Page 141 BRUTUS Cassius, be constant Calm and steady. Very surprising because his body language and state of mind show otherwise in Act Two.

Transcription

1 Julius Caesar: Act Three Scene Page 139 ARTEMIDORUS O Caesar, read mine first; for mine s a suit That touches Caesar nearer. Read it, great Caesar. Panics because he wants Caesar to read his letter first. CAESAR What touches us ourself shall be last served. Very arrogant. CASSIUS What enterprise, Popilius? Play innocent Page 141 BRUTUS Cassius, be constant Calm and steady. Very surprising because his body language and state of mind show otherwise in Act Two. CAESAR These couchings and these lowly courtesies Might fire the blood of ordinary men, And turn pre-ordinance and first degree Into the law of children Dislike flattery; thinks that it is unsophisticated Page 143 CAESAR If I could pray to move, prayers would move in; But I am constant as the northern star, He thinks that he is above God Page 145 CAESAR Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar! Severe shock and disappointment in Brutus whom he considered someone he could trust. Examine the name Brute any implication(s)? BRUTUS Ambition s debt is paid. Justifying himself/themselves they killed him because they are afraid of his mounting ambitions Page 147 BRUTUS Fates, we will know your pleasures Congratulating themselves over the success too quick to do so? CASCA Why, he that cuts out off twenty years of life Cuts off so many years of fearing death. Thinks that they are doing Caesar a favour by ending his life early. In summary, the conspiracies are congratulating themselves over Caesar s spilled blood. What do YOU make of this?

2 Brutus Then walk we forth, even to the market place, And waving our red weapons o er our heads, Let s all cry, Peace, freedom, and liberty! Very sure and optimistic about his acts as he was too over-confident that others will support them and their act. BRUTUS That now on Pompey s basis lies along, No worthier than the dust. Saying that Caesar is after all no better than his rival Pompey. CASSIUS Brutus shall lead Because Brutus is the most respected. Or is there any other motive? Page 149 SERVANT Thus, Brutus, did my master bid me kneel; Thus did Mark Antony bid me fall down, And, being prostate, thus he bade me say: Brutus is noble, wise, valiant, and honest; Caesar was mighty, bold, royal, and loving. Say I love Brutus, and I honour him; Say I feared Caesar, honoured him, and loved him. If Brutus will vouchsafe that Antony May safely come to him, and be resolved How Caesar hath deserved to lie in death, Mark Antony shall not love Caesar dead So well as Brutus living; but will follow The fortunes and affairs of noble Brutus Through the hazards of this untrod state Will all true faith. So says my master Antony. bid, bid, bade : As if he is forced to say it. Antony is scared that the conspirators may harm him too. Antony s approach is very subtle; uses flattery Antony is trying to know their motives and strategies for killing Caesar so that he can later attack them, but before that, Brutus cannot approach him. BRUTUS I know that we shall have him well to a friend. Brutus lacks awareness of his deed/crime. Or not a good judge of character. ANTONY O mighty Caesar! Dost thou lie so low? Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, For dramatic action; does not acknowledge Brutus and his greeting; maybe too emotional? Respects Caesar although he is dead diminishes the values and goals of the murder Page 151 Shrunk to this little measure? Fare thee well.

3 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 to reek and smoke, 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. Refers to the spot in which he was slained, or the sorry state he was in despite all this past victories. Invokes sympathy in readers and possibly Brutus. Motivation of calling them gentlemen despite them being murderers? Aware that if he says the wrong things, he would surely be dead by then. He wants to die too; challenging them and sort of devalues the murder. Wants them to kill him if they have any grudge against him. Vivid visual imagery. Purpose? Bitter BRUTUS Only be patient till we have appeased The multitude, beside themselves with fear, And then we will deliver you the cause, Over-riding the conspiration; taking charge. Is there a personal intention driving this? Page 153 ANTONY I doubt not of your wisdom. Let each man render me his bloody hand. First, Marcus Brutus, will I shake with you; Next, Caius Cassius, do I take your hand; Now, Decius Brutus, yours; now yours, Metellus; Yours, Cinna; and, my valiant Casca, yours; Though last, not least in love, yours, goo Trebonius. Antony is being ironic since he insists that they are bloody hands. However, this shows that he is gradually giving uncomfortable courtesies, and is possibly cynical and sarcastic to make them feel small, and to cheapen the act of the conspiracy. The word bloody also makes the act barbaric. For future reference: Act 5 Scene 1 page 251 ANTONY To see thy Antony making his peace, Shaking the bloody fingers of thy foes Making them look like butchers Emphasises the violence of the crime ANTONY Had I as many eyes as thou hast wounds, Weeping as fast as thy stream forth thy blood, Emphasises on the tragedy

4 Again emphasising the violence of the crime ANTONY In terms of friendship with thine enemies. Pardon me, Julius! Aligning himself with Caesar and his power Making Caesar look innocent like a deer CASSIUS I blame you not for praising Caesar so; But what compact mean you to have with us? Cassius needs to know Antony s intentions for he does not trust him Page 155 BRUTUS Our reasons are so full of good regard Brutus is feeling very confident that he has done the right thing BRUTUS You shall, Mark Antony. Brutus is still naïve, underestimates Antony. Makes the biggest mistake. BRUTUS Our reasons are so full of good regard Brutus is feeling very confident that he has done the right thing BRUTUS I will myself into the pulpit first, And show the reason of our Caesar s death. Our denotes that it is a shared possession. Therefore, going by this logic, Brutus as an individual, still has not realise that he has killed Caesar. He also appears unemotional Page 157 BRUTUS After my speech is ended. Thinks that his plan is fool-proof. Believes that he is good and upright. Borders on being self-righteous? ANTONY Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar, That mothers shall but smile when they behold Their infants quartered with the hands of war, All pity choked with custom of fell deeds; And Caesar s spirit, ranging for revenge, With Ate by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch s voice Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war, That this foul deed shall smell above the eart With carrion men, groaning for burial. Starts cursing Rome Very vivid imagery

5 Wishing violence and death upon the country Page 159 ANTONY Hie hence, and tell him so. Antony is so helpful towards Octavius because the latter is actually a figurehead and someone who supports Antony.