Julius Caesar
Summary:
Act I: Scene 1
On a street in ancient Rome, Flavius and Marullus, two Roman tribunes —
judges meant to protect the rights of the people — accost a group of
workmen and ask them to name their trades and to explain their absence
from work. The first workman answers straightforwardly, but the second
workman answers with a spirited string of puns that he is a cobbler and
that he and his fellow workmen have gathered to see Caesar and to rejoice
in his triumph over Pompey. Marullus accuses the workmen of forgetting
that they are desecrating the great Pompey, whose triumphs they once
cheered so enthusiastically. He upbraids them for wanting to honour the
man who is celebrating a victory in battle over Pompey's sons, and he
commands them to return to their homes to ask forgiveness of the gods
for their offensive ingratitude. Flavius orders them to assemble all the
commoners they can and take them to the banks of the Tiber and fill it
with their tears of remorse for the dishonour they have shown Pompey.
Flavius then tells Marullus to assist him in removing the ceremonial
decorations that have been placed on public statues in honour of Caesar's
triumph. Marullus questions the propriety of doing so on the day during
which the feast of Lupercal is being celebrated, but Flavius says that they
must remove the ornaments to prevent Caesar from becoming a godlike
tyrant.
Understand the opening scenes of Shakespeare's plays and you
understand what follows: The scene has been painted with brilliant
strokes. As Julius Caesar opens, Flavius and Marullus, tribunes of Rome,
are attempting to reestablish civil order. But it's too little, too late: There is
disorder in the streets. The tribune's call upon the commoners to identify
themselves in terms of their occupations. In the past, Flavius could
recognize a man's status by his dress, but now all the signposts of stability
are gone and the world is out of control and dangerous. At first glance,
this disorder is attributed to the lower classes who won't wear the signs of
their trade and who taunt the tribunes with saucy language full of puns,
but while the fickle and dangerous nature of the common Romans is an
important theme in later scenes, here the reader is given indications that
the real fault lies with the ruling class, which is, after all, responsible for
the proper governing of the people.
Act 1 : Scene 2
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. Caesar shares the
belief that if a childless woman is touched by one of the holy runners, she
will lose her sterility.
A soothsayer calls from the crowd warning Caesar to "beware the ides of
March," but Caesar pays no attention and departs with his attendants,
leaving Brutus and Cassius behind.
Cassius begins to probe Brutus about his feelings toward Caesar and the
prospect of Caesar becoming a dictator in Rome. Brutus has clearly been
disturbed about this issue for some time. 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.
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. Brutus is
obviously moved, but he is unsure of what to do.
Several times during their conversation, Cassius and Brutus hear shouts
and the sounds of trumpets. 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. Such men are
dangerous."
As Caesar exits, Brutus and Cassius stop Casca and converse with him. 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. 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.
Act 1 : Scene 3
That evening, Cicero and Casca meet on a street in Rome. There has been
a terrible storm, and Casca describes to Cicero the unnatural phenomena
that have occurred: An owl hooted in the marketplace at noon, the sheeted
dead rose out of their graves, and so on. Cicero then departs and Cassius
enters. He interprets the supernatural happenings as divine warnings that
Caesar threatens to destroy the Republic. He urges Casca to work with
him in opposing Caesar. When Cinna, another conspirator, joins them,
Cassius urges him to throw a message through Brutus' window and to take
other steps that will induce Brutus to participate in the plot. The three
conspirators, now firmly united in an attempt to unseat Caesar, agree to
meet with others of their party — Decius Brutus, Trebonius, and Metellus
Cimber — at Pompey's Porch. They are confident that they will soon win
Brutus to their cause.
Act 1 Characters
1. Julius Caesar: The powerful Roman leader whose return to Rome is
celebrated. Caesar is confident and somewhat dismissive of potential
threats, including the soothsayer’s warning.
2. Brutus: A senator and friend of Caesar, known for his honor and
idealism. Brutus is troubled by Caesar’s growing power and begins
to be drawn into the conspiracy against him.
3. Cassius: A senator and the main instigator of the conspiracy against
Caesar. He is envious of Caesar’s power and begins to persuade
Brutus to join the plot.
4. Antony: Mark Antony, a loyal friend of Caesar and a member of his
inner circle. In Act 1, he is seen celebrating Caesar’s triumph and is
generally supportive of him.
5. Portia: Brutus’s wife, introduced briefly. She is portrayed as strong
and perceptive, concerned about Brutus’s unusual behavior.
6. Calpurnia: Caesar’s wife, who is introduced as being concerned
about Caesar’s safety after having ominous dreams.
7. Soothsayer: A minor character who warns Caesar to “Beware the
Ides of March.” This warning is ignored by Caesar, setting up future
conflict.
8. Marullus: A tribune who, along with Flavius, is critical of the
public’s celebration of Caesar. He is concerned about the potential
for Caesar to become too powerful.
9. Flavius: A tribune who, along with Marullus, scolds the commoners
for celebrating Caesar and takes down decorations from Caesar’s
statues.
10. Cinna (the conspirator): Introduced as a conspirator against
Caesar, who is involved in the early planning of the assassination
plot.
11. Decius Brutus: Mentioned in Act 1 as a conspirator who will
later play a role in persuading Caesar to go to the Senate on the Ides
of March.
12. Casca: Another conspirator who is briefly mentioned and will
play a role in the unfolding conspiracy against Caesar.
