Podcast
Questions and Answers
What metaphor does Brutus use to describe the potential danger of Caesar's ambition?
What metaphor does Brutus use to describe the potential danger of Caesar's ambition?
- A serpent's egg (correct)
- A growing tree
- A blooming flower
- A sleeping serpent
Which day does Brutus mention as significant to their plans?
Which day does Brutus mention as significant to their plans?
- The day of reckoning
- The day of the festival
- The Ides of March (correct)
- The Ides of February
What does Brutus imply about Caesar's emotions and reasoning?
What does Brutus imply about Caesar's emotions and reasoning?
- Caesar is deceitful and manipulative.
- Caesar is easily swayed by others.
- Caesar is always rational.
- Caesar's affections overpower his reason. (correct)
What is the primary concern Brutus expresses regarding power?
What is the primary concern Brutus expresses regarding power?
What does the letter found by Lucius indicate about Brutus's state of mind?
What does the letter found by Lucius indicate about Brutus's state of mind?
What does Brutus mean by 'the bright day that brings forth the adder'?
What does Brutus mean by 'the bright day that brings forth the adder'?
What does Brutus imply will happen if Caesar is crowned?
What does Brutus imply will happen if Caesar is crowned?
What motivates Ligarius to discard his sickness?
What motivates Ligarius to discard his sickness?
What does Brutus imply will happen as a result of the work he proposes?
What does Brutus imply will happen as a result of the work he proposes?
What does Ligarius express about the nature of the task Brutus is proposing?
What does Ligarius express about the nature of the task Brutus is proposing?
Which phrase best describes Ligarius's attitude towards following Brutus?
Which phrase best describes Ligarius's attitude towards following Brutus?
What does Brutus suggest must happen to some people in order to achieve their goal?
What does Brutus suggest must happen to some people in order to achieve their goal?
What does Brutus suggest they should do to keep their purpose hidden?
What does Brutus suggest they should do to keep their purpose hidden?
What concern does Cassius express about Caesar?
What concern does Cassius express about Caesar?
What quality does Decius Brutus believe he can use to persuade Caesar?
What quality does Decius Brutus believe he can use to persuade Caesar?
What does Portia suspect is troubling Brutus?
What does Portia suspect is troubling Brutus?
What action does Portia take to demonstrate her strength to Brutus?
What action does Portia take to demonstrate her strength to Brutus?
How does Brutus respond to Portia's demand for information?
How does Brutus respond to Portia's demand for information?
Which character expresses concern about the time remaining before they proceed with their plan?
Which character expresses concern about the time remaining before they proceed with their plan?
What precaution does Brutus mention to Portia regarding their plans?
What precaution does Brutus mention to Portia regarding their plans?
What does Portia ask Brutus to do to affirm their partnership?
What does Portia ask Brutus to do to affirm their partnership?
What intrinsic quality does Portia assert she possesses?
What intrinsic quality does Portia assert she possesses?
What type of humor does Decius Brutus refer to when speaking about Caesar?
What type of humor does Decius Brutus refer to when speaking about Caesar?
What is Brutus's main concern when Portia expresses her worries?
What is Brutus's main concern when Portia expresses her worries?
What happens as Brutus speaks with Portia?
What happens as Brutus speaks with Portia?
What does Ligarius refer to when he speaks with Brutus?
What does Ligarius refer to when he speaks with Brutus?
How does Portia perceive her role in relation to Brutus?
How does Portia perceive her role in relation to Brutus?
What is Brutus contemplating at the beginning of the passage?
What is Brutus contemplating at the beginning of the passage?
How does Brutus describe the state of man in his reflections?
How does Brutus describe the state of man in his reflections?
What does Brutus mean by 'not an oath' when addressing the conspirators?
What does Brutus mean by 'not an oath' when addressing the conspirators?
What concern is raised about Cicero in the conversation?
What concern is raised about Cicero in the conversation?
What does Cassius suggest regarding Mark Antony?
What does Cassius suggest regarding Mark Antony?
Which phrase best captures Brutus's stance on killing Caesar?
Which phrase best captures Brutus's stance on killing Caesar?
What imagery does Brutus use to describe their purpose?
What imagery does Brutus use to describe their purpose?
What is Cassius's tone when he first addresses Brutus?
What is Cassius's tone when he first addresses Brutus?
What does Brutus order the conspirators to do concerning their oath?
What does Brutus order the conspirators to do concerning their oath?
What reason does Cassius provide for wanting Cicero in their conspiracy?
What reason does Cassius provide for wanting Cicero in their conspiracy?
What does Brutus express about their motives for the conspiracy?
What does Brutus express about their motives for the conspiracy?
What is the primary concern about how they will kill Caesar, according to Brutus?
What is the primary concern about how they will kill Caesar, according to Brutus?
What does Brutus mean when he refers to 'the face of men'?
What does Brutus mean when he refers to 'the face of men'?
What ultimately motivates the conspirators according to Brutus?
What ultimately motivates the conspirators according to Brutus?
How does Cassius view the need for an oath among the conspirators?
How does Cassius view the need for an oath among the conspirators?
What motivates Ligarius to discard his sickness?
What motivates Ligarius to discard his sickness?
What does Ligarius mean when he says, 'but are not some whole that we must make sick'?
What does Ligarius mean when he says, 'but are not some whole that we must make sick'?
How does Brutus characterize the task they are about to undertake?
How does Brutus characterize the task they are about to undertake?
What is Brutus's attitude towards Ligarius's willingness to follow him?
What is Brutus's attitude towards Ligarius's willingness to follow him?
What does Ligarius mean when he says, 'I will strive with things impossible'?
What does Ligarius mean when he says, 'I will strive with things impossible'?
What does Brutus suggest about Caesar if he is crowned?
What does Brutus suggest about Caesar if he is crowned?
What imagery does Brutus use to describe the potential danger of Caesar's ambition?
What imagery does Brutus use to describe the potential danger of Caesar's ambition?
How does Brutus's attitude towards the conspiracy reflect his views on ambition and power?
How does Brutus's attitude towards the conspiracy reflect his views on ambition and power?
What does Brutus mean when he says, 'the abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins remorse from power'?
What does Brutus mean when he says, 'the abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins remorse from power'?
What does the letter Lucius brings to Brutus signify about the conspirators' intentions?
What does the letter Lucius brings to Brutus signify about the conspirators' intentions?
What does Brutus mean by saying he has no personal cause to spurn at Caesar?
What does Brutus mean by saying he has no personal cause to spurn at Caesar?
What implication does Brutus make regarding the consequences of letting Caesar become powerful?
What implication does Brutus make regarding the consequences of letting Caesar become powerful?
How does Brutus's reasoning about the 'ladder' of ambition characterize his view of success?
How does Brutus's reasoning about the 'ladder' of ambition characterize his view of success?
What does Decius Brutus suggest he can use to persuade Caesar?
What does Decius Brutus suggest he can use to persuade Caesar?
What does Brutus imply about the necessity of an oath among the conspirators?
What does Brutus imply about the necessity of an oath among the conspirators?
What does Portia urge Brutus to share with her?
What does Portia urge Brutus to share with her?
How does Brutus respond to Portia's concern for his health?
How does Brutus respond to Portia's concern for his health?
What does Brutus suggest they should focus on instead of an oath?
What does Brutus suggest they should focus on instead of an oath?
What does Portia imply about the nature of her relationship with Brutus?
What does Portia imply about the nature of her relationship with Brutus?
How does Brutus describe the act of killing Caesar?
How does Brutus describe the act of killing Caesar?
What is Cassius's belief about Caesar's current state of mind?
What is Cassius's belief about Caesar's current state of mind?
What argument do the conspirators make regarding Cicero?
What argument do the conspirators make regarding Cicero?
What does Cassius express concern about regarding Mark Antony?
What does Cassius express concern about regarding Mark Antony?
What does Portia believe Brutus's hidden anguish might be related to?
What does Portia believe Brutus's hidden anguish might be related to?
What does Brutus say about the way they should kill Caesar?
What does Brutus say about the way they should kill Caesar?
What does Brutus instruct his companions to remember?
What does Brutus instruct his companions to remember?
How do the characters perceive the omens that are affecting Caesar's behavior?
How do the characters perceive the omens that are affecting Caesar's behavior?
What does Decius Brutus speculate about the dawn?
What does Decius Brutus speculate about the dawn?
What does Portia's act of wounding herself symbolize?
What does Portia's act of wounding herself symbolize?
How does Brutus feel about the concept of conspiracy?
How does Brutus feel about the concept of conspiracy?
What indication does Brutus give regarding the conspirators' need for Oaths?
What indication does Brutus give regarding the conspirators' need for Oaths?
What motivates Cassius to insist on including Cicero in their plans?
What motivates Cassius to insist on including Cicero in their plans?
What is Ligarius's physical condition when he first speaks with Brutus?
What is Ligarius's physical condition when he first speaks with Brutus?
What does Brutus suggest about the conspirators' motives?
What does Brutus suggest about the conspirators' motives?
How does Brutus propose they conduct their conspiracy to avoid appearing malicious?
How does Brutus propose they conduct their conspiracy to avoid appearing malicious?
How does Brutus feel about Portia's need for knowledge regarding his struggles?
How does Brutus feel about Portia's need for knowledge regarding his struggles?
What concern does Brutus express about slaying Caesar's body?
What concern does Brutus express about slaying Caesar's body?
What theme does Portia's insistence on knowing Brutus's troubles highlight?
What theme does Portia's insistence on knowing Brutus's troubles highlight?
What does Brutus's description of 'the state of man' suggest?
What does Brutus's description of 'the state of man' suggest?
What does Brutus request of Portia at the end of their conversation?
What does Brutus request of Portia at the end of their conversation?
How does Brutus feel about the value of their shared intentions?
How does Brutus feel about the value of their shared intentions?
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Study Notes
Brutus's Internal Conflict
- Brutus is wrestling with the decision to kill Caesar.
- Brutus is conflicted about Caesar's ambition and his desire for a monarchy, but recognizes that Caesar is generally a good person.
- Brutus cites the dangers of unchecked power and the potential for Caesar to become tyrannical like the Roman king Tarquin
The Conspiracy Begins
- Brutus is hesitant to take action against Caesar.
- Brutus receives a letter that urges him to wake up and be a good Roman, which inspires action. Brutus reads, "Speak, strike, redress!" (The letter is likely from Cassius who will later convince him to move forward)
- Cassius and other conspirators arrive at Brutus's door.
- Cassius argues they should kill Antony along with Caesar due to Antony's potential for revenge.
The Nature of Conspiracy and Morality
- Brutus, despite his desire for a noble cause, worries about the appearance of their actions.
- Antony is considered a limb of Caesar.
- The group seeks to be "purgers" not "murderers" in the eyes of the public.
- They hope to convince the public that their actions are justified.
Brutus's Private Struggle
- Brutus seeks the support of Ligarius, a man who is not well.
- Ligarius discards his sickness to join Brutus's cause.
Portfolios Personal Struggles
- Portia, Brutus's wife, is aware of his internal struggles and seeks information from him.
- Portia demonstrates her strength and devotion with her self-inflicted thigh wound, which suggests her deep love and understanding.
- Her actions highlight the emotional burden of the conspiracy unfolding.
Brutus's Internal Conflict
- Brutus is troubled by the possibility of Caesar becoming king.
- He sees the potential dangers of Caesar's rise to power.
- He believes Caesar could become tyrannical, similar to the Tarquin kings of ancient Rome overthrown by his ancestors.
Brutus’s Internal Monologue
- Brutus rationalizes that Caesar's death is necessary for the good of Rome.
- He sees Caesar as a dangerous serpent's egg that must be destroyed before it hatches.
- He fears Caesar's influence and power if he becomes king and considers it his duty to prevent this outcome.
Brutus’s Conspiracy
- Brutus is drawn into a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
- He receives an anonymous letter urging him to take action.
- He interprets the letter as a call to action to save Rome from Caesar's ambition.
- He sees himself as a defender of Roman liberty and freedom.
The Conspirators
- Brutus meets with his fellow conspirators including Cassius, Casca, Decius Brutus, Cinna, Metellus Cimber, and Trebonius.
- They discuss the plan to assassinate Caesar and the potential repercussions.
- They agree to carry out the assassination on the Ides of March.
Brutus’s Moral Dilemma
- Brutus struggles with guilt and doubts despite believing in the cause.
- He feels the weight of the decision, comparing it to the mental turmoil that precedes a terrible act.
- He is torn between duty to Rome and the potential repercussions.
The Conspirators' Tactics
- The conspirators plan to present a united front against Caesar.
- Brutus wants to avoid appearing like murderers but rather as heroic saviours of Rome.
- They believe that Mark Antony, Caesar’s friend, will not pose a threat after Caesar is gone.
Brutus’s Relationship with Portia
- Portia, Brutus’s wife, notices his troubled state and attempts to understand his worries.
- She persistently attempts to convince Brutus to reveal his secrets.
- She shows strength by demonstrating her commitment to him and her willingness to endure pain for his sake.
- Brutus reveals he will soon reveal his secrets to her, hinting at his involvement in the conspiracy.
Brutus’s Decision to Include Ligarius
- He meets with Caius Ligarius, another conspirator urged by Metellus Cimber.
- Ligarius, initially weakened by sickness, is inspired by Brutus and joins the conspiracy.
- This suggests Brutus's influence and the power of the cause.
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