julius caesar

act 1 scene 1

A rowdy group of plebians or commoners have gathered in the streets of Rome to celebrate
both the Feast of the Lupercal and Julius Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome after defeating
the last of his enemies, the sons of Pompey. Two tribunes, Marullus and Flavius, chastise the
crowd for adoring Caesar and for celebrating as if it were a holiday. The crowd guiltily
disperses and Marullus and Flavius depart to vandalize Caesar’s statues.

scene 2

Caesar enters with his procession, which includes, among others, his wife Calpurnia and
Marc Antony. Caesar is accosted by a soothsayer who warns him to “Beware the Ides of
March.” Caesar dismisses the man as a dreamer and moves on to begin the festivities for the
Feast Day. Left behind are two men, Brutus and Cassius. Cassius strikes up a conversation
with Brutus and learns that Brutus is not happy with Caesar’s sharp rise to power. Cassius,
also wary of Caesar’s power, attempts to enlist support from Brutus in an effort to do
something about Caesar before the people crown him king, giving him absolute power. While
Brutus and Cassius are having this conversation, shouts are heard from offstage. Antony has
offered the crown to Caesar and he has refused it in a ploy to make the people of Rome beg
him to take the crown. Instead, the people cheer his decision and Caesar is forced to reject the
crown a total of three times. The anger he must suppress causes Caesar to suffer an epileptic
seizure. Cassius uses Caesar’s weaknesses to persuade Brutus to join in the conspiracy
against Caesar. The two men agree to meet at a later time to discuss the matter more fully.

scene 3

One month passes. It is now the evening of the Ides of March and a storm rages on Rome.
Casca meets Cicero on the street and tells him of the strange and eerie sights he has seen.
Cassius arrives and Casca gives him the news that the Senate means to crown Caesar king the
following day. Now with a heightened sense of urgency, Cassius knows he must pull the
forces of the conspiracy together immediately. Cassius enlists Casca into the group of
conspirators and makes his way to Brutus’ home. Brutus must join the conspiracy if it is to be
seen as a noble enterprise.
act 2 scene 1

Alone in his garden, Brutus contemplates the implications of joining Cassius and the other
conspirators. Based on the possibility of what might happen if Caesar gains more power,
Brutus agrees that Caesar must die. The conspirators, along with Cassius, visit Brutus and the
men make their plans for the following day. After the men leave, Brutus’ wife Portia asks to
know what is troubling her husband. She has gashed her leg in an effort to prove to Brutus
that she is strong enough to endure anything he may tell her. As he is preparing to tell her,
there is a knock at the door and Brutus promises Portia he will reveal all his secrets to her as
soon as possible.

scene 2

Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia, is concerned by the violent storm and the odd sightings reported
throughout Rome. She has also had a dream that she fears is a warning of Caesar’s death. She
begs Caesar to stay home and he finally agrees. When Decius Brutus arrives to escort Caesar
to the Senate, Caesar tells him he is not going. He tells Decius of Calpurnia’s dream but
Decius reinterprets the dream, making it an omen of good fortune. Caesar chooses to believe
Decius and when the other Senators arrive, he leaves with them to go to the Capitol.

scene 3

Artimedorus has learned of the plot to murder Caesar. He writes a letter naming the
conspirators, which he intends to give to Caesar as he passes on the way to the Capitol.

scene 4

Brutus has shared his secrets with his wife, Portia, and she is frantic to hear news from the
Capitol. She is afraid her nervousness will give the plot away, destroying her husband. The
Soothsayer encounters Portia on his way to warn Caesar one final time.

act 3 scene 1

On the way to the Capitol, Caesar encounters the soothsayer. Caesar again ignores his
warnings and when Artemidorus tries to give his letter to Caesar, Caesar refuses to read it
until later. Cassius is nervous that the plot has been discovered but all progresses as planned.
Inside the Senate, Metellus Cimber approaches Caesar to ask for enfranchisement for his
banished brother. All the other conspirators approach Caesar one by one supposedly on behalf
of Cimber’s brother. Brutus is the last to approach. Caesar refuses to change his mind,
claiming he is as constant as the Northern star. As planned, Casca is the first to stab Caesar.
The other conspirators follow suit but Caesar refuses to die until Brutus renders the final cut.
Caesar falls dead at the base of Pompey’s statue and the senators, thrown into a state of
confusion, run panicked into the streets. Antony sends his servant to ask permission for him
to return to the Senate to hear the reasons for Caesar’s murder. When he arrives, Antony
pretends to befriend the conspirators, shaking their bloody hands. He asks permission to
speak at Caesar’s funeral and Brutus, against Cassius’ wishes, gives him his consent. The
conspirators leave to explain to the people why they killed Caesar, leaving Antony alone with
Caesar’s mutilated body. Antony’s deep grief becomes apparent as he vows to revenge
Caesar’s murder. A servant arrives, informing Antony that Caesar’s nephew, Octavius, is on
his way to Rome.

scene 2

Brutus addresses the people of Rome telling them that the conspirators killed Caesar because
he was ambitious. The people seem to be satisfied with that explanation and cry out for
Brutus to be “Caesar.” Antony arrives with Caesar’s body to address the crowd and Brutus
departs, leaving Antony alone to deliver his funeral speech. Antony turns the crowd against
the conspirators. The violent mob disperses, creating havoc and running the conspirators out
of Rome. Antony receives the news that Octavius has arrived in Rome.

scene 3
Cinna the poet, encountering the hysterical mob, is mistaken for Cinna the conspirator and is
murdered.

act 4 scene 1
Antony and Octavius have formed the second Triumvirate with Lepidus. The three men are
discussing who among their enemies should be eliminated and how they can cheat the people
of Rome from the inheritance left to them in Caesar’s will. Antony informs Octavius that
Brutus and Cassius are forming their armies and that it is time for them to prepare for war.

scene 2
Brutus, camping with his army in Sardis, has sent for Cassius. Brutus’ servant informs Brutus
that Cassius has received him in a polite but distant manner. When Cassius arrives, it is
obvious that the friendship between the two men is strained and they move into Brutus’ tent
to discuss matters further

scene 3

Brutus accuses Cassius of accepting bribes and the quarrel between the two men escalates
until both men realize the futility of their anger. Brutus tells Cassius that Portia has
committed suicide and the men make plans for the forthcoming war with Antony and
Octavius. After the men leave Brutus’ tent, Brutus is visited by the ghost of Caesar who tells
Brutus he will see him at Philippi.

act 5 scene 1

Antony and Octavius and Brutus and Cassius prepare for battle. Brutus and Cassius, feeling
that they may lose the war, say their good-byes.

scene 2

Antony fights with Cassius’ men while Octavius battles against the army of Brutus.

scene 3

Cassius’ men begin to mutiny when defeat by Antony seems inevitable. Cassius, seeing men
storming his camps, sends Titinius to see if the men are friend or foe. Pindarus, mistaking
what he sees, tells Cassius that the enemy has captured Titinius. Cassius, despondent over
what he perceives as the loss of Titinius and the loss of the war, commits suicide. Brutus sees
the body of Cassius and mourns the loss of his friend and prepares for one last battle.

scene 4
Lucilius, pretending to be Brutus, is captured by Antony and his men. Antony spares his life
because of his loyalty to Brutus.

scene 5

Brutus has lost the final battle. To avoid being taken prisoner, Brutus kills himself and
Caesar’s death is finally avenged. Antony delivers Brutus’ eulogy and in an effort to bring
reconciliation to Rome, Octavius agrees to pardon the remaining men in Brutus’ army.