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It is a Roman holiday, the Feast of Lupercal. Many Roman citizens have gathered in the city for the celebrations. As part of the celebration an annual foot race is held. Caesar’s right-hand man, Marc Antony, is running the race. Caesar asks his wife, Calpurnia, to lightly graze Antony as he passes later in the race. Caesar remarks that wise elders say that such a move will help a person with fertility. Caesar also tells Antony to make sure he brushes Calpurnia later on when he passes.
Suddenly, a voice calls out to Caesar from the crowd. It is a soothsayer, a fortune-teller, who warns Caesar of the ides of March (the 15th of March). At first Caesar isn’t sure what is being said or who said it. Brutus, Caesar’s friend, repeats the soothsayer’s warning. Caesar then brings the soothsayer forward so that he may speak to him. Once again, the soothsayer voices his concern. Caesar, though, calls the soothsayer a dreamer and he leaves the area.
Everyone leaves the area, but for Cassius and Brutus. Both are Roman senators. Cassius begins the conversation by noting a change that he has seen in Brutus. Brutus says that he’s been going through some conundrums in his head.
Cassius goes onto say that Brutus is blind to what is going on around him. Cassius tells Brutus that reputable Romans have been speaking about Brutus, wishing that his eyes would open up and see the tyrant that Caesar is becoming. Brutus is hesitant in listening to Cassius since he knows that Cassius might lead him into a dangerous train of thoughts. Cassius explains himself by saying that he will help Brutus open his eyes.
The men’s conversation is interrupted by the public shouting in the distance. Brutus remarks on how he fears that the people of Rome are accepting Caesar as their king.
Brutus then questions Cassius’ intentions. He wants to know why Cassius is speaking to him privately. He lets Cassius know that his own intentions are always honorable; thus, he hints that Cassius hopefully is speaking to him with honorable intentions.
Cassius retorts that honor is indeed the subject of his story. He then describes how Caesar is just like any other man. He states that Caesar feels cold like any man, and Caesar can die like any other man. To further his point, Cassius describes an incident years back when Caesar dared Cassius to race him to a certain point in the Tiber River. Caesar didn’t do so well in the swimming race and Cassius had to save him from drowning. Cassius then remarks on how this same man who almost drowned has now become a god in the public’s eyes, whereas Cassius has become nothing more than a wretched creature. Cassius further presses his point by recounting a time when Caesar was ill in Spain with a fever. During his illness, the godly Caesar shook, and cried out his requests like a sick little girl. Cassius is amazed by the idea that this same man now is becoming the one person who truly runs Rome.
The men’s conversation is interrupted again by the shouting of the public in the distance. Brutus assumes the crowd is adorning Caesar with some new honor.
Cassius continues his speech. He remarks on how Caesar now prances around like a Colossus, a giant, while the little people he controls must walk below his legs. He states that sometimes men must take control of their own fates and assume that destiny is not in control of a man’s life.
Cassius then brings his point forward. The name “Caesar” is no better than the name of “Cassius” or “Brutus.” He points out that “Caesar” is no better than any other man, yet Rome is allowing only Caesar to rule its streets. He concludes his long monologue by describing how their forefathers would have expected Brutus to take action. Brutus’ ancestors would have expected him to stop a king from ruling Rome.
JULIUS CAESAR -- ACT I, 2
Brutus bluntly states that he now understands Cassius’ intentions; however, he must think about what Cassius is proposing. He confesses, though, that he would rather be a feeble villager than a Roman citizen if tyranny comes into place.
Cassius’ and Brutus’ conversation is interrupted by the conclusion of the holiday festivities. Cassius says that they should talk to Casca to figure out what all the shouting was about.
Meanwhile, the scene turns back to Caesar and Antony. Caesar remarks that he would prefer to have people around him that are “fat” (content) and humble, rather than people like Cassius who have a hungry, dangerous look to them. He believes that Cassius is a thinker and thus a troublemaker. Antony calms Caesar’s fears by saying that Cassius is a good, noble Roman.
Caesar, then, states that he is not afraid of Cassius, however, he is suspicious of his intentions. According to Caesar, Cassius reads and observes much. He doesn’t enjoy the fun that life has to offer, like watching plays or listening to music. Caesar knows that such men are never happy with things and therefore are dangerous. Caesar, next, asks Antony to stand at his right hand since his left ear is deaf. He wants Antony to openly discuss his thoughts of Cassius.
The scene goes back to Cassius and Brutus. They have encountered Casca who tells them of the day’s occurrences. Apparently, Caesar was offered a crown three times by Antony. Caesar refused the crown each time, and the crowd cheered for him each time. It was a coronet, a simply fashioned crown, which would have symbolically made Caesar the king of Rome.
Casca goes onto describe how after the third crown offer Caesar fainted and foamed at the mouth. Brutus states that it is probable that Caesar suffers from the falling-sickness, which we know of today as epilepsy. Cassius remarks on how it’s not Caesar who has the falling-sickness, but it is he and Casca who suffer from it. Casca doesn’t understand what Cassius means.
Casca then describes what happened after Caesar fainted. Caesar arose and asked for forgiveness if he did anything amiss. He was quickly forgiven by a few women standing near Casca.
Casca then says that Cicero, a public orator, spoke to the crowd in Greek. Casca couldn’t understand what he was saying, however, those who did understand him cheered as he spoke.
Lastly, Casca mentions that Marullus and Flavius were apprehended by Caesar’s soldiers for removing decorations from Caesar’s statues. He says that both men were “silenced,” which means they were killed.
Before Casca departs Cassius makes plans to meet up with him for dinner.
Casca leaves, and Brutus says his goodbyes to Cassius. They too make plans for the next day; Brutus invites Cassius to come over tomorrow.
With Brutus gone Cassius is left on the stage alone. He voices his intentions in a private soliloquy. Cassius plans to create a coup to overthrow Caesar. He knows that Brutus is well-liked by Caesar and he can use this to his advantage. The only problem, though, is getting Brutus to side against Caesar. To get Brutus on Cassius’ side, he plans on forging letters supposedly written by Roman citizens. In these letters the citizens will voice their concerns about Caesar’s kingly ambitions. He will plant these letters at Brutus’ windowsill. Casca knows that Brutus is honorable and will take the letters to heart. He hopes that the letters will coax Brutus in joining him in a coup against Caesar. He also believes that if his plan fails, Caesar will become the leader of Rome and bad times will come.
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by William Shakespeare
