Et tu, bruté?
Julius Caesar
By William Shakespeare
All of Shakespears plays are seperated into one of three catagories, either history, tragedy, and comedy. Histories are about kings like Henry V and King John. Comedies are lighthearted and the play ends with happiness and most often marriage. The tragedies can be identified easily because nearly all the characters will die in the end of the play tragically. Another identifing trait is the tragedies have a main characters name as a title. For example; Macbeth,Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Hamlet, and Julius Ceasar. My favorite tragdedy so far is Julius Ceasar. It is a complex play that brings out components of personalities (like the character Brutus) as well as intertwining conflicts including man v mas, man v society, and man v self. Now, here are the people who are most likely to die at the end aka the main characters;
Julius Caesar is a successful military leader and, through his success in serving Rome, is soon to be crowned as a leader of sRome. Since Rome has been run by a senate the thought of Ceasar as a dictator sparks the fire that leads to his death by the hands of the conspirators.
Calpurnia is Ceasar's wife that worries for him because of omens.
Mark Antony is my favorite character in this play. He is very close to Ceasar and after Caesar's death Antony fakes allegiance to the conspirators to save his life. Even though his hatred for them is strong he waits until he gains revenge to act. He is an amazing speaker as well as intelligent, but more on that later.
Octavius Ceasar is Julius Ceasar's chosen successor.
Lepidus third member of the coalition with Octavius Ceasar and Antony.
Portia is Brutus' slightly unstable wife.
The conspirators;
Decius Brutus is the main character despite the play being named after Julius Ceasar. He is an honorable man(this is ironic; read on to find out why). He is an important man is society and is viewed very positively by the many people that know him. A very popular man he always tries to do what he feels is best for his city. His drive for doing what is best for society is coupled with his naive nature. This is his greatest attribute as well as his fatal flaw when he joins the conspirators. He is the last to stab his friend.
Cassius is the main conspirator and a friend of Brutus. He hates Ceasar in a way that surpasses the strictly political nature of the assassination.
Casca is the first to stab Ceasar.
Decius convinces Ceasar to come to the senate house despite Calpurnia's pleas for Ceasar not to.
This play doesn't focus on the title character like in the histories. This play is more about the conspiracy with the events preceding and following Ceasar's bloody demise with the betrayal that cut even deeper than Brutus' knife in his chest.
Act I Scene 1
Flavius and Murellus through ordering commoners to get ready for Caesar arrival the audience is introduced to the situation. Caesar has returned from defeating his rival Pompey, and the city is celebrating.
Act I Scene 2
Caesar enter's Rome and a celebration is occurring. A soothsayer tells Caesar to "Beware the ides of March" which Caesar dismisses. Cassius talks to Brutus about Caesar. They are both concerned that Caesar will be crowned. Antony offers the kingly crown to Caesar with a cheering crowd, but Caesar refuses each of the three times. Antony warns Caesar of Cassius when the procession passes, and Caesar dismisses his observation. Casca tells Cassius and Brutus about the ceremony. After everyone has left but Cassius he reveals his intentions to seduce Brutus into the conspiracy.
Act I Scene 3
A terrible night passes with many horrors on the streets. Casca reports to Cicero that among the terrors there is a man with hands on fire without burns, and a lioness that gives birth in the street. Basically, just a typical night in Rome. It is rumored that Caesar is going to the capitol, and will most likely be crowned emperor. Cassius is told of the senate's plans to crown Caesar and Cassius' scheme to kill Caesar is revealed. The storm is symbolic and interpreted differently by each character. The horrible night warned Cassius of what would happen if Caesar is crowned, yet at the same time the storm foreshadows what will happen if the assassination is carried out for the audience.
Act II Scene 1
Brutus is in his garden contemplating the future of the city. If Caesar is crowned Rome will no longer be a republic, but a dictatorship. He does not think that would be best for Rome, so he is already leaning away from his friend, Caesar, and to taking action against him. With his conflicted mind in place, Cassius takes his chance to sway Brutus to the side of the conspiracy. First Cassius places letters from the "citizens" around Brutus' house asking him to save their republic. Brutus believes that the people are asking for help. The conspirators then meet at Brutus' house and Brutus agrees to join and lead them. The reason they wanted this to happen is because Brutus is honorable and in good-standing in society. If Brutus is the one to kill Caesar the people will support them. Brutus is honorable but not smart. In the discussion with the conspirators three things will be decided; should the conspirators take an oath, should Circio join them, and should they kill Mark Antony. Brutus decides for them that they should not take as oath, Circio should not join because he is elderly, and killing Mark Antony would be too much bloodshed. These are Brutus' first three mistakes. Portia asks Brutus about what he is doing, but he doesn't confide in her despite her pleas, another mistake I think. The plan is in place and tomorrow, the ides of march, Caesar will die.
Act II Scene 2
Caesar is worried about Calpurnia. She awoke three times from a nightmare. She had a dream that people were washing their hand's in Caesar's blood. Decius, who's responsible for getting Caesar to the capitol, tells that the blood fountain is a good thing. This will be a lesson to stay home if someone has a dream about washing their hands in your blood fountain. Stay home. Of course Caesar doesn't listen to Calpurnia, he does't want to seem whipped. Decius is the one to point this out and they leave in a procession to the capitol.
Act II Scene 3
Artemidorus knows of the conspiracy, and he has written a letter warning Caesar of the conspirator's that he lists by name. Artemidorus will intercept Caesar and deliver the letter, saving his life. Looks like the title character might make it.
Act III Scene 1
But, NO! This is only Act III and, Caesar, usually quite superstitious, is missing the warnings of his impending doom. First (a) blood fountain then (b) he rejects Artemidorus' letter, (c) the storm, (d) the soothsayer's second warning of "the ides of March" which is today, (d) and, finally, the augury with the beast with no heart. Caesar is missing all of these signals.
Now, at the capitol Metallus kneels before Caesar and asks that Caesar ends his cousin, Publius's, banishment from Rome. All of the conspirator's kneel and implore Caesar to lift the banishment, but Caesar keeps rejecting the proposal. Then they strike. Casca is first to drive his knife into Caesar then the rest join in. "Speak hands for me!"(line 83) is Casca's way of saying "now!" or "attack!". Brutus is the last to stab his ex friend. The betrayal of Brutus prompts Caesar final words on his final breath, "Et tu, bruté?" which means "you too Brutus?". Caesar is slain.
Antony has run off. Now Brutus and the conspirators wash their hands in Caesar's blood (like in Calpurnia's dream about the fountain). A servent enters and requests that Antony be allowed to speak to conpirators, and that he loved Caesar but will pledge alligence to Brutus if no harm will come to him. Brutus asents and Antony enters. Antony hears the conpirators reasoning for the assasination then requests to speak at Caesar's funeral. Brutus now makes his biggest mistake. He will let Antony speak and bring Caesar's body. Antony can speak if he follows three rules; (1) he will speak after Brutus, (2) he must say in his speech that he was given permision to speak, (3) and he must speak in the same pulpit that Brutus will speak in. Cassius warns Brutus to not allow Mark Antony to speak, for it may upset the people(which he does). Antony is left alone after the conspirators departs shaking his hand still covered in Caesar's blood. Antony in a soliliqui reveals his disgust and hatred of the assasins, and speaks to Caesar's body asking for forgivness for his gentelness will the conspirators and vows to avenge him. Then crying carrys Caesars body away. Act III Scene 2 The funeral has begun and Brutus is the first to speak. His eloquent words move the citizens, and they side with the conspirators until Antony speaks. He enters holding Caesar's body, and the people quiet to hear him. This is one of my favorite Shakespearian monolouges. I have memorized it, and I wish Mark Antony could speak at my funeral because of how awesome this speech is. Just because I love it so much here it is;
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred 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 answer'd it. Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest-- For Brutus is an honourable man; So are they all, all honourable 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 honourable man. 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 honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious; And, sure, he is an honourable 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 cause: What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him? O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts, And men have lost their reason. Bear with me; My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, And I must pause till it come back to me.
To hear this speech from the movie click here. Through the most epic pathos you have ever seen, Antony's emotion filled words quickly turn the people against the conspirators. Then the chaos begins.
Act III Scene 3
This very short scene shows the chaos. The people are in mutiny, outraged by the gruesome act. They are hunting the assassins down and killing them. They run into Cinna(not the conspirator just a random poet) and kill the innocent man.
Act IV Scene 1
Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidus are now ruling Rome. They are deciding who gets to live. In their conversation it is shown that they will not be merciful, generous leaders of Rome.
Act IV Scene 2
Brutus and Cassius are at camp with an army, and, after being chased out of Rome, are plotting their return. However Cassius and Brutus are fighting in these scene. A back and forth between these two characters shows the tension between them. They make up, and when Cassius asks Brutus what has gotten him so easily angered Brutus reports that Portia has killed herself in depression. They plan to attack tomorrow. The Ghost of Caesar appears to Brutus at night and tells him they will meet at Philippi.
Act V Scene 1
The armies meet at Philippi. Octavius Caesar and Antony meet with Brutus and Cassius. They insult each other then return to their armies. Cassius fears bad omens and tells that it is his birthday. Brutus and Cassius say goodbye.
Act V Scene 2
The battle begins.
Act V Scene 3
Cassius sends Titinius to find out whose troops are at the bottom of the hill. When Titinius is surrounded by the troops Cassius is distraught over the capture of friend. Cassius asks Pindarus to kill him. Cassius is slain with the same blade he used to slay Caesar. However Titinius wasn't captured the troop that found him was on his side. When Titinius finds the dead Cassius he kills himself out of guilt. Brutus finds the bodies and is cast in grief. Antony's forces defeated Cassius', and Brutus' forces were beating Octavius Caesar's forces.
Act V Scene 4
Antony searches for Brutus.
Act V Scene 5
Brutus has his soldiers hold his sword while he runs himself through. Brutus is slain. Brutus has met Caesar at Phillipi, and Caesar is now avenged. Unlike Cassius, Brutus had killed Caesar out of duty not hate and Antony, upon seeing Brutus' body says "This was the noblest Roman of them all"
