Act I
Scene 1- The play
begins in 44 B.C. when Julius Caesar has returned to Rome
from Spain after defeating the sons of Pompey. While great
celebrations are occurring, the two tribunes, Flavius and
Marullus, are breaking up the plebeians by verbally attacking
them for their negligence to Pompey, a man who was once
their leader.
Scene 2- When
Caesar enters the Capitol of Rome with his followers, a
Soothsayer quickly warns him about his death on the day
of the Ides of March. Because he is a dreamer, Caesar ignores
him and goes to the Feast of Lupercal where he celebrates
his victory. Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius discuss about
how Caesar has gained a great deal of power. Cassius, a
political foe of Caesar, informs Brutus, a long time friend
of Caesar, on his plan to kill Caesar. After the games,
Casca tells Brutus and Cassius that Mark Antony had offered
Caesar the crown thrice and each time Caesar declined. In
addition, he informs them that Caesar had a seizure and
collapsed.
Scene 3- A conspirator,
informs Cinna, a senator and orator, that many strange things
have been happening in Rome that night. Cicero comments
that men can change omens based on how they see it. This
scene is like an organization of the conspirators and their
plot to kill Caesar. Cassius comes in and informs Cinna
and Cicero that Caesar is supposed to be crowned king the
next morning. Cassius and Cinna decide to bring Brutus into
the conspiracy since he is one of Caesar's close friends.
Letters are prepared and placed in Brutus' home in order
to invite him into the conspiracy.
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Act II
Scene 1- Brutus
receives the letters without knowing who wrote them. He
decides to join the conspiracy in learning that Caesar will
become an evil tyrant if he becomes king. Brutus meets with
the other conspirators and commits to them that he will
join the conspiracy and help plot to kill Caesar. Unable
to sleep that night, Portia, Brutus' wife, urges him to
tell her what is bothering him. At first, Brutus decides
that he cannot tell Portia, but after she stabs herself
in the thigh to show her strength and courage, he informs
her about the plan to kill Caesar on the fifteenth day of
March.
Scene 2- The next
morning on the Ides of March when Caesar is about to go
to the Senate House, his wife Calpurnia tells him of her
horrid dreams the night before. She explains to him that
in her dreams, his statue was being stabbed to death and
that he was bleeding from hundreds of wounds while crowds
of Romans were smiling and bathing in his blood. Confirming
with a priest of Calpurnia's dream, Caesar decides not to
go to the Senate House to be crowned king. Misinterpreting
Calpurnia's dream, Decius Brutus, a conspirator, convinces
Caesar that this is his day and that the Roman people were
sucking his blood for the benefit of the State. Decius Brutus
and the other conspirators escort Caesar to the Senate House
so he can be the new king.
Scene 3- Artemidorus,
a teacher prepares a letter warning Caesar of the plotting
of his death. Within the letter are the names of the conspirators.
Scene 4- Portia
begins with the scene with Lucius, Brutus' servant, trying
to give him instructions, but they are unclear. The Soothsayer
enters, and Portia eagerly asks him about the plan to kill
Caesar. The Soothsayer answers vaguely saying he only is
afraid of what might happen to Caesar. Portia asks Lucius
to go check up on Brutus and report back to her.
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Act III
Scene 1- This
act is centered on Caesar's death and the political upraise
of who will be crowned the next king. As Caesar is on his
way to the Senate house surrounded by conspirators, he is
given a letter by Artemidorus informing him of his death.
Ignoring the letter, Caesar carries on to the Senate House
as the conspirators push of Artemidorus so he cannot cause
any disturbance in the plan. Trebonius, another conspirator,
sees Mark Antony, Caesar's close friend, and decides to
lure him away from the evil act so he cannot witness the
death of Caesar. Metallus Cimber, a conspirator, distracting
Caesar's attention by asking for the repeal of his brother's
banishment, allows the conspirators to perform their act.
Casca stabs Caesar first in the back of the neck, while
the other conspirators join in as Caesar falls to the ground
while gushing out blood. When Antony arrives, he is shocked
at the sight of death and asks the conspirators if they
want him to kill them. Asking to speak at Caesar's funeral,
the conspirators tell him that he can only speak if Brutus
speaks first. After learning that Octavius Caesar, Caesar's
adopted son, is coming to town, Antony tells his messenger
to inform Octavius Caesar of the present condition of Rome.
Following the conversation, Cassius and Brutus both dip
their hands in his blood and prepare to run through the
streets celebrating the death of an evil tyrant.
Scene 2- Scene
Two is the funeral of Caesar. When Brutus begins to speak,
he tells the plebeians (the commoners) that the death of
Caesar was necessary. He comments that if Caesar would have
been crowned king, he could have become an evil tyrant and
that the Capitol of Rome would have been in a horrible state.
When it is Antony's turn to speak, he convinces the people
that the conspirators are the bad people and that Caesar's
death was unnecessary. Learning that Octavius Caesar and
Lepidus are waiting at Caesar's home, Antony decides to
go see them. Soon, all the people begin to cause riots against
the conspirators as Cassius and Brutus decide to flee from
the city.
Scene 3- The last
scene of Act III involves the killing of an innocent poet.
Cinna the poet is mistaken for Cinna the conspirator, and
is therefore killed by the mob avenging Caesar's death.
Cinna's death shows the confusion and uproar of the City
of Rome.
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Act IV
Scene 1- The beginning
of this act involves the discussion between Antony, Octavius,
and Lepidus, the new triumvirs of the state of Rome. These
three have assumed power and have decided to join forces
to seek revenge against Cassius, Brutus, and the other conspirators
who have murdered Caesar. Making Lepidus, the weakest of
them all, run errands, Antony and Octavius plan out how
to execute their revenge after learning that Brutus and
Cassius have their forces.
Scene 2- Brutus
meets Titinius and Pindarus, two of his soldiers, at Camp
Sardis and they tell him that Cassius is approaching. Brutus
complains that Cassius has offended him and listens to his
soldiers as they talk more about Cassius. Cassius then arrives
and accuses Brutus saying that Brutus has wronged him. They
both argue then go off on their separate ways.
Scene 3- Brutus
and Cassius argue about how Cassius sent letters to Brutus
telling him to release a prisoner, while Brutus had just
ignored the letters. The both of them argue about their
armies and monetary disputes, but soon resolve them when
they learn that Octavius and Antony are approaching with
their forces. Brutus learns that his wife Portia has committed
suicide by swallowing coal when she learned the triumvirs
had assumed power. In addition, Cassius and Brutus learn
that the triumvirs have assassinated more than one hundred
senators. Leaving Brutus for the night, Cassius goes back
to his tent while an apparition of Caesar shows up in Brutus'
tent. The apparition tells Brutus that he will be on the
battlefield at Philippi and that Brutus should watch out.
Asking the other soldiers whether they saw the ghost or
not, Brutus is shaken when he realizes he is the only one
who saw the ghost.
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Act V
Scene 1- Finally,
both opposing forces, Octavius and Antony, and Brutus and
Cassius, meet at the battlefield of Philippi. Unable to
resolve anything by words, the four men go back to their
armies to prepare for war.
Scene 2- In the
middle of the Battle, Brutus sends Messala, a soldier, to
go tell Cassius to start taking advantage of the battle
situation. Brutus believes that Octavius' forces are not
ready for battle, and therefore attacks them.
Scene 3- Cassius
mistakenly assumes that his forces have lost when he sees
them retreating and hears that Titinius is no longer on
seen on his horse. He then commits suicide by running into
a sword (a noble way to die). Titinius arrives with Messala
to give the good news to Cassius that Brutus has overthrown
Octavius' forces. Titinius then kills himself with Cassius'
sword when he finds Cassius' dead body.
Scene 4- Cassius'
forces are defeated and Brutus tells his forces to fight
with honor and pride. Young Cato is killed when he shouts
his father's name, and Antony's forces capture Lucilius.
Antony then goes in search for Brutus and the rests of his
army defeats the rest of Cassius' and Brutus' forces.
Scene 5- Brutus
learns he is fighting for no reason and tells his soldiers
to kill him. Getting no one to kill him, he has Strato,
one of his soldiers, hold a sword up and Brutus runs into
it, similarly like Cassius. Soon all the conspirator's soldiers
kill themselves as Octavius and Antony win the battle. Antony
goes over to Brutus and comments to Octavius, "This was
the noblest Roman of them all (5.5,67)," at the end of the
play. Antony realizes that Brutus was the only one to kill
Caesar for the common good of the State and the people,
while the rest of the conspirators killed Caesar out of
pure jealousy.
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