Class X: Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar – William Shakespeare

About the Author: William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is one of the most influential writers of English language of all the times. He is known for his dramas and his sonnets. His dramas, especially his tragedies, are well-known for their complex human psychology, and his comedies are well-known for the use of language and wit. He has 154 sonnets and 37 plays on his credits. William Shakespeare and his works have been influencing the global theatre, literature and movies since a long time.

Summary:

Julius Caesar is the story of a ruler named Julius who an honest person and the man of his principles and his subjects. His friends Cassius, Brutus and others decide to kill out of their fear that he, once declared as a king, would become a dictator. His wife has nightmares and pleads to him not to go out of the house, but his manly ego, and Brutus evil mind, convinces him to go outside the house to the senate, where he is killed brutally by Brutus, Cassius and others. When his friend, Mark Antony, knows about this he feels very sad, but instead of taking revenge of Caesar’s death, he joins hands with the enemies, as he knows he has to wait for the right time. In the end, Brutus convinces people that whatever he has done (assassination of Julius Caesar) is a noble work for Rome as Caesar was an ambitious person. But, followed by him, Mark Antony, though his emotional and convincing speech, change the table in favour of Julius without even saying anything bad about the culprits. In the end, we see people revolt against the assassinators of their beloved Julius Caesar.

Questions – Answers:

1.      How do the heavens 'blaze forth' the death of Julius Caesar?

Answer: Through this phrase, Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar not to go out as she has seen many dreams which are ill-omens. She tries to convince him by this phrase that Caesar is a not a part of a crowd but a brave warrior. When such brave people die, the heavens mourn on the death. Meteors fall and comets blaze through the sky as if mourning the demise of the great person.

2.      What does Calpurnia try to convince Caesar of?

Answer: Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar of an ill-omen that she has seen her nightmares, which does mean a grave danger to Caesar’s life. She tries to convince Caesar not to go out as she fears he nightmares might turn true and Caesar might face danger for his life.

3.      Why does Calpurnia say Caesar's 'wisdom is consumed in confidence'? What does she mean?

Answer: Calpurnia tries to convince Caesar for not going out as she fears her nightmare might come true and Caesar might face danger for his life, but Caesar doesn’t listen to her. Instead of caring for his wife’s fear, he says that he is not scared of danger as danger and he are two brothers and he is elder one. He means to say that he is not scared of any kind of danger. That is the reason Calpurnia says that Caesar is trying to be over-confident. So, she says that Caesar’s wisdom is consumed by his over-confidence.

4.      What does Calpurnia dream about Caesar? How does Decius Brutus interpret the dream?

Answer: Calpurnia dreams that Caesar’s statue has hundreds of pouts from which blood is coming out like fountain. May lusty Romans are coming, and smilingly bathing their hands in that blood fountain. Calpurnia feels that this is a sign of ill-omen.

On the other hand, Brutus interprets the dream as a fortune for Rome. He interprets the same scene as great men shall gather around Caesar and stain their handkerchiefs in his blood which will serve as colours added to a coat of arms, an object of reverence, mementos and a badge of service.

5.      What are the arguments put forward by Decius Brutus to convince Caesar to go to Capitol?

Answer: When Brutus enters to escort Caesar to the court, he is told that Caesar would not come to the court. So, in order to convince Caesar to come out, he puts some arguments forward as given below:

-          What reason would he tell the court for Caesar not coming to the court?

-          Should he tell some lie to the court for Caesar’s not coming to the court?

-          He insist on asking some logical reason so that people in the court would not laugh at any illogical reason given by him

-          The senate has decided to crown Caesar as their king. If Caesar would not come to the senate on the very day, they may change their mind and make someone else their king.

6.      Why is Decius more successful than Calpurnia in persuading Caesar?

Answer: Calpurnia convinces Caesar not to go out because she has seen some ill-omens in her dreams. She keeps on mentioning some danger for Caesar’s life but she should have known that Caesar is not scared of danger as he is a brave warrior. On the other hand, Decius Brutus knows Caesar’s weak point i.e. his ego, his self-respect, and his pride in others. Decius constantly asks Caesar about ‘what people will say’ for his absence in the court, and that matters a lot for Caesar. So, Decius is more successful in persuading Caesar than Calpurnia.

7.      What is the petition put before Caesar by the conspirators? How does Caesar respond to it?

Answer: The petition put before Caesar by the conspirators is to cancel the banishment of Metellus Cimber’s brother repeal. To this, Caesar says that if he would have been a common man, he would have been moved by the petition. Further, he calls himself northern star who is fixed and cannot be moved by anything and anyone. So, he decides to continue to banishment of Metellus Cimber’s brother.

8.      Who says "Et tu Brute"? When are these words spoken? Why?

Answer: Caesar says, “Et tu Brute”. When Caesar is stabbed by Casca, others and then by Brutus, Caesar says these words. Caesar says so because he doesn’t expect his friend Brutus to betray him and stab him with his dagger.

9.      In the moments following Caesar's death what do the conspirators proclaim to justify Caesar's death?

Answer: In the moments following Caesar’s death, the conspirators proclaim (publically say):

Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead.

Liberty! Freedom! Enfranchisement!

It means that people have got freedom from the tyranny of Caesar. They proclaim that people of Rome has got freedom from political servitude (slavery to Caesar). They say so to justify Caesar’s murder.

10.  Seeing the body of Caesar, Antony is overcome by grief. What does he say about Caesar?

Answer: Seeing the body of Caesar, the grief-stricken Antony remembers Caesar’s glorious past and says that Caesar was such a great person who has conquered many lands, and had many great things done. He exclaims that inspite of Caesars' conquests, glories, triumphs and spoils; he lies so "low". He offers to be killed and lie by Caesar's side whom he calls the choice and master spirits of this age and "most noble".

11.  Whom does Antony call 'the choice and master spirits of this age"? Why?

Answer: Antony calls Cassius, Brutus and the other conspirators ‘the choice and master spirits of this age’. He does not actually regard them so.  He says these words ironically.  He seems to mock them, though he pretends to please them. 

12.  How do Brutus and Cassius respond to Antony's speech?

Answer: Brutus and Cassius try to win Antony to their side.  They say that Antony will have equal share in the new political set-up.   He will be as strong as any other man in the government. 

13.  Why does Cassius object to allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral? How does Brutus overcome this objection?

Answer: Cassius knows that Antony is a clever and tactful person.  He fears that Antony could sway the people by his speech.  That is why he doesn’t want Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral. 

            However, Brutus rules out any such fear.  He says that he himself will speak first and explain to the people why Caesar had to be killed.  And then he will also tell that Antony is speaking with their permission. 

14.  What are the conditions imposed by the conspirators before allowing Antony to speak at Caesar's funeral?

Answer: The conspirators ask Antony not to blame them for Caesar’s murder while addressing the citizens at Caesar’s funeral.  He must say that they have permitted him to speak.  Moreover, he must speak after Brutus has explained to the people the circumstances in which Caesar was murdered. 

15.  When he is left alone with the body of Caesar what does Anthony call Brutus and the others?

Answer: When Antony is left alone with the body of Caesar, he gives vent to his anger and anguish.  He calls Brutus and the others butchers.  He says that those who had shed the blood of Caesar would have to pay a heavy price for the criminal deed.

16.  What prediction does Antony make regarding the future events in Rome?

Answer: Antony predicts that there will be a bloody civil war in all the parts of Rome.  Bloodshed and destruction will become familiar sights.  Mothers will smile on seeing their children cut to pieces in war.  Caesar’s spirit will move everywhere crying for revenge.  The dead and decaying bodies will find no room for burial. 

17.  What reasons does Brutus give for murdering Caesar?

Answer: Brutus says that he loved Caesar, no doubt, but he loved Rome more than he loved Caesar.  He paints Caesar as an ambitious and dictatorial person.  He says that if Caesar had lived, all of them would have died as slaves. He wants to establish democracy in Rome.  He says, “As he was ambitious, I slew him”.

18.  Who says, "Let him be Caesar"? What light does this throw on the speaker?

Answer: One of the Romans utters these words after Brutus’s speech.  The speaker seems to be a mindless person.  He has not clearly understood the reasons Brutus has given for the murder of Caesar.  Another Caesar after killing Caesar!  Then why was Caesar killed?  The mob in ‘Julius Caesar’ has been shown to be most illogical and fickle-minded. 

19.  Why is Antony's speech more effective?

Answers: Antony’s speech was more effective than that of Brutus. Brutus, in his speech talks about his reasons for killing Caesar and calls himself an honorable man. On the other hand, Antony doesn’t praise himself. He doesn’t tell people who is wrong and who is right. He gives them insight through the facts which indirectly prove that Caesar wasn’t ambitious and was a good person. He, without calling anyone a culprit, enrages people against Brutus and his gang. He creates curiosity in the audience with Caesar’s will and turns the table against Brutus. His oratory skill finally enables audience to know that assassination of Caesar cannot be justified. That makes Antony’s speech effective.

20.  At the end of the scene what is the fate of Brutus and Cassius?

Answer: At the end of Antony’s speech, the people of Rome get angry.  They set fire to the houses of the conspirators.   They want to seek the conspirators and kill them.  Both Brutus and Cassius have to run for their life.