Julius Caesar - Scene by Scene Analysis

Before Caesar died,Brutus was trying to expose him for the man he really was. In Act 1, Scene 2, 97-99 , Cassius says to Brutus “ I was born as free as Caesar; so were you: we both have fed as well and he can both endure the winter’s cold as well as he”. What he meant by this is that Brutus and Caesar are the same. Everyone treats Caesar like a king but he is the same as everybody else.

     Cassius, up to the end of the play, was very aware of his fate and took the largest strides to overcome that. This is due to the fact that Cassius followed the Epicurean philosophy, which believes that the gods do not involve themselves directly in the fate of man. This belief was highlighted when he told Brutus “Men at some time are masters of their fates: the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our starts, but in ourselves, that we are underlings” (I. ii. 139-141). Because of this belief, he never resigned himself to live in the world in its current state. He always felt that there was something he could do to better his standing in life. This diligent effort to better himself led Caesar to comment “such men as he…are very dangerous” (I. ii. 209-210). Cassius’ role in the play was using his free will to overcome the fate that would come true, the fate that Caesar was one day going to become emperor. Because he was so driven by the desire to overcome this fate, he was

as a way of justifying his actions. Cassius Is attempting to justify his dislike for Caesar using propaganda techniques. Meanwhile, Brutus is trying to justify his actions in act 3, Brutus says,

In Act I, Scene 2, the purpose of Cassis’ speech is to persuade Brutus to distrust Caesar, and to join him in a conspiracy against Caesar. In his speech to Brutus, Cassius uses a variety of persuasive and rhetorical devices to persuade Brutus to join his cause against Caesar. Cassius is desperate to have Brutus on his side because of his close relation to Caesar and great respect and trust from the people of Rome. The tone of Cassius’ speech to Brutus is introduced with Cassius appealing to Brutus’ sense of responsibility towards Rome. Cassius tells Brutus that he has, “Heard where many of the best respect in Rome, except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus and groaning underneath this age’s yoke, have wished that noble Brutus had his eyes” (I.ii.64-68). Cassius tells Brutus that he is admired by Rome, appealing to Brutus’ value of putting Rome ahead of himself. Cassius uses knowledge of this value to his advantage in his speech, insisting that killing Caesar will be for the good of Rome. Cassius also introduces his speech by persuading Brutus that he is honorable and can be trusted. Cassius tells Brutus that, “Honor is the subject of my story”(I.ii.99). This appeals to the speaker Cassius’ credibility and has an ethical appeal on Brutus, or ethos. This appeal is effective because it connects with something that Brutus values, honor. In Cassius’ speech to Brutus, he uses a comparison comparing Caesar to a Colossus saying, “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a Colossus, and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about to find ourselves dishonorable graves”(I.ii.142-144). Cassius is using an analogy comparing Caesar to Colossus, which was a large statue. Cassius again uses Brutus’ value of honor to persuade when he tells Brutus that if Caesar is in power, he and Brutus will die dishonorable deaths. During the time period, an honorable death was very important to noble Romans, especially Brutus. When Cassius is comparing the two names Brutus and Caesar, he uses the strategy of asking rhetorical questions. “Brutus and Caesar: what should be in that ‘Caesar?’ Why should that name be sounded more than yours?(I.ii.149-151).” Cassius also asks, “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed that he

Cassius’s jealousy caused all the events in the play to be set in motion, and thus led to his downfall. A prominent example of this would be when Brutus and Cassius are speaking and Cassius is trying to convince Brutus to join his plot by telling a story of how Caesar had to ask for Cassius’s help because he was too weak and tired to continue swimming. This leads Cassius to say, “Did I the tired Caesar. And this a man / Is now become a god, and Cassius / A wretched creature and must bend his body / If Caesar carelessly but nod on him” (I.ii.115-118). This quote in modern times would say, “Caesar was tired. And this man is supposed to be a god, and I am a wretched creature who has to kneel to Caesar.” Cassius is implying that Caesar is supposed to be this strong god and Cassius a wretched creature, yet Cassius had to save Caesar from drowning. This quote leads to Cassius’s downfall because it shows his jealousy through what he is feeling towards Caesar. His downfall is also shown because this scene is Cassius trying to convince Brutus to join his plot. Another quote that proves Cassius’s tragic flaw occurs after Brutus has died. Messala is asking

Brutus then talks about how what they had done to Caesar he will do to himself if the time should ever come up. This shows another theme: Ethos. He then says how Caesar's

Caesar is a very ambitious, which means he is eagerly desirous of gaining power and that he believes he can control his own fate. This quote from Caesar gives an example of Caesar being ambitious “Caesar shall forth, the things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back when they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished.” Basically what Caesar is saying is that when danger sees his face it will run away and hide. This shows how Caesar thinks that he can control his own fate, but this is not the case.

While proving a point, Cassius brings up the analogy that they’re walking under Caesar like he's a giant and the nobles are being treated as if they’re slaves. He starts playing with Brutus’ emotions by saying, “Brutus and Caesar: What should be in that “Caesar”?/ Why should that name be sounded more than yours”(828)? Expressing the fact that their names are voiced with the same geniality, share the same weight, and share the same power he is making Brutus feel as if he is just as good as Caesar which he did not feel before. Using Brutus’ emotion Cassius executes

1. When Caesar says that Cassius thinks too much, I agree. Cassius tends to look into the details and over think simple situations. He becomes very meticulous about how the group of the conspirators is organized. Also, while Cassius is the one who originally comes up with the idea of the conspiracy and that he wants Brutus to be in charge, he thinks through the plan, yet does not want to take responsibility. Cassius just about argues with himself, due to too many thoughts running through his mind. He thinks about so vile a thing as Caesar! But, O grief, where hast thou led me? I perhaps speak this before a willing bondman. Then I know my answer must be made. But I am armed and dangers to me

In the second line he compares Caesar to Colossus of Rhodes, a statue depicting the Ancient Greek god of the sun, Helios. The statue was said to be around 33m/108ft tall. It was destroyed during an earthquake, broke at the knees and collapsed due to its immense height and weight. Caesar and Colossus relate to each other because Caesar’s great ego is like colossus’s great height. Comparing Caesar to Colossus was also meant to show that Caesar’s ego might get to him, causing him to fall (figuratively) just as his bronze counterpart

Julius Caesar is thought of as the most powerful and glorious ruler to step foot in Rome. The only thing

These concepts Caesar contributes in his dialogue relate closely to the well known story of Cain and Abel, found in the Book of Genesis. In the famous Old Testament story, Cain, a crop farmer, and Abel, a shepherd, are brothers with an interesting twist to their story. The story begins as Cain and Abel are bringing offering to God, where Cain has gathered some fruit and Abel has brought the very best of his flock to offer to God. Because Abel had offered his very best to God, he “had regard” for his offering, but because Cain had not extended his best towards God, God “had no regard” for his fruit and was cast down, essentially lowering his rank.

Brutus speaks to the citizens of Rome to tell them why he killed Caesar, so that they will not turn on him. He talks about how he killed Caesar, not for his personal wants, but for the good of Rome. He tells the people that allowing Caesar to rule and fulfill his

Caesar establishes himself as undeniably permanent by equating himself to the North Star, by which sailors and travelers would navigate, and around which the stars themselves revolve. Caesar also states that he has no equals amongst his people, effectively raising himself above his former peers and almost comically making him a target his assassination, which comes shortly after this event. This speech by Caesar gives reason for great concern amongst the Romans, as his attitude an arrogance have reached a critical level, even before taking the reigns as emperor. Gordon Ross Smith, in his article “Brutus, Virtue, and Will” says about Brutus:

At the start of the timelessly classic play, Julius Caesar was in the final stages of parlaying his military prowess and growing cult of personality into enthronement as the long absent autocrat of Rome. His brother-in-arms, Marcus Brutus, after fighting at Caesar’s side for so long, was forced to weigh his loyalty to Caesar against his loyalty to Rome, setting the stage for the troubling events to come. As Caesar’s divine right to rule and infallibility were trumpeted throughout Rome, others were not so convinced of his purity and worthiness. Cassius, a dissident Senator, opened Brutus’ eyes to the circumstances unfolding before them and to what could be lost should Caesar take the throne. Cassius voiced his opposition strongly, saying: