Context Questions – ACT 3 SCENE 2
1. Brutus
Be patient till the last.
Romans, countrymen, and lovers! hear me for my cause;
and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine
honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may
believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and awake your
senses, that you may the better judge.
(i) Where is Brutus? Whom does he request to be patient and on
what occasion is this speech made? What was the purpose of the
speech?
Answer: Brutus is in the Forum of Rome, addressing the Roman citizens.
He requests the Romans, whom he calls “Romans, countrymen, and
lovers,” to be patient and listen to his explanation for Caesar’s
assassination. This speech is made after Caesar’s assassination, during a
public gathering where Brutus aims to justify the murder. The purpose of
the speech is to defend his actions, claiming that Caesar’s death was
necessary for the freedom and well-being of Rome, as he believed Caesar
was becoming too ambitious and posed a threat to the Republic.
(ii) How important was honour for Brutus? Give one example to
justify your answer. In what way did his commitment to honour
lead him to the present crisis?
Answer: Honour was extremely important to Brutus, as he consistently
acted according to what he believed was for the greater good of Rome,
even over personal loyalty. For example, he states, “not that I loved
Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” justifying that his honourable
intentions were to protect the Republic rather than to harm Caesar
personally. His commitment to honour led him to participate in the
assassination of Caesar, believing it was the noble course of action. This,
however, placed him in a crisis, as the act of killing Caesar alienated him
from the people and led to political instability.
(iii) “Hear me for my cause.” What was his cause? Were his
motives genuine? How can you justify your answer?
Answer: Brutus’s cause was the preservation of the Roman Republic,
which he believed was under threat due to Caesar’s ambition to become a
monarch. His motives can be seen as genuine, as he acted out of concern
for Rome rather than personal gain. This is justified by his consistent
emphasis on honour and the Republic’s welfare throughout the play, as
well as his willingness to face the consequences of his actions, even
offering his life to the people if they believe he has done wrong.
(iv) What was the reaction of his listeners in the beginning as well
as at the end the scene? How did the change in their attitude
come about?
Answer: In the beginning, the listeners are quiet and respectful, inclined
to listen to Brutus’s reasoning. After his speech, they are supportive and
even suggest honoring Brutus by giving him a statue or making him their
leader. However, their attitude changes after Mark Antony’s speech,
where he subtly undermines Brutus’s arguments and stirs the crowd’s
emotions by highlighting Caesar’s good deeds and reading his will, which
bequeaths wealth to the citizens. This causes the crowd to turn against
Brutus and the conspirators, becoming enraged and seeking revenge for
Caesar’s death.
(v) Give the meaning of: “Censure me in your wisdom.” Who
passed censure on him? In what way has this changed the course
of action in the Plays ?
Answer: The phrase “Censure me in your wisdom” means that Brutus is
asking the Romans to judge his actions wisely and thoughtfully. Initially,
the Roman citizens pass a positive censure on him, agreeing with his
reasoning and supporting his actions. However, after Antony’s speech, the
censure shifts dramatically as the crowd turns against Brutus, seeing him
not as an honourable man, but as a traitor. This change in public opinion
shifts the course of action, leading to civil unrest and the eventual
downfall of Brutus and the other conspirators.
2. Brutus
Good countrymen, let me depart alone,
And, for my sake, stay here with Antony.
Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Tending to Caesar’s glories, which Mark Antony,
By our permission, is allow’d to make.
1 do entreat you, not a man depart,
Save I alone, till Antony have spoke.
(Exit)
(i) Why does Brutus intend to “depart alone” Why are the
listeners left behind? Which error of judgement made by Brutus is
revealed by his instruction to the listeners?
Answer: Brutus intends to “depart alone” because he trusts that the
crowd will listen to Antony’s speech without being swayed against him or
the conspirators. He leaves the listeners behind to hear Antony’s speech,
which he believes will simply glorify Caesar without undermining his own
actions. The error of judgment revealed by Brutus’s instruction is his
underestimation of Antony’s persuasive abilities and the possibility that
Antony might turn the crowd against the conspirators. Brutus naively
believes that Antony will honor the conditions set for his speech without
manipulating the crowd’s emotions.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) “Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech”
Answer: This phrase means to show respect to Caesar’s body and to
listen respectfully to the speech that Antony is about to deliver, which will
praise Caesar’s accomplishments.
(b) “…not a man depart”
Answer: This phrase means that no one should leave the scene;
everyone should stay and listen until Antony has finished speaking.
(iii) What explanation had Brutus given in his speech for the
murder of Caesar? What was the reaction of his listeners?
Answer: Brutus explained that he killed Caesar not because he loved
Caesar less, but because he loved Rome more. He argued that Caesar’s
ambition would have led to the enslavement of the Roman people, and by
killing him, he was preserving their freedom. The reaction of his listeners
was one of agreement; they were convinced by his reasoning and
supported him, even expressing a desire to honor Brutus.
(iv) Who has given Antony permission to speak? Give any two
conditions under which Antony is allowed to speak.
Answer: Brutus gave Antony permission to speak. The two conditions
were:-
(1) Antony must not blame the conspirators for Caesar’s death, and
(2) he must speak after Brutus, ensuring that the conspirators’ actions
were justified before Antony spoke.
(v) State which of Caesar’s glories would Antony refer to in his
speech a little later. What does he want to achieve by his speech?
Answer: In his speech, Antony refers to Caesar’s refusals of the crown,
his weeping for the poor, and his bringing of wealth to Rome by ransoming
captives. Antony wants to achieve the incitement of the crowd against the
conspirators, ultimately leading to a rebellion against those who killed
Caesar.
3. Antony
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious;
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
(i) As Antony ascends the platform to speak, what did the citizens
feel and say about Caesar, Brutus and Antony?
Answer: Initially, the citizens were largely supportive of Brutus, believing
his justification for Caesar’s assassination. They referred to Caesar as a
tyrant, expressing relief that Rome was rid of him. There was a general
consensus that Brutus was noble and that they should honour him for his
actions. However, they were curious about what Antony had to say, with
some expressing a desire to hear him out, albeit cautiously, especially
since Antony was a friend of Caesar.
(ii) Why did the citizens stay behind to listen to Antony? In what
way does Antony repel their suspicion in the beginning of his
speech?
Answer: The citizens stayed behind to listen to Antony because they
respected Brutus’s request to hear Antony speak. Antony begins his
speech by dispelling their suspicion by stating that he came not to praise
Caesar but to bury him. He aligns himself with Brutus by acknowledging
Brutus’s claim that Caesar was ambitious and stating that Brutus is an
honourable man, thus not directly opposing Brutus at the outset.
(iii) Which evil, which Caesar is said to have done, lives after him?
Give examples of the good done by Caesar.
Answer: The “evil” attributed to Caesar, as mentioned in Antony’s
speech, is his alleged ambition, which was the reason Brutus and the
others conspired against him. However, Antony subtly challenges this by
highlighting Caesar’s acts of generosity, such as refusing the crown thrice,
weeping for the poor, and bringing captives home to Rome whose
ransoms filled the public coffers. These acts demonstrate Caesar’s care for
the people and Rome, which Antony suggests was not consistent with the
ambition he was accused of.
(iv) Why does Antony say “the noble Brutus”? Why does he use
the expres “If it were so?” Why couldn’t he be frank in his
remarks?
Answer: Antony refers to Brutus as “the noble Brutus” to maintain a
facade of respect and avoid immediate confrontation with Brutus and the
other conspirators, who are still powerful and present. The expression “If it
were so” casts doubt on the accusation of Caesar’s ambition without
directly challenging Brutus. Antony couldn’t be frank because it would
have been dangerous to openly contradict Brutus and the conspirators at
that moment. Instead, he uses irony and rhetorical questioning to subtly
undermine Brutus’s claim while still appearing to respect him.
(v) Why do you admire Antony at this juncture? State briefly how
he dealt the crisis, he found himself in.
Answer: Antony is admirable at this juncture for his masterful oratory and
strategic thinking. Faced with a hostile crowd and the threat from powerful
conspirators, Antony skillfully navigates the situation by using irony and
careful rhetoric. He subtly sways public opinion without directly attacking
Brutus, turning the crowd’s suspicion into sympathy for Caesar and
eventually inciting them against the conspirators. Antony’s ability to
manipulate the emotions of the crowd while maintaining an appearance of
respect for Brutus and the conspirators shows his intelligence and political
acumen.
4. Antony
Let but the commons hear this testament—
Which, pardon me, I do not mean to read—
And they would go and kiss dead Caesar’s wounds,
And dip their napkins in his sacred blood,
Yea, beg a hair of him for memory,
And, dying, mention it within their wills,
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy
Unto their issue.
(i) Which testament is referred to by Antony and who are referred
to as “the commons”? Why does Antony not want to read the
testament?
Answer: Antony refers to Caesar’s will as the testament. “The commons”
refers to the common people of Rome, or the plebeians. Antony initially
says he does not intend to read the will because he wants to stir the
curiosity and emotions of the people. By withholding the reading, he
manipulates them into desiring it more, which eventually incites their
anger and passion against the conspirators.
(ii) Give the meaning of: Bequeathing it as a rich legacy/Unto
their issue
Answer: This phrase means that the common people would pass down
even a small relic, like a hair from Caesar, as a valuable inheritance to
their descendants.
(iii) Mention two of the purposes why the commons would dip
their napkins in Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his. Why is the
blood of Caesar said to be sacred? (Refer to the speech of Brutus
earlier, in which he indicates how Caesar should be murdered.
Answer: The commons would dip their napkins in Caesar’s blood as a
token of remembrance and respect, signifying their reverence for him.
They would also beg for a strand of his hair to keep as a personal relic,
which they could pass down to their descendants, demonstrating their
loyalty and the significance of Caesar in their lives.
Sacred blood:
Caesar’s blood is considered sacred because he was seen as a great
leader who was unjustly murdered. His assassination was viewed as an act
of betrayal, making his blood symbolic of his martyrdom.
(iv) Besides the testament, which other item does Antony show
later to the commons? How does that incite the commons?
Answer: Antony later shows Caesar’s mantle (cloak), pointing out the
places where it was torn by the conspirators’ daggers. This visual
demonstration of the brutality inflicted upon Caesar provokes a strong
emotional response from the people, inciting them to seek revenge
against the conspirators.
(v) State briefly how Antony cleverly played on the emotions of
the common People and show how they reacted as he desired.
Answer: Antony cleverly plays on the emotions of the common people by
repeatedly referring to the conspirators as “honorable men” while
simultaneously highlighting their betrayal. He emphasizes Caesar’s
positive qualities and his generosity towards the people, which contrasts
sharply with the actions of the conspirators. By showing Caesar’s bloodied
mantle and referring to his will, Antony stirs the crowd’s emotions, leading
them to turn against Brutus and the other conspirators, exactly as he
intended. The common people, driven by this manipulation, react with
rage and violence, eager to avenge Caesar’s death.
5. Antony
I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
Show you sweet Caesar’s wounds, poor poor dumb mouths
And bid them speak for me: but were I Brutus, ’
And Brutus Antony, there were an Antony
Would ruffle up your spirits, and put a tongue
In every wound of Caesar, that should move
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
(i) Why are the wounds referred to as “poor dumb mouths”? If
Brutus Antony, what would have happened in every wound of
Caesar?
Answer: The wounds are referred to as “poor dumb mouths” because
they are silent and cannot speak for themselves. Antony uses this
metaphor to suggest that the wounds, though silent, tell a powerful story
of betrayal and injustice. If Brutus were Antony, Antony suggests that he
would have been able to rouse the people to mutiny by giving a voice to
each of Caesar’s wounds, metaphorically making them speak and inciting
the citizens of Rome to rise in rebellion.
(ii) What does Antony indirectly say to indicate that there should
be a Mutiny ? Bring out the irony in his words in the extract.
Answer: Antony indirectly incites mutiny by stating that he is not there to
stir the people to mutiny but to simply speak of what they already know.
He repeatedly refers to Brutus and the conspirators as “honorable men,”
which becomes increasingly ironic as he lists Caesar’s good deeds and
questions how such acts could be considered ambitious. This irony is
further deepened when he suggests that if he were Brutus, he would have
stirred the crowd to mutiny, yet he claims he is not attempting to do so,
even as his words clearly have that effect.
(iii) At the end, how does the mob leave the scene? What do they
plan to do? What does Antony, being satisfied, say after the
departure of the mob?
Answer: The mob leaves the scene in a frenzy, intent on avenging
Caesar’s death. They plan to burn the houses of the conspirators, starting
with Brutus. After their departure, Antony, satisfied with the chaos he has
incited, remarks, “Now let it work. Mischief, thou art afoot; take thou what
course thou wilt.” This indicates that Antony is pleased with the result and
is content to let the ensuing chaos unfold.
(iv) Where does Antony go at the end of the scene? Whom does
he join there ? What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
Answer: At the end of the scene, Antony goes to meet Octavius Caesar at
Caesar’s house, as reported by the servant. Octavius has arrived in Rome,
and Antony plans to join forces with him. Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius
have fled Rome in fear of the mob that Antony has roused against them.
(v) Mention, with examples, any three of the tactics used by
Antony to make the common people slaves of passion and
resentment.
Answer: i. Appeal to Emotion: Antony repeatedly uses emotional
language, such as showing Caesar’s blood-stained cloak and speaking of
the “unkindest cut” made by Brutus, to stir the crowd’s emotions.
ii. Irony: Antony employs irony by constantly referring to Brutus and the
other conspirators as “honorable men,” while simultaneously undermining
their actions and motives, making the crowd question the honor of the
conspirators.
iii. Manipulation of Caesar’s Will: Antony teases the crowd with Caesar’s
will, initially refusing to read it to build anticipation, then revealing that
Caesar left money and public parks to the people, further inflaming their
sense of loss and betrayal.
