Julius

Caesar
Page 1259: Background
• The Second Triumvirate in History and in
Shakespeare Shakespeare’s text gives the
impression that Caesar’s funeral was
followed almost immediately by the forming
of the Second Triumvirate. In fact, more than
a year and a half passed between the
events. During that time, Octavius had the
Senate recognize him as Caesar’s rightful
heir and declare Antony an enemy. However,
Antony remained a powerful figure. In 43
B.C., Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus, a
member of a distinguished Roman family
and an ally of Antony, agreed to form the
Second Triumvirate—a trio of rulers. (The
First Triumvirate had consisted of Caesar,
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• Analyze To what nonhuman things does Antony compare
Lepidus?
• Possible answer: Antony compares Lepidus to an ass who
does not understand the value of the burden that others
have him carry (lines 18–27), to a horse who has to be
trained and told what to do (lines 34–35), and to property
(line 40).
• What does that kind of language suggest about what
Antony is really like (or what he ha become)?
• Possible answer: The language suggests that Antony is (or
has become) cruel and that he disregards the value of an
individual. He seems to care only about using people to
achieve his own purposes.
• Synthesize How does Antony’s description of Lepidus add
to what he has already revealed about himself in Scene 1?
• Possible answer: Antony has already spoken of reducing
the people’s inheritance from Caesar (lines 8–9), the very
people whom he once claimed that he cared for and
wanted to help. The description of Lepidus reinforces the
idea that Antony now cares only for himself.
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• TRAGIC HERO What tragic flaw is
revealed in Brutus’s suggestion that
he has never even wronged his
enemies?
• Brutus’ tragic flaw is his belief in his
own nobility, regardless of the facts.
He does not consider that he has
wronged his enemies (line 38)
because he believes that he
participated in Caesar’s murder for
noble reasons, not out of envy or a
desire for gain.
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• Discuss Based on Scene 3, lines 9–28, how does
Brutus think that the condition of his conscience
compares to that of Cassius? How can you tell?
• Possible answer: Brutus feels that his
conscience is superior to that of Cassius. He
speaks condemningly to Cassius about
accepting bribes (lines 9–10). He also asserts
that they killed Caesar for the sake of justice
(line 19) and that he would rather be a dog than
contaminate his fingers with bribes (lines 23–
28).
• What is ironic about Brutus’ view?
• Possible answer: Ironically, Brutus’ conscience is
not nearly as superior as he claims it to be. He
participated in a political assassination that
some would call unjustified. He also blamed
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• Background
• Elizabethans and Their Humors In lines 39 and
43, Brutus accuses Cassius of being “choleric.”
The Elizabethans believed that a person’s
physical and emotional health depended upon
the mixture of four fluids, called “humors”—
blood, phlegm, choler (yellow bile), and
melancholy (black bile)—in his or her body. If
these fluids were properly proportioned, the
person would be generally healthy and would
have a stable personality. If the mixture was
off, the person would become ill or would
think and act erratically. When Brutus says
that Cassius is choleric, he implies that Cassius
has too much choler in his system, making him
hot tempered and impulsive.
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• TRAGIC HERO What conclusion
would you draw about Brutus’s
honesty in light of his request for
money from Cassius? Explain your
answer.
• The reader can conclude that Brutus
is not as honest as he says he is. It is
hypocritical for Brutus to blame
Cassius for taking bribes and then to
ask him for money. He is being
dishonest either with himself or
with Cassius.
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• ALLUSION An allusion is a
reference in a work of literature
to a famous person, event, or
idea in literature, history, or
mythology. Allusions can help
define the setting, add depth to
characters, and even hint at
themes. In this passage, Cassius
makes an allusion to the Roman
god Pluto god of the underworld
and of mines. Reread the allusion
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• What function does this allusion and
Shakespeare’s other references to Roman
mythology serve?
• Students may say that these allusions
serve to make Shakespeare’s characters
believable people of their time and place,
and to create the atmosphere of ancient
Rome.
• Summarize What does Cassius say and do
in lines 93–107?
• Cassius says that Brutus has turned against
him and is accusing him unfairly. He is so
unhappy over this situation that he offers
Brutus his dagger and urges Brutus to kill
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• Analyze How does Brutus’ response make
reconciliation possible?
• Possible answer: Seeing Cassius’ extreme behavior,
Brutus backs down and describes himself as a lamb
that cannot stay angry (lines 110–113). His backing
down makes it possible for Cassius to do so, as well.
• How does Cassius then take the next step toward
reconciliation?
• Possible answer: Cassius then admits that he acted
out of ill temper, prompting Brutus to make the same
admission (lines 113–116). Once they both have
confessed that they were wrong, they can be friends
again (lines 117–118).
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• Evaluate Think about the exchange
that ends this passage (lines 119–123).
In your opinion, have Brutus and
Cassius just made a permanent
reconciliation? Defend your view.
• Possible answer: The reconciliation
probably is not permanent. Cassius
predicts that he will have angry
outbursts in the future; when he does,
it remains to be seen if Brutus will be
able to overlook them, as he says that
he will. In addition, the accusations
that both men have made during this).
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• Restate What news does Messala bring to Brutus?
• Messala tells Brutus that Portia is dead.
• Analyze How is Brutus’ response to the news similar to what
Caesar says about death in Act Two, Scene 2?
• Possible answer: Brutus dispassionately says that everyone must
die. His comment is similar to Caesar’s statement “Seeing that
death, a necessary end, / Will come when it will come” (Act Two,
Scene 2, lines 36–37).
• Synthesize Why might Brutus be responding to Messala in a
Caesar-like fashion?
• Possible answer: Brutus is concerned with his public image and
might be acting this way so that Messala will be impressed (which
he is, line 193). Brutus cares about what people think of him and
wants to project a certain public image, as Caesar did. He wants
people to consider him worthy of honor and respect, as Caesar
did. Brutus also has a high opinion of himself, as Caesar did.
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• TRAGIC HERO Reread lines 196–224. What tragic
flaw does Brutus reveal in his response to Cassius’
concerns about marching their armies to Philippi?
Cite details to support your answer.
• The tragic flaw that Brutus reveals is his inability—
or his refusal— to consider the ideas of other
people. He assumes that his plan for doing battle
with the enemy is superior to Cassius’ plan (line
203). Even when Cassius, an experienced soldier,
asks Brutus to listen, Brutus interrupts with another
reason (lines 213–215) and then waxes
philosophical about the importance of seizing
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• TRAGIC HERO What character traits are revealed in Brutus’s
dialogue with Lucius?
• Brutus’ dialogue reveals his concern and caring for others. He
seems to show this side of himself only in privat
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• Discuss Based on lines 289–300 and 308–310, does Brutus’
conscience seem to have been bothered by the appearance of
the Ghost of Caesar? Cite evidence.
• Possible answer: Brutus’ conscience has been bothered—
temporarily. He does say that he wanted to talk mor with the
Ghost (line 290), and he asks whether Lucius saw anything (line
299). However, Brutus then orders the men to tell Cassius to get
his armies moving (lines 308–309). In short, seeing the Ghost of
Caesar does not make Brutus rethink his actions enough to
repent and take a course of action other than war.
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• READ WITH A PURPOSE : decide whether Brutus
was a victim of circumstances and explain answers.
• Possible answer: Brutus was not a victim of
circumstances, but he was a victim of his pride. He
made conscious decisions, such as listenin to
arguments for the death of Caesar, deciding to
spare Antony’s life, and determining where to fight
the final battle. These decisions were all made with
a proud certainty of his own nobility.
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Comprehension
• 1. Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus
• 2. Brutus has accused Cassius of corruption.
• 3. Portia killed herself.
• 4. Cassius wants to wait so that the enemy will waste provisions
and tire themselves out by marching toward them. Brutus thinks
that it is better to march toward the enemy because his army is
stronger now and he fears that the enemy will be able to gain
new recruits.
Text Analysis
• 5. common core focus Analyze Shakespearean Tragedy Brutus is
intolerant of other people’s flaws and blind to contradictions in
his own behavior. These flaws are weaknesses in his character
and will lead to his downfall. He chastises Cassius for being
corrupt, yet he becomes angry with Cassius for not sharing the
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6. common core focus Reading Shakespearean Drama In Scene
1, Antony seems more power-hungry and cynical. He shows
little of his earlier concern for the people of Rome, and he
uses people to get what he wants (lines 8–9 and 19–27).
• 7. Brutus wants to explain why he lost his temper with
Cassius.
• 8. The warning from the Ghost of Caesar foreshadows a bad
outcome for Brutus.
• 9. The Romans seem worse off because there is civil strife
again (including the execution of many government officials,
Scene 3, lines 175, 177).
• 10. Brutus is justified because corruption will cause the
people to turn against the conspirators; Brutus is not justified
because he also asks Cassius to give him some of the bribe
money to pay his troops.