Julius Caesar abbreviated

Synopsis


The play opens on the streets of 32 BC Rome where two tribunes, tribunes being officials who protect the rights of citizens, are verbally berating, as they see it, the public’s unjustified celebration of Julius Caesar’s return to Rome; where a cobbler, who says he is “a mender of bad soles,” finally responds seriously when asked by the tribunes, “Why dost thou lead these men about the streets;” by saying “we make holiday to see Caesar and to rejoice in his triumph.” The tribunes are upset with the way the gullible public, in their view, is over-adoring Caesar, Caesar’s recent campaign, his “triumph,” we’re led to believe, having been to kill Pompey’s sons, his prospective adversaries, their father, Pompey, having been a hero to the Roman plebeians. (History, Act 1, Scene 1)

Caesar soon enters the stage with his entourage. It’s here where a soothsayer who is off to the side of the street famously warns Caesar to “Beware the ides of March;” Caesar, dismissing the comment, says “He is a dreamer. Let us leave him.” Watching Caesar’s passing parade, Cassius and Brutus talk of the political climate in Rome, both of them displeased with current trends. For among other reasons, they are worried over the move by some in the Roman senate to have Caesar crowned king. (History, Act 1, Scene 2) Separately, Caesar prophetically says “Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.” Mark Antony, Caesar’s key aide, responds, “Fear him not, Caesar; he’s not dangerous.” Caesar then says, “Would he were fatter! But I fear him not.” (Jealousy, Act 1, Scene 2)

Meanwhile, Cassius, having been a friend of Caesar’s since they were children, passionately feels Caesar is overly revered, and quietly begins organizing a group of men to plot against him. Saying to his friend Casca “Will you dine with me tomorrow,” Cassius enlists Casca in his cause, an early recruit in his plans to assassinate Caesar. (Counsel, Act 1, Scene 3) A strong storm strikes Rome and Casca is frightened, believing “mighty gods by tokens send such dreadful heralds to astonish us.” It’s here where Cassius indirectly and delicately persuades Casca, who is a little slow to pick up on Cassius’ purpose, to join his cause, Casca finally saying “’Tis Caesar that you mean, is it not, Cassius?” (Insight, Act 1, Scene 3) The two of them quickly get Cinna to join their now common cause, Cinna saying “O Cassius, if you could but win the noble Brutus to our party,” Brutus widely recognized as perhaps Rome’s leading statesman. They all agree that they must get Brutus onboard to make this conspiracy work. Cassius, quite the talented promoter-organizer, arranges for his collected group of men to meet with Brutus for a late-night session in Brutus’ home. Cassius is Brutus’ brother-in-law. (Introspection, Act 2, Scene 1) Following Cassius’ persuasive sales pitch, independent Brutus, who pretty much keeps his own counsel, agrees to join the Conspirators’ cause. (Persuasion, Act 2, Scene 1) But Portia, Brutus’ wife, overhears some of what the men have to say and is frightened for her husband and for Rome, saying “Dear my lord, make me acquainted with your cause of grief” and “Within the bonds of marriage, is it excepted I should know no secrets that appertain to you?” (Wife to Husband, Act 2, Scene 1) Cassius may be the organizer but Brutus, through force of personality, controls the agenda. Assassination plans develop quickly, Decius telling his fellow Conspirators that he will make sure Caesar is on the Senate steps in the morning.

Meanwhile, Caesar, unable to sleep very well, is up often during another very stormy night. His wife, with thoughts similar to Casca’s, fears the gods are sending a message. Separately, Artemidorus, a rhetoric teacher and friend of some of the conspirators, has a letter hand delivered to Caesar, warning him that “There is but one mind in all these men, and it is bent against Caesar.” For a number of reasons, including the warnings from the Soothsayer and Artemidorus, and from Caesar’s sleepless night, Calphurnia, Caesar’s wife, talks him out of going to the Senate that morning. However, Decius, the talented salesman, persuades Caesar to change his mind, to the dismay of Calphurnia. (Husband to Wife, Act 2, Scene 2) Caesar leaves for the Senate, knowing plans are being made to crown him king.

As Caesar works his way to the Senate, both the Soothsayer and Artemidorus try to get his attention. But Caesar, about to be crowned king, dismisses them, saying to the Soothsayer, “The ides of March are come.” The Soothsayer responds, “Ay, Caesar, but not gone.” Cozying up to Caesar, Metellus Cimber pleads for a pardon for his brother. Brutus, Cassius, Casca and others then also draw close to Caesar, supporting Metellus Cimber’s cause. Caesar denies the request. Casca then stabs Caesar; the other conspirators quickly follow Casca’s lead. Caesar dies quickly, but not before famously saying “Et tu Brute? Then fall Caesar,” Caesar having explicitly trusted Brutus, some believing Brutus to be Caesar’s illegitimate son. Most everybody there, except for the Conspirators, scatter in fear. Antony, Caesar’s closest aide, humbly returns to the crime scene, ready to be killed, if that’s the Conspirators’ plan. He is welcomed. He asks to speak at Caesar’s funeral, and Brutus grants his request, to Cassius’ misgiving.

At the memorial service for Caesar, Brutus is the first to speak from the pulpit and then exits. (Honor, Act 3, Scene 2.1) But then to Brutus’ ultimate undoing, Antony steps up into the pulpit and wows the crowd, speaking to the plebeians at length with warmth, charm and empathy. (Honor, Act 3, Scene 2.2) (Persuasion, Act 3, Scene 2.1) (Persuasion, Act 3, Scene 2.2) (Persuasion, Act 3, Scene 2.3) As the plebeians exit, carrying Caesar’s shrouded body, Octavius Caesar’s servant enters to tell Antony that Octavius (Julius Caesar’s nephew) and Lepidus are waiting for him at Caesar’s home. Antony sees it all falling into place for him.

Antony had given the right speech at the right time, one of history’s great speeches, convincing many Romans to support him. It was rumored that angry mobs had run Brutus and Cassius out of town. Cinna, a mild-mannered poet, but to his misfortune having the same name as one of the conspirators, is roughed up and carried away.

In retribution for Caesar’s assassination, the triumvirate that now rules Rome, led by Antony, Octavius Caesar and Lepidus, has strong supporters who soon kill scores of senators who they believe might have been connected to the Conspirators. Meanwhile, Cassius and Brutus, having organized their army, have a falling out of sorts with each other, arguing over really minor issues in Brutus’ tent on the battlefield at Sardis, Brutus claiming “You say you are a better soldier” and Cassius responding “I said an elder soldier, not a better.” Brutus then accuses Cassius of using his position to accept bribes, and Cassius, denying none of it, resents the accusation. (Disillusionment, Act 4, Scene 3) Times are tough for both of them and both are tense. An anxious Brutus lets us know that his wife, Portia, has just died, “Impatient of my absence, and grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony have made themselves so strong,” he says. They apologize to each other and bury the hatchet, Brutus saying “Lucius, a bowl of wine.” (Persuasion, Act 4, Scene 3) They deal with their personal conflict in stoic Roman fashion.

The battle that will determine who will lead Rome is about to begin. Cassius’ military strategy is to wait for Antony and Octavius and their army to come to them at Sardis; Brutus’ suggestion being to attack them at Philippi. As usual, Brutus, with his commanding presence, is persuasive and wins the argument. (Acceptance, Act 5, Scene 1)

That night, Caesar’s ghost visits Brutus. Earlier in the day Cassius had seen bad omens in the flight of birds. It’s Cassius’ birthday. The battle on the Plains of Philippi begins. Through flawed intelligence, Cassius believes Antony is about to overrun his position. He takes his own life. Separately, Brutus wins his first encounter with Octavius Caesar, losing the second. As a classic Roman warrior, Brutus then takes his own life, much as did Cassius. (Capitulation, Act 5, Scene 5) Antony enters and pays great tribute to Brutus, calling him “The noblest Roman of them all” and that “This was a man.”


Principal Characters


Antony
Mark Antony acts as Caesar’s chief-of-staff, and through his speeches to the plebeians after Caesar’s death, rallies the Empire and, along with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus (the Triumvirate), defeats Cassius and Brutus and their fellow conspirators. He restores order to the then world’s super power following Caesar’s death. Antony, wise and charming, is the clever politician who loves Rome no less than Cassius and Brutus do, but who better knows than they (particularly Brutus) how to secure political advantage. Antony had great talents, and a reputation as a late-night partier.

Brutus
Brutus is a dominate figure in 32 B. C. Rome, a confidant of Caesar’s and widely viewed by the Roman public as the most honorable and noble of Roman statesman. He has a tough-minded, domineering personality, and is true to Rome and to what he believes is right. Brutus is persuasive and never uncertain. Through Brutus, Shakespeare lets us know that public heroes can carry misguided views, though well-intentioned. Brutus often seems lost in himself, with narrow, self-directed, naïve, flawed opinions. He does care for Caesar, but his love of Rome and its future is his overriding and guiding motivation. It’s been reported that some people believe him to be Caesar’s illegitimate son.

Caesar
Julius Caesar led Rome during a period of great expansion and world domination. He does not have a large speaking role in the play. He is assassinated early, stabbed by associates, the Conspirators; conspirators led by Cassius, Brutus and Casca; stabbed on the Senate steps early in the day on March 15, the ides of March, the day he was to be crowned king by the Roman senate.

Cassius
Cassius is an angry man, having grown up with Caesar, a boy-hood friend; angry, perhaps, because he has viewed him as a lesser man and now is a bit envious of his position. Caesar is adored by the public, a public that wants to crown him king. Cassius is a disciplined, focused, diplomatic, organized promoter. And he loves Rome, as they all do. He is married to Brutus’ sister. Cassius not only has a good sense of the moment, but as well senses the enormous implications associated with the Conspirators’ actions. He senses how the murder of Caesar will play out, especially with Antony and the Roman public, where Brutus seems to have less of a clue. Brutus leads with his head; Cassius with his heart. A mistake Cassius makes is too often deferring to Brutus.

 A portrait of William Shakespeare