul will be
Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war;
accompanied by the Goddess of revenge – Ate who
All pity choked with custom of fell deeds: will descend from hell. They shall create havoc and
And Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, shall let loose fierce dogs of war. The smell of the
With Ate by his side come hot from hell, decaying dead bodies will be filled in the sky as the
Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice dead men will cry and beg for a burial.
Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war;
That this foul deed shall smell above the earth
With carrion men, groaning for burial.
Exeunt with CAESAR's body
in use - common
quarter'd with the hands of war – cut into pieces in the war
custom of fell deeds- terrible deeds shall become so familiar
Ate- Greek goddess of revenge
carrion men – decaying flesh of animals
Explanation in Detail Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and
be silent, that you may hear: believe me for mine honour, and
The Forum. Act III -Scene II have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure
me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a better judge.
throng of Citizens The next scene is set at the Forum. Brutus and Cassius enter
Citizens: We will be satisfied; let us be along with a huge crowd of Romans
The Romans sought for an explanation for Caesar’s murder.
satisfied. Brutus said that if they wanted one, they must listen to him.
BRUTUS: Then follow me, and give A man said that he would hear Brutus speak.
me audience, friends. Brutus appeared on the stage.
Second man said that the noble Brutus had arrived, so
First Citizen: I will hear Brutus speak. everyone should remain silent.
BRUTUS goes into the pulpit
Second Citizen: The noble Brutus is
ascended: silence!
BRUTUS: Be patient till the last.
Explanation in Detail
If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love to Caesar
was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: --
Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living and die all
slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he
was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him: but, as he was ambitious, I slew him.
There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death for his ambition. Who is
here so base that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude
that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so vile that will not love
his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.
Antony said that till the time Caesar was alive, his words were
heard but now his speechless body was lying there. There was no
one in Rome who was so poor that he could not pay respect to
Caesar. If Antony enraged the crowd and guided them to revolt
against Caesar’s killers then he would do wrong to Brutus and
Cassius as he had promised them that he would not speak bad
about them. As they were honourable men, he would not speak
bad about them rather he would speak bad about the dead
Caesar, about himself and about the people of Rome.
Explanation in Detail
But here's a parchment with the seal of Caesar;
I found it in his closet, 'tis his will:
Let but the commons hear this testament--
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read--
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar's wounds
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
napkins- handkerchiefs
Antony presented a document with Caesar’s seal on it which was in
Caesar’s cupboard. It was his will. He was reluctant to read it as the people
would be stirred with emotions upon hearing it. They would react by kissing
Caesar’s wounds, dipping their handkerchiefs in his blood to keep as
mementoes, begging for a strand of his hair as a memoir and would pass
these things on to their next generations to be kept as a rich heritage as
the memoir of the noblest Roman – Caesar.
Explanation in Detail
Fourth Citizen: We'll hear the will: read it, Mark Antony.
All: The will, the will! we will hear Caesar's will.
ANTONY: Have patience, gentle friends, I must not read it;
It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.
You are not wood, you are not stones, but men;
And, being men, hearing the will of Caesar,
It will inflame you, it will make you mad:
'Tis good you know not that you are his heirs;
For, if you should, O, what would come of it!
meet- fitting, proper
The fourth citizen said that they wanted to listen what was written in the will.
All the people asked Antony to read out Caesar’s will.
Antony asked the crowd to be patient. He said that the will must not be read
to them. He did not want to tell them that Caesar loved the Romans. As they
were neither made of wood, nor made of stones but were living men, they
would get very angry and become mad to know that Caesar loved them so
much that he had bequeathed all his belongings to the people of Rome. He
feared the consequences of it.
Explanation in Detail
Fourth Citizen: Read the will; we'll hear it, Antony;
You shall read us the will, Caesar's will.
ANTONY: Will you be patient? will you stay awhile?
I have o'ershot myself to tell you of it:
I fear I wrong the honourable men
Whose daggers have stabb'd Caesar; I do fear it.
Fourth Citizen: They were traitors: honourable men!
All: The will! the testament!
Second Citizen: They were villains, murderers: the will! read the will.
The fourth citizen urged Antony to read Caesar’s will.
Antony wondered if the crowd would be patient enough to hear him. He
thought that he had exceeded his limits by referring to Caesar’s will as by
reading it out, he feared that he would harm the reputation of the so – called
‘honourable’ men of Rome who had conspired and killed Caesar.
The fourth citizen replied that the conspirators who had killed Caesar were
traitors. The second citizen also repeated that the killers were bad men. He
asked Antony to read the will. The crowd asked Antony to read the will.
Explanation in Detail
ANTONY: You will compel me, then, to read the will?
Then make a ring about the corpse of Caesar,
And let me show you him that made the will.
Shall I descend? and will you give me leave?
Several Citizens: Come down.
Second Citizen: Descend.
Third Citizen: You shall have leave.
ANTONY comes down
Fourth Citizen: A ring; stand round.
Antony said that as the crowd had forced him, he wanted them to
form a circle around Caesar’s body. He would show them the Caesar
who had made the will. He sought permission to come down from the
stage. The people asked him to come down from the stage. The
second citizen asked Antony to come down.The third citizen said that
Antony had their permission to come. Antony came down from the
stage. The fourth citizen asks all the people to form a circle around
Caesar’s body.
Explanation in Detail Antony said to the people that if they had tears in their
bodies, then they must prepare themselves to cry. He
showed Caesar’s cloak which he had worn for the first time
ANTONY: If you have tears, prepare to shed when he had defeated the Gallic Tribes in 57 A.D. He
them now. showed them the wound that had been instilled in Caesar’s
You all do know this mantle: I remember body by the jealous Casca. He said that as Casca took out
the dagger from Caesar’s body, blood flowed along. The
The first time ever Caesar put it on; blood gushed out of Caesar’s body as if it tried to resolve
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent, the issue due to which these men had stabbed him. He
added that Brutus was so unkind as he stabbed Caesar
That day he overcame the Nervii: mercilessly. Brutus was loved by Caesar and had betrayed
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through: him. The stab made by Brutus took away Caesar’s life as it
was the harshest – as Caesar realized that he had been
See what a rent the envious Casca made: betrayed by a friend.
Through this the well-beloved Brutus stabb'd;
And as he pluck'd his cursed steel away,
Mark how the blood of Caesar follow'd it,
The fourth citizen said that the killers had betrayed Rome, they were bad men.
The fourth citizen said that the killers had betrayed Rome, they were bad men.
The first citizen said that Caesar’s blood – soaked body was the result of the cruelest act.
The second citizen said that they would take revenge for this.
The crowd was enraged and shouted to seek revenge for Caesar’s killing.
They wanted to find the killers and slay them. They said that no one of the
conspirators should remain alive.
Explanation in Detail
ANTONY: Stay, countrymen.
First Citizen: Peace there! hear the noble Antony.
Second Citizen: We'll hear him, we'll follow him, we'll die with him.
ANTONY: Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a sudden flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honourable:
What private griefs they have, alas, I know not,
That made them do it: they are wise and honourable,
And will, no doubt, with reasons answer you.
Antony asked the people of Rome to stop.
The first citizen asked the crowd and listen to the noble Antony.
The second citizen said that they were ready to hear him, follow him and
even die with him.
Antony addressed the crowd as his good friends and said that he did not
want to arouse a wave of violence. He was said that he did not know what
personal indifferences did the conspirators have with Caesar due to which
they murdered him. As they were wise men and commanded respect, they
would have valid reasons for killing Caesar
Explanation in Detail He did not want to make the crowd hard – hearted
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts: and fill their hearts with hatred. He said that he
I am no orator, as Brutus is; was not skilled at public speaking like Brutus was
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man, but was a straightforward person instead. The
That love my friend; and that they know full well senators who permitted Antony to give the speech
knew that he was neither intelligent nor did he
That gave me public leave to speak of him:
have the art of public speaking and so, he would
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth, not be able to arise the crowd against them.
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech, Antony only spoke the truth and showed them the
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on; wounds on Caesar’s body.
Antony only spoke the truth and showed them the wounds on
Caesar’s body. The open wounds were like mouths which could not
speak for justice. Antony said that if he were as good as Brutus at
public speaking, then he would have been able to arouse the crowd to
become violent and become the voice of Caesar’s wounds. Then he
would be able to provoke them to seek justice on behalf of the
wounds on Caesar’s body. Even the stones – the stone – hearted
people would be moved with emotions and seek justice.
Explanation in Detail
All: We'll mutiny.
First Citizen: We'll burn the house of Brutus.
Third Citizen: Away, then! come, seek the conspirators.
ANTONY: Yet hear me, countrymen; yet hear me speak.
All: Peace, ho! Hear Antony. Most noble Antony!
ANTONY: Why, friends, you go to do you know not what:
Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves?
Alas, you know not: I must tell you then:
You have forgot the will I told you of.
Wherein- in what way
Antony read the will further and said that Caesar had bequeathed his
gardens, the flowery shelters and the fruit trees by the side of the Tiber river
to the people of Rome. They were for the Romans to use for recreation. He
added that this was the true Caesar and he was a rare person.
The first citizen said that they would treat Caesar’s body like a sacred
object and burn it at a sacred place. They would take the burning wood
from Caesar’s pyre and burn the houses of his killers with it. He asked the
crowd to pick the body.
Explanation in Detail
Second Citizen: Go fetch fire.
Third Citizen: Pluck down benches.
Fourth Citizen: Pluck down forms, windows, anything.
Exeunt Citizens with the body
ANTONY: Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot,
Take thou what course thou wilt!
afoot- started
The second citizen asked for fire.
The third citizen suggested that they could pull the benches out
and use the wood for fire. The crowd was so restless that it could
wait no longer. The fourth citizen suggested that hey pull anything
– forms, window frames, etc. The citizens went with Caesar’s
body. Antony said to himself that now the crowd would work on its
own and deliver justice to Caesar. He said that now bad behavior
had started, and it would take further course of action that it
deemed appropriate.
Antony exited the stage.
Important characters of the play
Julius Caesar was a great Roman general and senator who returned to
Rome in triumph after a successful military campaign. While his good
friend Brutus worried that Caesar may aspire to become the dictator
over the Roman republic, Caesar showed no such inclination, declining
the crown several times. He was assassinated by Brutus, Cassius and a
band of conspirators who felt Caesar was very ambitious and wanted
the crown.
Calpurnia was the wife of Julius Caesar. She was very superstitious
and believed in omens and portents. She warns Caesar against going to
the Senate on the Ides of March, since she had terrible nightmares and
heard reports of many bad omens. Nevertheless, Caesar’s ambition
ultimately causes him to disregard her advice.
Marcus Brutus was Caesar's great friend who joins the conspiracy
because of his great love for Rome and for democracy. Though he
loved Ceasar as a friend, he was a great supporter of the republic
who believed strongly in a government guided by the votes of
senators. He was against the ascension of any single man to the
position of dictator, and he feared that Caesar aspired to become one.
Cassius was the brain behind the conspiracy to kill Ceasar. He was a
talented general and a long time acquaintance of Caesar. Cassius
disliked the fact that Caesar had become godlike in the eyes of the
Romans. He slyly leads Brutus to believe that Caesar had become
too powerful and must die, finally convincing Brutus t by sending him
forged letters claiming that the Roman people supported the death of
Caesar.
Probable Questions
How do the heavens ‘blaze forth’ the death of Julius Caesar?
Answer: In this statement, Calpurnia tries to paraphrase an age
old belief that when an important person dies even the heavens
mourn on the death. Meteors fall and comets blaze through the
sky as if mourning the demise of the great person.