By William Shakespeare

 About the Author

 About the Story

 Summary of the extract

 Explanation in Detail

 Important characters of the play

 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.

The scene opened at Caesar’s house.

There was thunder and lightning in the sky. Caesar entered wearing his night gown.
CAESAR: Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night:
Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out,
'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within?

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.

Calpurnia expressed sadness as Caesar’s wisdom had been shadowed

by over confidence. She asked him not to go out because her fear, for her
sake and not due to his fear. She offered to send Mark Antony in his place
to the senate. She suggested that Mark would say that Caesar was
absent as he was unwell. She begged on her knees and asked him to give
permission for it.
Caesar feels humiliated by Calpurnia’s idea. He did not approve that for
her sake that he would stay back at home and that Mark Antony would say
in the senate that he was unwell.
Explanation in Detail
Enter DECIUS BRUTUS
Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so.
DECIUS BRUTUS: Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar:
I come to fetch you to the senate-house.
CAESAR: And you are come in very happy time,
To bear my greeting to the senators
And tell them that I will not come to-day:
Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser:
I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius.
in very happy time- at the right moment
Hail – a greeting
Decius Brutus appeared.
Caesar said that Decius Brutus would say so in the senate.
Decius greeted Caesar and said that he had come to take him for the meeting
at the senate.
Caesar said that Decius had appeared at the right time. He asked him to
greet the senators on his behalf and to tell them that he would not come to the
senate that day. He added that saying that he ‘cannot’ come was untrue and
that he ‘dare not’ to come was more untrue. He said this because it was not
that he was unable to go or that he feared going out of the house. He was not
going for some other reason (his wife Calpurnia’s fear and subsequent
request). He asked Decius to tell the senate that he would be absent that day.
Explanation in Detail
CALPURNIA: Say he is sick.
CAESAR: Shall Caesar send a lie?
Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far,
To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth?
Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come.
DECIUS BRUTUS: Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause,
Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so.

graybeards- old men (contemptuously dismissing the senators)

Calpurnia asked Decius to say that Caesar was sick.
Caesar asked Calpurnia that should he tell a lie to the senators. He
further asked her that in the battles, had he killed so many innocent
people that he should feel guilty and not be able to tell the truth to
the group of hateful old men. He asked Decius to go and tell them
that he would not come that day.
Decius who was a part of the conspiracy to kill Caesar asked him
for a reason to give for his absence lest he should be laughed upon
by the senators.
Explanation in Detail
CAESAR: Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home:
She dreamt to-night she saw my statue,
Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts,
Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans
Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it:
And these does she apply for warnings, and portents,
And evils imminent; and on her knee
Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day.
Spout – nozzle
lusty- strong; vigorous
Caesar told him the reason for not going out of the house was that his
wife Calpurnia saw a nightmare in which Caesar’s statue was immersed
in a fountain of blood that flowed from a hundred spouts. Many great
men of Rome came smiling towards it and washed their hands with his
blood. She treated it as a forewarning of a tragedy and so had begged
on her knees for him to stay at home that day.
Explanation in Detail
DECIUS BRUTUS: This dream is all amiss interpreted;
It was a vision fair and fortunate:
Your statue spouting blood in many pipes,
In which so many smiling Romans bathed,
Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck
Reviving blood, and that great men shall press
For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance.
This by Calpurnia's dream is signified.
blood- In Decius' explanation the use of the term "blood" is metaphoric. It
symbolizes Caesar's spirit or influence
great men shall press… cognizance - great men shall gather around Caesar and
stain their handkerchiefs in his blood which will serve as colours added to a coat of
arms, an object of reverence, mementos and a badge of service
Decius said that they had interpreted the dream incorrectly. It was a fair
dream and signified good fortune. Caesar’s blood symbolized his spirit
and love for Rome and that the great men shall soak their handkerchiefs
with his spirit and patriotism to retain as mementoes.
Explanation in Detail
CAESAR: And this way have you well expounded it.
DECIUS BRUTUS: I have, when you have heard what I can say:
And know it now: the senate have concluded
To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar.
If you shall send them word you will not come,
Their minds may change.
CAESAR: How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia!
I am ashamed I did yield to them.
Give me my robe, for I will go.
Expounded – explained
yield to – give in to
robe – a long, loose outer garment
Caesar was convinced with Decius’s words and said that he had explained it well.
Decius said that he had explained well as Caesar understood what he said. He
added that the senate was due to crown him as the ruler that day and that if he did
not go, they might change their mind. (He wanted to take Caesar to the senate so
that the senators along with him could murder Caesar).
Caesar said that Calpurnia’s fear was foolish and that he was ashamed to have
accepted it and decided to remain at home that day. He asked for his robe as he
decided to go to the senate.
Explanation in Detail
Enter PUBLIUS, BRUTUS, LIGARIUS, METELLUS, CASCA, TREBONIUS, and CINNA
CAESAR: Good friends, go in, and taste some wine with me;
And we, like friends, will straightway go together.
BRUTUS: [Aside] That every like is not the same, O Caesar,
The heart of Brutus yearns to think upon!
That every like is … think upon- Brutus's heart grieves when
he thinks that being like a friend is not the same as being a friend

Publius, Brutus, Ligarius, Metellus, Casca, Trebonius and

Cinna appear
Caesar invited his friends for some wine and said that they
would go together to the senate.
Brutus was a true friend of Caesar and he knew that the
other men envied him. He went to a side and said to
himself that his heart was pained to see that being like a
friend was not like being a friend.
Exeunt
All the men exit the stage.
Explanation in Detail
Act III Scene I
Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.
The next scene is set in the Capitol, Rome with the senate seated above.
Flourish. Enter CAESAR, BRUTUS, CASSIUS, CASCA, DECIUS BRUTUS,
METELLUS CIMBER, TREBONIUS, CINNA, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POPILIUS,
PUBLIUS, and others
CAESAR: Are we all ready? What is now amiss
That Caesar and his senate must redress?
Amiss – missing
Redress – rectify, to correct
The senators stood up to welcome the men as they
arrived – Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Decius Brutus,
Metellus Cimber, Trebonius, Cinna, Antony, Lepidus, Popilius,
Publius and others enter the senate.
Caesar asked if the senate was ready to begin the session
or was something missing that needed to be corrected
before they started the session.
Explanation in Detail
METELLUS CIMBER: Most high, most mighty, and most puissant Caesar,
Metellus Cimber throws before thy seat
An humble heart,--
Kneeling
CAESAR: I must prevent thee, Cimber.
These couchings and these lowly courtesies
Might fire the blood of ordinary men,
And turn pre-ordinance and first decree
Thy – your Puissant – powerful
Thee – you first decree - law passed earlier
couchings and these lowly courtesies – bowing and bending
pre-ordinance - order that has existed from earlier times
Metellus Cimber addressed Caesar as the highest, most powerful man.
He fell in front of him with respect and sat on his knees. Caesar said that
Cimber should stop doing these acts of bowing
and bending before him as these could influence ordinary men
but not Caesar. He added that by doing such acts, he would not
be able to change the law of the land or alter any past orders.
Explanation in Detail
Into the law of children.
Thy brother by decree is banished:
If thou dost bend and pray and fawn for him,
I spurn thee like a cur out of my way.
Know, Caesar doth not wrong, nor without cause
Will he be satisfied.
thy – your banished- punished
thou – you dost – do
fawn – praise to get a favour
spurn – remove from the way
cur – dog
doth – does
He added that Cimber’s brother had been punished by the law
and if Cimber bent, bowed and tried to praise Caesar to get him
free, Caesar would push him out of his way like a dog. He also
said that Cimber should remember that Caesar did no wrong
acts and would not be satisfied to release a guilty person
without a valid reason.
Explanation in Detail
METELLUS CIMBER: Is there no voice more worthy than my own
To sound more sweetly in great Caesar's ear
For the repealing of my banish'd brother?
BRUTUS: I kiss thy hand, but not in flattery, Caesar;
Desiring thee that Publius Cimber may
Have an immediate freedom of repeal.
Repealing – cancelling, reversing
Flattery – false praise
Metellus Cimber called out to the senators and asked that a
worthier man than him request Caesar on his behalf. Maybe
Caesar would like the other person’s words and cancel his
brother’s punishment.
Brutus supported Cimber and said to Caesar that he was kissing
his hand not to praise him to get Cimber’s aim fulfilled but he
desired that Cimber should get the freedom of cancellation of
punishment.
Explanation in Detail Caesar was shocked that Brutus supported Cimber.
Cassius also spoke up and asked Caesar to excuse
CAESAR: What, Brutus! Publius Cimber and release him from the prison.
CASSIUS: Pardon, Caesar; Caesar, pardon: Cassius said that he would change his mind if he were
Caesar upon seeing the requests of another person.
As low as to thy foot doth Cassius fall, If he could pray and beg a person to change his mind,
To beg enfranchisement for Publius Cimber. then he would also do the same if another person begged
CASSIUS: I could be well moved, if I were as you: and prayed to him. But he said that he was not like that,
he was fixed in his decisions like the stationary Northern
If I could pray to move, prayers would move me: star which is the only one that remains fixed in one
But I am constant as the northern star, position in the entire sky. He said that he had always
Of whose true-fix'd and resting quality thought that Cimber should be punished and he was firm
in his decision.
There is no fellow in the firmament.
I was constant Cimber should be banish'd,
And constant do remain to keep him so.
I could pray to move - pray to others to change
their minds.
resting – permanent
firmament – heavens or sky
Enfranchisement – freedom from prison
Explanation in Detail
CASCA: Speak, hands for me!
CASCA first, then the other Conspirators
and BRUTUS stab CAESAR
CAESAR: Et tu, Brute! Then fall, Caesar.
Dies
Et tu, Brute - even you, Brutus
CINNA: Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!
Run hence, proclaim, cry it about the
streets.
Stab - to injure someone with a sharp
pointed object such as a knife
Tyranny – dictatorship, rule of terror
Proclaim – to announce officially
Casca said that his hands would speak for him.
He and the other senators injure Caesar with a knife. Even
Brutus who was a friend of Caesar stabbed him.
Caesar was shocked to see that his friend Brutus was a part
of the conspiracy to kill him, his dying words were that even
Brutus wanted to kill him.
Cinna shouted that with Caesar’s death, the Romans got
freedom from his dictatorship. He ordered his men to run
around the kingdom and announce that Rome had got
freedom.
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.

devise of- think of

Cassius was not convinced with this idea of Brutus.
Brutus said to Antony to take Caesar’s body. He directed
him that he was not allowed to blame them for killing
Caesar, but he could only praise Caesar in his speech. If he
did not obey them then they would not be his friends and
they would not allow him to participate in Caesar’s funeral.
He shall speak from the same stage from where Brutus
would give the opening speech.
Explanation in Detail
ANTONY: Be it so.
I do desire no more.
BRUTUS: Prepare the body then, and follow us.
Exeunt all but ANTONY
ANTONY: O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,
That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood!

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
The Forum. Act III -Scene II
Enter BRUTUS and CASSIUS, and a
throng of Citizens
Citizens: We will be satisfied; let us be
satisfied.
BRUTUS: Then follow me, and give
me audience, friends.
First Citizen: I will hear Brutus speak.
BRUTUS goes into the pulpit
Second Citizen: The noble Brutus is
ascended: silence!
BRUTUS: 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 honour, and
have respect to mine honour, that you may believe: censure
me in your wisdom, and awake your senses, that you may the
better judge.
The next scene is set at the Forum. Brutus and Cassius enter
along with a huge crowd of Romans
The Romans sought for an explanation for Caesar’s murder.
Brutus said that if they wanted one, they must listen to him.
A man said that he would hear Brutus speak.
Brutus appeared on the stage.
Second man said that the noble Brutus had arrived, so
everyone should remain silent.
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.

my cause- the cause that I represent

believe me for mine honour-
believe me because you know I am honourable
censure- judge, criticize me harshly
senses- understanding
rude- uncivilized
vile – wicked
Explanation in Detail do to Brutus- you may assassinate me if I
become ambitious
All: None, Brutus, none. question- reasons for
BRUTUS: Then none have I offended. I have done no more to capitol – a government building
Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled- recorded
enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein he was The gathering replied that there was no one
worthy, nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death. who considered his act to be wrong.
Brutus asked the crowd to be patient till he ended his speech. He
said that if they respected him, considered him to be a wise man,
then they must believe him too. He added that if there was any
close friend of Caesar then he should know that Caesar was a
dear friend of Brutus also. Then he gave the reason for him to go
against Caesar and be a part of the conspiracy to murder him.
He said that he loved Rome more than he loved Caesar. He said
that rather than have Caesar live and all the people of Rome be
his slaves, it was better that Caesar was dead and all the people
lived with freedom. Brutus was sad that Caesar was dead as he
was a beloved, he was happy that Caesar had been a fortunate
man, he honoured his bravery but he slayed him due to his
ambitious nature. He called out if there was a slave or who did
not love Rome in the gathering who had been offended by their
act. He waited for a reply from the gathering.
Explanation in Detail Mark Antony arrived with Caesar’s body. Brutus said
that Caesar’s body had arrived, mourned by his
do to Brutus- you may assassinate me if I become ambitious friend Antony who had no role in Caesar’s killing but
question- reasons for he shall get the benefit of being a part of the free
capitol – a government building republic. Brutus ended his speech by saying that he
enrolled- recorded was ready to face the same knife which had killed
extenuated – lessened, diminished Caesar if his country wanted his death.
enforced- exaggerated; emphasized
Brutus said that then they had not offended anyone by killing
Caesar as the people could kill him also if he became ambitious
like Caesar. The reasons for Caesar’s death had been given in
the Capitol. Just like Caesar was glorified for his good deeds,
he had been punished for his wrong acts.
Enter ANTONY and others, with CAESAR's body
Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony: who, though
he had no hand in his
death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the
commonwealth; as which of you shall not? With this I depart, --
that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome,
I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my
country to need my death.
the commonwealth - the free republic lover- friend
Explanation in Detail
All: Live, Brutus! live, live!
First Citizen: Bring him with triumph home unto his house.
Second Citizen: Give him a statue with his ancestors.
Third Citizen: Let him be Caesar.
Fourth Citizen: Caesar's better parts
Shall be crown'd in Brutus.
First Citizen: We'll bring him to his house
With shouts and clamours.
parts- qualities
The crowd raised slogans that it wanted Brutus to live.
The first citizen said that Caesar’s body be brought with celebrations.
The second citizen said that Caesar’s statue should be erected along
with his ancestors’. Third citizen said that he should be kept alone as
Caesar. The fourth citizen said that the good qualities of Caesar are
there in Brutus and for that he should be crowned as the emperor of
Rome. The first citizen said that they would carry Caesar’s body upto
his house with shouts and uproars.
Explanation in Detail
BRUTUS: My countrymen, --
Second Citizen Peace, silence! Brutus speaks.
First Citizen: Peace, ho!
BRUTUS: Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony:
Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar's glories; which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow'd to make.
I do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
Exit
Brutus called out to his countrymen. The second citizen asked the crowd
to be silent and listen to Brutus. The first citizen asked for silence. Brutus
said to the crowd to let him leave alone and for his sake, stay there with
Antony. They must give respect to Caesar’s body and listen to Antony’s
speech as he would praise Caesar. The senate had allowed Antony to
speak and that no one should leave till he has complete his speech.
Brutus left
Explanation in Detail
First Citizen: Stay, ho! and let us hear
Mark Antony.
Third Citizen: Let him go up into the
public chair;
We'll hear him. Noble Antony, go up.
ANTONY: For Brutus' sake, I am
beholding to you.
Goes into the pulpit
Fourth Citizen: What does he say of
Brutus?
Third Citizen: He says, for Brutus' sake,
He finds himself beholding to us all.
Fourth Citizen: 'Twere best he speak no
harm of Brutus here.
First citizen asked the crowd to remain there and listen
to Antony. Third citizen asked Antony to go to the dais
as they were ready to hear him. Antony said that he
was observing the crowd for the sake of Brutus. Antony
walked on to the stage.
The fourth citizen asked that why did Antony refer to
Brutus. This showed that the crowd was sensitive and
was not ready to hear anything against Brutus.
Third citizen clarified that he said that he was
observing the crowd for the sake of Brutus.
The fourth citizen warned that it would be good for him
if Antony did not speak anything against Brutus.
Explanation in Detail
First Citizen: This Caesar was a tyrant.
Third Citizen: Nay, that's certain:
We are blest that Rome is rid of him.
Second Citizen: Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.
ANTONY: You gentle Romans,--
Citizens: Peace, ho! let us hear him.
ANTONY: 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;
Tyrant – a cruel ruler
The first citizen spoke up that Caesar was a dictator.
The third citizen added that for sure they had been blessed by getting
rid of Caesar. The second citizen asked them to be quiet and listen to
what Antony had to say. Antony addressed the crowd as gentle
Romans.The citizens asked each other to be at peace and hear him.
Explanation in Detail
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.
Antony asked all his friends, his countrymen, the Romans
to hear him. He was there for the burial of Caesar’s body
and not to praise his worthiness. The wrong acts done by
men are remembered even after their death, but their good
acts are forgotten as soon as they die and are buried with
their bodies. The good Brutus had said that Caesar was an
ambitious man and if he was one, it was a serious misdeed
committed by him. He had got a serious punishment for it
and had to pay for it with his life. He was speaking at his
funeral with the permission of all the honourable men of
Rome. He said that Caesar was his friend, he was faithful
and just to him. On the contrary, Brutus said that he was an
ambitious man. As Brutus was a noble man, it was
considered that he was speaking the truth.
Explanation in Detail
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;
Did Caesar’s act of capturing many enemies and bringing
them to Rome, for whose return Rome had earned a lot of
money, show that he was an ambitious man. Caesar used
to cry to see the poor man cry but an ambitious man ought
to be had-hearted. Brutus had alleged Caesar to be
ambitious and he was a noble person so, he was saying
the truth On the contrary, at the feast of the Lupercal,
Antony had thrice offered the crown to Caesar, but he
refused it which did not show that he was ambitious.
Again, Antony said that Brutus was a noble man and he
had said that Caesar was ambitious.
Explanation in Detail
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.
He added that he did not want to prove that Brutus was wrong, but he
wanted to put forth the facts that he knew were true. All the people of
Rome loved Caesar, but something was stopping them from mourning his
death. They had lost their power of judgement and reasoning. He asked
them to excuse him for saying this. He was very sad, and he had lost his
heart which was lying next to Caesar’s body in the coffin. (He wants to
say that he was merely alive but had lost his emotions upon seeing the
dead body of his friend). He stopped himself from speaking further as in
his anguish he would speak words which were not appreciable.
Explanation in Detail
First Citizen: Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.
The people react on hearing Antony. The first citizen says that
Antony’s words make sense.
Second Citizen: If thou consider rightly of the matter,
Caesar has had great wrong.
The second citizen said that if the first citizen felt Antony to be right
then Caesar had been wronged by the senators who had killed him.
Third Citizen: Has he, masters?
I fear there will a worse come in his place.
Third citizen said to the first and second that he feared that he next
emperor would be worse than Caesar.
Fourth Citizen: Mark'd ye his words? He would not take the crown;
Therefore 'tis certain he was not ambitious.
Fourth citizen said that Antony said that Caesar refused the crown
which indicated that he was not ambitious.
First Citizen: If it be found so, some will dear abide it.
First citizen said that they must bid goodbye to Caesar.
Explanation in Detail
Second Citizen: Poor soul! his eyes are red as fire with weeping.
Second citizen said that Antony’s eyes had turned red as he had been weeping.
Third Citizen: There's not a nobler man in Rome than Antony.
The third citizen said that Antony was the most noble man in Rome.
Fourth Citizen: Now mark him, he begins again to speak.
The fourth citizen asked everyone to hear Antony’s speech.
ANTONY: 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
Your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage,
I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honourable men:
I will not do them wrong; I rather choose
To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you ,
Explanation in Detail
stood against - overcome the opposition of
poor- humble
wrong the dead- be unjust to Caesar, who has been assassinated,
by calling him ambitious
to wrong myself- by not speaking what I know
you- by allowing you to be deceived by Brutus

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: If you have tears, prepare to shed
them now.
You all do know this mantle: I remember
The first time ever Caesar put it on;
'Twas on a summer's evening, in his tent,
That day he overcame the Nervii:
Look, in this place ran Cassius' dagger through:
See what a rent the envious Casca made:
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,
Nervii- the most war-like of the Gallic tribes,
defeated by Caesar in 57 B.C.
envious- malicious
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
when he had defeated the Gallic Tribes in 57 A.D. He
showed them the wound that had been instilled in Caesar’s
body by the jealous Casca. He said that as Casca took out
the dagger from Caesar’s body, blood flowed along. The
blood gushed out of Caesar’s body as if it tried to resolve
the issue due to which these men had stabbed him. He
added that Brutus was so unkind as he stabbed Caesar
mercilessly. Brutus was loved by Caesar and had betrayed
him. The stab made by Brutus took away Caesar’s life as it
was the harshest – as Caesar realized that he had been
betrayed by a friend.
Explanation in Detail
As rushing out of doors, to be resolved
If Brutus so unkindly knock'd, or no;
For Brutus, as you know, was Caesar's angel:
Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms,
Quite vanquish'd him: then burst his mighty heart;
And, in his mantle muffling up his face,
Even at the base of Pompey's statue,
Which all the while ran blood, great Caesar fell.
mantle- cloak
Ingratitude- the blow struck by Brutus' ingratitude
Which all the while ran blood- which was covered with Caesar's blood
The stab made by Brutus took away Caesar’s life as it was the
harshest – as Caesar realized that he had been betrayed by a friend.
His powerful heart was broken, and he fell at the base of Pompey’s
statue. With Caesar’s fall, all the Romans fell as Rome’s betrayers
became victorious.
Explanation in Detail
O, what a fall was there, my countrymen!
Then I, and you, and all of us fell down,
Whilst bloody treason flourish'd over us.
O, now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity: these are gracious drops.
Kind souls, what, weep you when you but behold
Our Caesar's vesture wounded? Look you here,
Here is himself, marr'd, as you see, with traitors.
flourish'd- triumphed
With Caesar’s fall, all the Romans fell as Rome’s betrayers
became victorious. He saw them weep for Caesar’s death and
had pity for him. Their tears were precious drops and that they
should stop them from falling as they held Caesar’s dress
which had been wounded and smeared by his traitors.
Explanation in Detail
First Citizen: O piteous spectacle!
Second Citizen: O noble Caesar!
Third Citizen: O woeful day!
Fourth Citizen: O traitors, villains!
First Citizen: O most bloody sight!
Second Citizen: We will be revenged.
All: Revenge! About! Seek! Burn! Fire! Kill! Slay!
Let not a traitor live!
The first citizen commented that Caesar’s body was pitiable.

The second citizen grieved that Caesar was a noble man.

The third citizen said that it was a sad day.

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
I come not, friends, to steal away your hearts:
I am no orator, as Brutus is;
But, as you know me all, a plain blunt man,
That love my friend; and that they know full well
That gave me public leave to speak of him:
For I have neither wit, nor words, nor worth,
Action, nor utterance, nor the power of speech,
To stir men's blood: I only speak right on;
He did not want to make the crowd hard – hearted
and fill their hearts with hatred. He said that he
was not skilled at public speaking like Brutus was
but was a straightforward person instead. The
senators who permitted Antony to give the speech
knew that he was neither intelligent nor did he
have the art of public speaking and so, he would
not be able to arise the crowd against them.
Antony only spoke the truth and showed them the
wounds on Caesar’s body.

flood of mutiny- wave of violence

wit- intelligence
worth- authority
Action- gestures
utterance- eloquence
right on- directly
Explanation in Detail
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar's wounds, poor poor dumb mouths,
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus,
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.

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

The crowd rose to violence.

The first citizen said that they would burn the house of Brutus.
The third citizens called the crowd to move and look for the
conspirators.
Antony stopped the crowd again as he wanted it to hear him speak.
The crowd stopped to listen to Antony.
Antony said that he had not yet told them that Caesar deserved to be
loved by the Romans. They had forgotten to read Caesar’s will.
Explanation in Detail
All: Most true. The will! Let's stay and hear the will.
ANTONY: Here is the will, and under Caesar's seal.
To every Roman citizen he gives,
To every several man, seventy-five drachmas.
Second Citizen: Most noble Caesar! We'll revenge his death.
Third Citizen: O royal Caesar!
ANTONY: Hear me with patience.
All: Peace, ho!
drachmas- silver coins
royal- generous
All the men said that they will hear the will before leaving.
Antony showed them the will which had Caesar’s official stamp on it.
He read it – Caesar had bequeathed seventy-five silver coins to every
citizen of Rome. The second citizen commented that Caesar was the
most noble man and that they would seek revenge for his death.
The third citizen commented that Caesar was generous.
Antony wanted to read further and asked the crowd to be quiet.
The crowd screamed for silence.
Explanation in Detail
ANTONY: Moreover, he hath left you all his walks,
His private arbours and new-planted orchards,
On this side Tiber; he hath left them you,
And to your heirs forever, common pleasures,
To walk abroad, and recreate yourselves.
Here was a Caesar! when comes such another?
First Citizen: Never, never. Come, away, away!
We'll burn his body in the holy place,
And with the brands fire the traitors' houses.
Take up the body.

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.

Decius Brutus was a co-conspirator in Caesar's assassination. He

was a member of the conspiracy. Decius convinced Caesar that
Calpurnia misinterpreted her dream and, no danger awaited him at the
Senate. He lead Caesar right into the hands of the conspirators.
Important characters of the play
Mark Antony was Caesar's most loyal friend. He claims allegiance to
Brutus and the conspirators after Caesar’s death in order to save his
own life. Later, however, while speaking a funeral oration over
Caesar’s body, he spectacularly persuades the audience to withdraw
its support of Brutus and condemns him as a traitor.

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.

What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?

Answer: Calpurnia is tries to stop Caesar from going to attend the
Senate and to remain in the house.

Why does Calpurnia say Caesar’s ‘wisdom is consumed in

confidence? What does she mean?
Answer: Calpurnia means to say that Caesar is unable to
comprehend the bad omens because of his overconfidence and is
not paying attention to her warnings.
Probable Questions
Why does Calpurnia say Caesar’s ‘wisdom is
consumed in confidence? What does she mean?
Answer: Calpurnia means to say that Caesar is unable to
comprehend the bad omens because of his overconfidence
and is not paying attention to her warnings.

What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar? How does

Decius Brutus interpret the dream?
Answer: Calpurnia dreams that Caesar’s statue is
spouting blood like a fountain and lusty Romans are
pleased to bathe in the blood of Caesar. Decius Brutus
interprets the dream to depict a positive picture. He says
that the blood from the statue is reinvigorating the Romans.
He tells Caesar that great men always strive to act in a way
which could prove to be a source of sustenance for their
subjects.
Probable Questions
What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to
convince Caesar to go to the Capitol?
Answer: Decius Brutus tries to make a positive interpretation of
the dream and then he also raises a doubt that the Senate may
change its mind on the decision to crown Caesar.

Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in

persuading Caesar?
Answer: Calpurnia is not telling what Caesar would like to
hear. On the other hand, Decius frames his statements to
the liking of Caesar. Brave men often commit the blunder of
becoming overconfident and by doing so they ignore
certain warnings.
What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators?
How does Caesar respond to it?
Answer: They want Publius Cimber to be forgiven and his
banishment to be revoked. Caesar straightaway refuses this
demand.