Julius Caesar

• Caesar's assassination is the midpoint of the play, with the first part leading to his death and the second depicting the consequences.

Plot Overview

• Rome is preparing for Caesar's triumphal entrance.
• Brutus fears Caesar will become king and destroy the republic.
• Cassius persuades Brutus to join a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
• Calphurnia urges Caesar to stay home due to bad omens, but Decius Brutus convinces him to go to the Senate.
• The conspirators, including Brutus, stab Caesar to death in the Senate.
• Antony uses a funeral oration to incite the Roman citizens against the conspirators.
• Brutus and Cassius flee Rome as Antony allies with Octavius Caesar.
• Brutus and Cassius argue, then decide to confront Antony and Octavius.
• Cassius, based on false reports, has a slave kill him; Brutus's army loses.
• Brutus commits suicide and Antony praises him as "the noblest Roman of them all."

Act 1, Scene 1

• Flavius and Marullus berate commoners for celebrating Caesar's triumph instead of mourning Pompey.
• The commoners were previously supporters of Pompey.
• Marullus questions the tradesmen why they aren't in their shops.
• The Cobbler says he is there to see Caesar and rejoice in his triumph.
• Marullus accuses them of ingratitude for forgetting Pompey.
• Flavius and Marullus plan to remove decorations from Caesar's statues.
• Flavius wants to drive the vulgar from the streets, seeing them as feathers plucked from his wing.
• This is said to reduce Caesar's arrogance and prevent him from becoming too powerful.

Act 1, Scene 2

• Caesar instructs Antony to touch Calphurnia during the race to cure her barrenness.
• A Soothsayer warns Caesar to "Beware the ides of March".
• Caesar dismisses the warning.
• Caesar notes Cassius's behavior and tells Brutus that he has been acting strangely and distant lately.
• Brutus says he is troubled but his friends should not be grieved.
• Cassius says Brutus lacks mirrors since he cannot see his own face.
• Cassius expresses concerns about Caesar's growing power and ambition.
• Cassius recalls saving Caesar from drowning and Caesar's weakness during illness to show that Caesar is just a man.
• Cassius asks why Caesar's name should be more honored than Brutus's.
• Cassius plants seeds of doubt in Brutus's mind about Caesar's worthiness to rule.
• Brutus says he will consider what Cassius said.
• Caesar observes Cassius and tells Antony that Cassius has a "lean and hungry look" and is dangerous because he "thinks too much."
• Casca recounts that Antony offered Caesar a crown three times, and Caesar refused each time, but reluctantly.
• Caesar swooned, and Casca says it was the falling sickness.
• Marullus and Flavius were punished for removing scarves from Caesar’s images.
• Cassius plans to manipulate Brutus by sending him forged letters expressing admiration for Brutus and concern about Caesar's ambition.
• Cassius says he loves Brutus and Caesar loves Brutus.

Act 1, Scene 3

• Casca and Cicero discuss strange and ominous events occurring in Rome, like tempests, fire, a slave with a burning hand, a lion in the Capitol and women seeing men on fire.
• Casca interprets these events as warnings of a monstrous state.
• Cassius sees the night's portents as signs of Caesar's tyranny and compares Caesar to the dreadful night.
• Cassius says the Senators plan to make Caesar king.
• Cassius declares his willingness to die to avoid living under Caesar's rule.
• Casca agrees to join Cassius in his conspiracy.
• Cinna is tasked with delivering forged letters to Brutus to sway him against Caesar.
• Cassius believes Brutus's participation will legitimize their cause, as Brutus is well-regarded by the people.

Act 2, Scene 1

• Brutus is in his orchard.
• Brutus contemplates the potential dangers of Caesar's coronation and decides he must be stopped.
• Lucius finds a letter at the window and it is one of the fake letters from Cassius.
• Conspirators arrive at Brutus's home, with hats pulled down and faces hidden so they are not recognized.
• Brutus acknowledges and welcomes the conspirators.
• Cassius suggests swearing an oath, but Brutus opposes it, arguing that their shared cause and honesty are sufficient.
• Cassius suggests including Cicero in the conspiracy, but Brutus rejects the idea, believing Cicero will not follow anything that other men begin.
• Cassius proposes killing Antony along with Caesar, but Brutus objects, deeming it too bloody.
• Brutus suggests killing Caesar boldly not wrathfully, let us be sacrificers and not butchers.
• The conspirators decide not to kill Antony, viewing him as insignificant without Caesar.
• The clock strikes three.
• The conspirators debate whether Caesar will attend the Senate due to superstitions and omens.
• Decius Brutus volunteers to persuade Caesar to go to the Capitol, knowing how to manipulate him with flattery.
• The conspirators plan to meet at the Capitol to fetch Caesar.
• Caius Ligarius is sick, has a grudge against Caesar, and is brought in and agrees to join the conspiracy.
• Portia expresses concern about Brutus's recent strange behavior and demands he confide in her.
• Brutus promises to tell Portia his secrets later and calls her his true and honorable wife.

Act 2, Scene 2

• Caesar asks what time it is.
• Calphurnia recounts her nightmares and begs Caesar not to go to the Senate due to ominous signs and omens, including a lioness whelping in the streets and warriors fighting in the clouds.
• Caesar initially agrees to stay home due to Calphurnia's fears.
• Caesar says that cowards die many times before their deaths.
• The augurers advise Caesar to stay home after finding no heart in the sacrificed animal.
• Caesar initially refuses to yield to fear.
• Decius Brutus arrives and uses flattery and ambition to change Caesar's mind, reinterpreting Calphurnia's dream to his advantage.
• Decius tells Caesar that the Senate plans to give him a crown today.
• Caesar decides to go to the Senate despite the warnings.
• Caesar says "Good friends, go in and taste some wine with me, And we, like friends, will straightway go together."
• Brutus says "That every like is not the same, O Caesar,The heart of Brutus earns to think upon."

Act 2, Scene 3

• Artemidorus attempts to warn Caesar with a letter detailing the conspirators and their plans, but is ignored.

Act 2, Scene 4

• Portia is anxious about Brutus and the conspiracy and sends Lucius to the Capitol to gather information.
• Portia says "O constancy, be strong upon my side"
• A Soothsayer tells Portia he has not spoken to Caesar yet but intends to warn him again.

Act 3, Scene 1

• Caesar ignores Artemidorus's letter and refuses to read petitions that concern him personally first.
• The conspirators gather around Caesar, and Metellus Cimber pleads for his brother's banishment to be repealed.
• Caesar refuses to pardon Publius Cimber, asserting his consistency and unwavering decisions.
• Caesar says "I could be well moved, if I were as you" meaning he is not easily swayed by flattery.
• The conspirators, including Brutus and Cassius, stab Caesar to death.
• Caesar's last words were "Et tu Brute?" ("You too, Brutus?").
• The conspirators proclaim "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!".
• The conspirators bathe their hands and swords in Caesar's blood.
• Brutus assures the senators that no one else will be harmed.
• Antony's servant arrives, seeking assurance that Antony will be safe if he comes to the conspirators.
• Brutus guarantees Antony's safety.
• Antony arrives and expresses his grief over Caesar's death but seeks to understand the conspirators' reasons.
• Antony shakes hands with each of the conspirators, marking his apparent acceptance of the situation.
• Antony requests permission to speak at Caesar's funeral.
• Cassius is wary of allowing Antony to speak at the funeral, but Brutus overrules him.
• Brutus plans to speak first to justify their actions, and Antony will speak after, with the understanding that he will not blame the conspirators.
• Antony is left alone with Caesar's body, where he reveals his true intentions to avenge Caesar's death and foresees the chaos it will unleash.
• Antony says "O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!"
• Antony anticipates civil war and destruction in Rome.
• Antony learns that Octavius Caesar is near Rome and sends a message advising him to stay away due to the dangerous situation.
• Antony says "Mischief, thou art afoot;Take thou what course thou wilt."

Act 3, Scene 2

• Brutus addresses the crowd, justifying Caesar's assassination as an act of love for Rome.
• The crowd is swayed by Brutus's speech and hails him as a hero.
• Brutus departs, leaving Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral.
• Antony begins his speech by emphasizing he comes to bury Caesar, not praise him.
• Antony's funeral oration skillfully manipulates the crowd's emotions.
• Antony reads Caesar's will, which bequeaths money and property to the citizens of Rome.
• Antony shows Caesar's body along with all his wounds from the conspirators.
• Antony incites the crowd to riot and seek revenge for Caesar's murder.
• The crowd turns against the conspirators and seeks to avenge Caesar's death.
• Antony learns that Brutus and Cassius have fled Rome.

Act 3, Scene 3

• Cinna the poet is mistaken for Cinna the conspirator and is brutally murdered by the mob.

Act 4, Scene 1

• Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus meet to discuss who must be killed.
• Lepidus consents to the death of his brother if Antony consents to the death of Publius, his sister's son.
• Antony and Octavius discuss how to reduce Caesar's legacies in order to maintain funds.
• Antony says Lepidus is "a slight, unmeritable man" and not fit to rule.
• Antony and Octavius plan to form an alliance and prepare for war against Brutus and Cassius.

Act 4, Scene 2

• Brutus and Cassius meet with their armies nearby.
• Brutus and Cassius are arguing.
• Brutus accuses Cassius of taking bribes.
• They decide to move inside Brutus's tent to talk privately without their armies watching.