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But since the affairs of men rest still incertain, Let's reason with the worst that may befall. The three men agree to think further about the matter, and when Casca and Brutus have gone, Cassius in a brief soliloquy indicates his plans to secure Brutus firmly for the conspiracy that he is planning against Caesar. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life, but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. The people of Rome will follow anyone which is why they rooted for Antony because he spoke last. He also is unable to recognize and take heed of good advice. In his soliloquies, the audience gains insight into the complexities of his motives. indifferently showing no partiality, bias, or preference. The plan backfired and the crowd shouted not because they wanted him to be crowned but because they were responding to the theater he had created, as they "did clap him and hiss him, according as he pleas'd and displeas'd them, as they use to do the players in the theatre." Tonight, Cassius will leave a few letters for Brutus, as if written by different citizens, praising Brutus’s reputation and hinting at Caesar ’s ambition. © 2020 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Caesar, having entered Rome in triumph, calls to his wife, Calphurnia, and orders her to stand where Mark Antony, about to run in the traditional footrace of the Lupercal, can touch her as he passes. Antony’s speech citizens into thinking that Caesar’s death must be avenged. Caesar shares the belief that if a childless woman is touched by one of the holy runners, she will lose her sterility. Caesar doesn't hear the man clearly, but others do, and it is Shakespeare's ironic hand that has Brutus, who will be Caesar's murderer, repeat the warning. Cassius, who is a very good reader of other people, interprets this as Brutus' dislike of the new regime and goes on to probe a little further to find out if he will join his group of conspirators. Several times during their conversation, Cassius and Brutus hear shouts and the sounds of trumpets. Calphurnia has not borne Caesar any children, and while in the Elizabethan mind the problem would have resided with the woman, here, Caesar's virility is also in question. Having determined the possibility of Brutus' open mind, he will write flattering letters that seem to come from the people and will throw them in Brutus' open window. Then, explain what theme this interaction conveys about humanity. Rhetorical Analysis: Act I Scene 2: Cassius’ Speech In his speech to Brutus, Cassius suggests (verb) that Caesar is privileged and has had too many things given to him rather than earned . Therefore it is meet That noble minds keep ever with their likes; He tells them that Mark Antony offered the crown to Caesar three times, but that Caesar rejected it each time and then fell down in an epileptic seizure. conceptions original ideas, designs, plans. Well, honor is the subject of my story. And this man Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature and must bend his … Noting that no mirror could reveal Brutus’s worthiness to himself, Cassius offers to serve as a human mirror so that Brutus may discover himself and conceive of himself in new ways. Brutus. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. Meanwhile, the flank manned by Cassius is overpowered by Antony’s forces. He reminds Brutus of Brutus' noble ancestry and of the expectations of his fellow Romans that he will serve his country as his ancestors did. A lack of virility is not Caesar's only problem. So Caesar sees Cassius as a good Roman. During Antony’s funeral speech, he repeats over and over “Brutus … I was born free as Caesar. Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' CASSIUS. Cassius sees that he will have to do more to make Brutus take action, and plans to send him letters written in various hands urging him to take down Caesar. Caesar has every opportunity to heed these words. Brutus. Antony is about to run a race (an important and religious element of the Lupercalian festivities) and Caesar calls on him to touch Calphurnia, Caesar's wife, as he passes "for our elders say, / The barren, touched in this holy chase, / Shake off their sterile curse." Brutus resists the idea of speaking against Caesar, but Cassius flatters him, suggesting that no matter what Brutus says or does, he could never be anything but a good man. Look closely at what Caesar actually says and does in the play. and any corresponding bookmarks? Cassius then declares that Brutus is unable to see what everyone else does, namely, that Brutus is widely respected. jealous on resentfully suspicious of a rival or a rival's influence. The audience is given evidence of this at the opening of Scene 2. Brutus states, “As he was ambitious, I slew him”(JC, III, 28). As Brutus begins to catch the whiff of treachery in Cassius' talk, Cassius assures Brutus he's being serious about the whole "noble" thing and not just flattering him. Brutus has clearly been disturbed about this issue for some time. The others remain onstage. Now, read Act III, Scenes 1-3 of Julius Caesar and answer the questions for both of the main speeches in this passage (Brutus’ and Antony’s) Brutus’ Speech Antony’s Speech What is the context of the speech? A soothsayer enters the scene and "with a clear tongue shriller than all the music," warns Caesar of the ides of March. The soothsayer is termed a dreamer and is dismissed. Cassius reminds Brutus that Caesar is merely a mortal like them, with ordinary human weaknesses, and he says that he would rather die than see such a man become his master. from your Reading List will also remove any Cassius begins to probe Brutus about his feelings toward Caesar and the prospect of Caesar's becoming a dictator in Rome. It is one of the play's themes that they all misinterpret and attempt to turn signs and omens to their own advantage. Rhetorical Analysis: Act 1 Scene 2: Cassius’ Speech In his speech to Brutus, Cassius suggests that Caesar is privileged and has had too many things given to him rather than earned. Caesar dismisses him and leaves Brutus and Cassius alone. He mistrusts Brutus' nobility and his loyalty to the state, and decides on a ploy to convince him. He asks if he intends to watch the race and Brutus is less than enthusiastic. Prompt: Identify the purpose of Cassius’ speech to Brutus (Act 1, Scene 2) and analyze the devices/elements used to create Cassius’ tone toward his subject. Cassius is content to take the back seat, but he is adamant that Mark Antony should be killed alongside Caesar. He hears them again from the soothsayer and even takes the opportunity to look into the speaker's face and examine it for honesty, but he misreads what he sees. passions of some difference conflicting emotions. Caesar re-enters with his attendants and, in passing, he remarks to Mark Antony that he feels suspicious of Cassius, who "has a lean and hungry look; / He thinks too much. BRUTUS Be patient … I will hear Brutus speak. is a lot going on involving Brutus, Cassius, Antony, and Octavius. scarfs sashes worn by soldiers or officials. He speaks of how Caesar oversteps his bounds by calling himself a god when he is only a man and not a very strong one at that. Cassius appeals to Brutus’ logic when he states “Rome, thou hast lost the breed of noble bloods!” Basically, Cassius _____ (summarize the quote) in order to _____ . The biggest cheer arose when Caesar refused the crown and his fit of pique was represented bodily by a fit of epilepsy. Antony tells the Romans how cruel and wrong Brutus and Cassius are, but he still calls them honorable men. Cassius, a Roman nobleman, uttered this phrase when he was talking to his friend, Brutus, in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. Cassius, seeing Brutus’ discomfort, explains that he thinks it’s wrong for an ordinary Roman to be valued above others, especially when Brutus is just as great as Caesar. All of the characters in this play believe in the supernatural. Rhetorical Analysis: Act I Scene 2: Cassius’ Speech In his speech to Brutus, Cassius _____s (verb) that _____ _____ . Brutus speaks disapprovingly of Antony's quickness.

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