Act+I+Summary



One of Shakespeare's most famous plays opens with a funny pun many years ago between Flavius, Marullus, and a few workers, called Cobblers. The conversation between the men show that they do not like Caesar because they feel that he is getting way too powerful and egotistical, and must be stopped. Hoping to prove their point, the men decide to remove the decorations off Caesar's statues. A little while later, the two men and the workers are on their way to visit Caesar, who has won the victorious battle against Pompey. Caesar is proceeding through the streets, when he encounters a Soothsayer, a prophet, who tells Caesar to beware the "Ides of March (15th of March)," because he will die that day. Caesar ignores this warning, thinking the Soothsayer has no idea what he's saying. Cassius, who is a conspirator against Caesar, begins to fear Caesar's growing power, and tries to get one of Caesar's good friends, Brutus, to become part of the conspiracy. Brutus becomes aware of what Cassius is doing, and he tells him that he will think about being in the Conspirators. Casca, another member of the Conspirators, tells Brutus things that Caesar is getting more eager to be in power and that he should be killed. After the encounter with the Soothsayer, Caesar was offered the crown three times, but he rejected it because he wanted to show that he was humble. He also was cautious because his wife had a dream that the Roman citizens were bathing in his blood, and a few other omens that happened that night. That evening, there were more very odd natural occurrences like very strange weather and people running up and down the streets, on fire. The citizens of Rome believe that these odd occurrences were just a bad omen, but Cassius believes its a warning for Caesar, who should be afraid of what's coming for him. The Conspirators continue plotting against Caesar as the story goes on.

Sources:

http://shakespearenet.net/jcaesar/jcbreak.htm http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/caesar/summary/julius_caesar_summary.htm

Picture Source:

http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/MEPOD/10005487%7EJulius-Caesar-Caesar-and-the-Conspirators-Posters.jpg