QUESTIONS AND TOPICS

1. How does Caesar display arrogance in this scene? Why does Shakespeare emphasize this trait here? Does Caesar show fear of death when death comes upon him?

2. Is Brutus consistently the patriot in this scene? Does he treat Antony as you had expected him to? Why does he treat him in so friendly a fashion? How does he seek to win the support of Antony? Why does he allow Antony to speak at the funeral? Why does he suppose his speech before Antony's will win the people?

3. What evidence of the practical alertness of Cassius do you find before the blows are struck? Does the gentle side of Cassius appear after the assassination? Why does he distrust Antony? How does Cassius try to secure his support? Why does Cassius object to Antony's speaking at the funeral? Why does he interrupt Antony's lament over Caesar?

4. Why does Antony, in his message, com

pliment Brutus? Why does Antony openly express to the conspirators his sorrow for Caesar's death? Do you think Brutus or Cassius the more likely to win his support? What is the surface meaning of each of Antony's speeches? What is the real meaning of each? Why does he wish to speak at the funeral? What promise does he make about his speech? What do you learn of his purpose from his final soliloquy? Do you think him as practical as Cassius? Why are we told that Octavius is near?

Class Reading or Acting. tion of Caesar (lines 1-121); conspirators (lines 147-252).

The assassinaAntony and the

SCENE II. The Forum.

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 honor him; but, as he was ambitious, I slew him. There is tears for his love; joy for his fortune; honor for his valor; 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

Third Cit. The noble Brutus is ascended; silence!

Bru. Be patient till the last.

Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear; believe me for mine honor, and have respect to mine honor, that you may believe; censure me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say, that Brutus' love 14. lovers, friends. 18. censure, judge.

for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

All. None, Brutus, none.

43

Shall be crowned in Brutus.

49. extenuated, lessened. 50. enforced, exaggerated. 60. Brutus reasons with the crowd and feels that his speech has won them. Its style conveys the idea of study, not of spontaneous emotion. 64. Let him be Caesar. This shows how the entire point of Brutus's speech has been missed.

Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark
Antony,

By our permission, is allowed to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke. [Exit.
First Cit. Stay, ho! and let us hear Mark
Antony.

75

Third Cit. Let him go up into the public chair;

We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up. Ant. For Brutus' sake, I am beholding [Goes into the pulpit.

to you. Fourth Cit. What does he say of Brutus? Third Cit. He says, for Brutus' sake, He finds himself beholding to us all.

Fourth Cit. "Twere best he speak no harm of Brutus here.

First Cit. This Caesar was a tyrant. Third Cit. Nay, that's certain; We are blest that Rome is rid of him. Sec. Cit. Peace! let us hear what Antony

89

I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interréd with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men—
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me;
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honorable man.

100

78. beholding, beholden, indebted. 92. ambitious. Pronounce here and in the following speeches as four syllables; but ambition as only three. 96. honorable, ironical in meaning, but should not be read so. Why?

He hath brought many captives home to
Rome,

Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill;
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar
hath wept-

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff—
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honorable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown, 110
Which he did thrice refuse; was this am-
bition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honorable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me. First Cit. Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

Sec. Cit. If thou consider rightly of the matter,

Caesar has had great wrong.

Third Cit. Has he, masters? I fear there will a worse come in his place. Fourth Cit. Marked ye his words? He would not take the crown;

Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious. First Cit. If it be found so, some will dear abide it.

Sec. Cit. Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.

Third Cit. There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.

130

Fourth Cit. Now mark him, he begins

again to speak.

Ant. But yesterday the word of Caesar might

Have stood against the world; now lies he

there,

And none so poor to do him reverence.
O masters, if I were disposed to stir 135

103. general coffers, the public treasury, to which Caesar turned over money from his sale of captives of war. 128. abide, pay for it. 134. so poor, etc., so humble as to pay any regard to Caesar.