FREE ESSAY ON JULIUS CEASER

JULIUS CEASER

Summaries of Julius Caesar Act I This first Act contains only three scenes, but each are
important for many reasons. It begins with two tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, who scold
commoners who parade down the street to celebrate Caesar's victory over Pompey. The two
tribunes shame the commoners for celebrating the death of one of Rome's former leaders,
and they depart solemnly. On February 15th the festival of Lupecalia is celebrated, and
Caesar arrives in the city along with Antony and Brutus. A soothesayer approaches Caesar
and tells him to, Beware the ides of March. Brutus and Cassius remain and converse with
one and other. Cassius complains that Caesar has become so powerful that even though he
once saved Caesar's life, he must now bow before him. Meanwhile Caesar remarks to Antony
that Cassius thinks too much, and that such men are dangerous. Later on, Antony offers
Caesar the crown three times, and three times Caesar turns it down. The people worshiped
Caesar even more for turning away from the crown. There are many details in Act I that to
what will happen in the near future. Act II In this Act, with the help of Brutus, the
conspirators come together to seriously form a plan to kill Caesar. It begins with Brutus
in his garden who has made up his mind that Caesar must be killed because Caesar is
abusing his power and is ascending too far too quickly. The conspirators come to Brutus's
house to discuss their plan. After they leave, Brutus's wife Portia begs him to tell her
why he's been so upset recently by stabbing herself in the leg. Caesar's wife Calpurnia
had a dream where Caesar is murdered, and she convinces him not to go to the Senate that
morning. However, Decius arrives at that moment and claims that Caesar would be mocked if
he didn't show up. Decius also sarcastically asks if the Senate should be dissolved until
Calpurnia has a more favorable dream. Caesar decides to go the Senate and is escorted by
the rest of the conspirators along with Antony. Artemidorus has written a letter to
Caesar containing the names of all the conspirators, and he plans to give it to Caesar
who is on his way to the Senate. The beginning stages of Caesar's assassination have
already taken place so the final act is inevitable. Act III This Act can be considered
the climax of the play. Caesar is outside of the Senate house with Antony and all of the
conspirators when he sees the soothesayer, and tells him that the ides of March have
come. The soothesayer responds, Ay Caesar, but not gone. Next, Artemidorus attempts to
give Caesar the letter, but is thwarted by Decius. Then, Trebonious lured Antony away so
that he may not interfere with the assassination. Caesar decides not to grant Metellus
Cimber's brother release from banishment which creates an uproar of disapproval from many
of the conspirators. Finally Casca kneels down and says, Speak hands for me. They all
stab Caesar many times who falls saying, Et tu, Brute! Brutus then gives a short speech
of finally receiving peace and freedom. Antony's servant then arrives, and tells Brutus
that Antony wishes to meet with and learn why it was necessary to kill Caesar. Antony
arrives and laments the death of Caesar. Brutus tells him that Caesar was destroying the
republic and had to be removed from power. Antony pretends to be convinced, and shakes
the hand of each of the conspirators naming them as he shakes their hand. Antony asks for
permission to take the body to the marketplace, and show it to the crowd. Brutus decides
to give his speech first at the funeral, and allow Antony to speak afterwards, as long as
he speaks positively about the conspirators which Antony agrees to. Brutus and Cassius
tell the plebeians to follow them to hear why Caesar was murdered. Brutus gives a
powerful speech to public and finally asks them if they want him to commit suicide to
which they reply, Live Brutus, live! Antony gives his speech next. He presents images
where Caesar has not been ambitious, and the crowd begins to think that Caesar was
wrongly murdered. Antony then reads Caesar's will in which Caesar gives every citizen
seventy-five drachmas. This throws the crowd into anger against all who killed Caesar.
Next, Octavius's servant arrives and tells Antony that Octavius is waiting for him at
Caesar's house. Cinna the poets was wandering through the town, and was attacked by a mob
who thought that he was Cinna the conspirator. So this Act was truly the main, climactic
Act of the play. Act IV In this Act Antony, Octavius and Lepidus have banded together in
a counter-conspiracy to destroy the men who killed Caesar.Antony then sends Lepidus to
Caesar's house to fetch the will. He hopes to somehow reduce the amount of money that
needs to be paid to the beneficiaries.. Antony implies that he will eventually remove
Lepidus from rule, but that they should keep him a while longer. Brutus has brought his
armies to Sardis and set up camp there. A messenger whom he sent to Cassius informs him
that Cassius is not as friendly anymore. At that moment Cassius' army arrives. Cassius is
upset that Brutus publicly disgraced a friend of his for taking bribes from the Sardians.
Brutus tells Cassius that he is upset that Cassius refused to send him gold with which to
pay his soldiers. Cassius denies it, and in exasperation pulls out his dagger and tells
Brutus to kill him if he is such a bad person, but Brutus refuses and they become friends
once again. Brutus finally informs Cassius that Portia is dead. Cassius is surprised by
the news and asks how it happened. Brutus tells him that Portia, left alone in the city
after he fled, was upset that Octavius and Antony had seized control of Rome. She
therefore took live embers and swallowed them, thus killing herself. Brutus tells him not
to speak of her anymore. Brutus and Messala compare letters they have received informing
them that Antony and Octavius are marching towards them from Greece. Messala tells Brutus
that over one hundred senators have been put to death, but Brutus says his letter only
mentioned seventy.Brutus and Cassius must then decide whether to wait for Antony and
Octavius in Sardis or march to meet the opposing army in Philippi. Cassius would prefer
to wait and keep his men fresh, but Brutus thinks that the enemy is gaining in power
every day and therefore needs to be stopped as soon as possible. Cassius finally agrees
with him and leaves for his tent to go to bed before leaving in the morning. Brutus takes
his book and starts reading, but the ghost of Julius Caesar enters and causes the flame
to dim. Brutus demands to know who has entered the room, and the ghost tells him, Thy
evil spirit, Brutus. Brutus then asks the ghost why he has come, and is told that the
ghost will see him again at Philippi. The ghost leaves, and Brutus immediately wakes up
everyone in the room. He tells Varrus and Claudio to go inform Cassius that he should
take his army and march on ahead. Act V In this Act, Antony and Octavious get their
revenge. Octavius and Antony, located on a battlefield in Philippi, have just learned
that Brutus and Cassius are marching to their location. A messenger arrives and tells
both generals that the enemy is so close that they must do something quickly. Brutus and
Cassius arrive at the head of their army. The generals all meet and start to insult each
other. Antony accuses Brutus and Cassius of being villains, whereas Cassius tells Brutus
that they would not have to listen to Antony now if he had been allowed to kill him as he
originally wanted to. The men refuse to back down and they are forced to return to their
armies and prepare for battle. Cassius then talks to Brutus and asks him what he will do
if they should lose the battle. Brutus rejects suicide, but also tells Cassius that he
will never be dragged through the street of Rome as a prisoner. The two generals say
farewell to one another and return to their respective armies to prepare for battle. The
battle has started and Brutus gives Messala orders to take to Cassius. He tells Messala
to inform Cassius that he needs to advance faster in order to catch Octavius' flank which
is not fighting very well. Cassius is upset because he is afraid his men are running away
from the field of battle. He tells Titinius that he personally killed his standard-bearer
who was trying to run away and took up the banner himself. Titinius informs him that
Brutus gave the word too early and that his soldiers quickly started looting the enemy
camp once they captured it. In the meantime, Antony's army has been able to surround
Cassius. Pindarus arrives and tells Cassius to run further away. Cassius sends Titinius
to check on some soldiers and find out if they are his men or not, and simultaneously
sends Pindarus up a hill to watch and see what happens. Pindarus tells him that Titinius
is captured by the troops. Cassius calls Pindarus back down from the hill and hands him
the sword with which he stabbed Caesar. He tells Pindarus to take the sword and stab him
with it. Pindarus obeys and kills Cassius on the spot before running away himself.
Titinius then picks up Cassius' sword and kills himself. Brutus arrives and sees the two
dead bodies lying on the ground. He remarks, Oh Julius Caesar, thou art mighty yet
(5.3.93). Brutus quickly recovers from the loss of his confederate and immediately orders
the soldiers to prepare for another battle, this time against Antony. Lucillius pretends
to be Brutus and challenges the soldiers, but he is quickly captured. The soldiers send
for Antony, thinking they have finally captured Brutus. Antony arrives and recognizes
Lucillius and tells his soldiers that although they did not get Brutus, they still
captured a nobleman. He orders his soldiers to continue fighting. Brutus arrives
accompanied by several stranglers from his defeated army. At the sound of another call to
battle, Brutus hastily gets up and orders his men to flee ahead of him. He keeps Strato
with him, and finally convinces Strato to hold the sword while he impales himself upon
it. Antony and Octavius arrive with their army. They find Brutus dead on the ground and
Strato nearby who informs them how Brutus died. Of all the conspirators only Brutus
really believed that he was killing Caesar to uphold the Roman Republic. Octavius orders
the body to be placed in his tent and gives the order to cease fighting. He ends the play
with the lines, So call the field to rest, and let's away / To part the glories of this
happy day. Now all of the conspirators are dead, and thus ending the play. 
Bibliography
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