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The scene opens up at Caesar’s home. Caesar is awake in the early morning. He speaks to himself and comments on how wild the heavens and Earth have been. He also says that his wife had nightmares during the night and she was screaming out in her sleep. Caesar heard her scream about “Caesar’s murder” as she slept.
Caesar is a little paranoid about the supernatural omens, as well as his wife’s dreams; consequently, he asks a servant to go have a fortune teller make a sacrifice. Through the sacrifice Caesar can learn if something good or bad is to come.
Next, Calpurnia appears. She immediately insists that Caesar stays home today. Caesar responds by saying that he will go to the Capitol. He says that the things that threaten him only do so behind his back. When he turns around to face them, they vanish.
Calpurnia insists that he stays home. She’s never believed in omens, but they are now frightening her. She mentions all the weird things that occurred during the night. Caesar, though, believes that the omens are warnings for the world in general and not for himself. He also states that the valiant, such as himself, only die once; whereas, cowards die many times. He doesn’t understand why people should fear death since it is an inevitable end.
The servant that Caesar sent out then returns. He warns that the fortune tellers advise that he doesn’t go out today. They sacrificed an animal and when looking at its entrails, it did not contain a heart. This is a bad sign for Caesar.
Caesar is intent on going to the Capitol. He says that if he were to stay then it would prove that he was a heartless coward. He says that he and danger are like two lions; however, he is the most terrible of these lions.
Calpurnia begs Caesar to stay home. She says that they can have Marc Antony go to the Senate and let them know that Caesar has fallen ill. Caesar finally gives in, and he says that he will follow through with her plan. He wants to keep his wife happy.
Decius then enters. Caesar asks Decius to run to the Senate and let them know that he cannot make it today. Decius asks Caesar why he isn’t going. Decius wants to be able to tell the senators why Caesar isn’t at the Senate. Caesar tells him that he doesn’t need to give anybody a reason. It is his choice to not go and that is all the senators need to know. He lets Decius know, just between the two of them, that his reason for not going is Calpurnia’s horrible nightmares. Calpurnia dreamed of a statue of Caesar that bled blood. In this dream, Romans then bathed their hands in his blood.
Decius, then, attempts to put a positive spin on the nightmare. He says that Romans look at Caesar and his blood for reviving properties. The people bathed their hands in his blood because they worship him so.
Caesar, upon hearing of Decius’ description, changes his mind about going to the Senate. He decides to go after all.
Suddenly, the other conspirators enter. They are prepared to escort Caesar to the Senate. Caesar invites them to all go drink wine before leaving, and then they can walk together to the Senate like friends. In an aside (commenting to only himself and the audience), Brutus admits that it hurts that they are only “like” friends.
JULIUS CAESAR -- ACT II, 2
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by William Shakespeare
