Act+III,+Scene+i

//**"Et tu, Bruté?" **////**-Caesar (ll. 77) **//
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Act III, Scene i Summary __** **This scene takes place in Rome, before the Capitol. Artemidorus attempts to show Caesar a letter to save him from the conspirators, but Caesar ignores him and continues to the Capitol. Metellus appeals to Caesar on the freedom off his banished brother, Publius Cimber. Caesar does not even consider, and denies him. Angered, Casca strikes the first blow and stabs Caesar. Even Brutus, his best friend, joins in on the killing. Antony's servant comes to Brutus and speaks timidly to ask if any harm will come to his master. Brutus insists on having Antony join them. Antony's wish is to speak at the funeral, and Brutus consents. When Antony is by himself next to Caesar's body, he predicts that Caesar's spirit will be restless with revenge, and chaos will fall upon Rome. Meanwhile, Octavius, Caesar's successor, is on his way to Rome. Antony speaks to Octavius' servant and tells him to wait until they see the crowd's reaction to his speech before they proclaim it safe for Octavius to come.** 

**__Other Thoughts__** ** Caesar had seen it coming. He had many chances to avoid his fate, but due to his hurbris, he had ignored the warnings every time. He thinks of himself as a sort of god, unable to be harmed by others. He thought that it was just a game and that he was thinkinng that he was "invincible". This kind of thinking leads to his downfall when he speaks pompously to the conspirators. **

**WHY SO CRUEL CAESAR? ** Why did Caesar banish Cimber, Metellus' brother, in the first place? Throughout their interaction, it is found out that Cimber led a revolt or some sort of unwelcome statement against Caesar's rule. Now, Caesar is an extremely powerful man, it may not have been official, but Caesar had full power of Rome, which at the time, its empire stretched over vast lands. He also says that he made a decision that he was banished and he was not going to release him. So why should he be so worried about a mere protest? Remember how Caesar usurped the throne from Pompey, Rome's previous ruler. Did Pompey live? Of course he didn't. Caesar does not want something happening to him as he once did to Pompey. This is an ironic moment, because right after this encounter, he is stabbed to death by the Senate in hopes of usurping him and gaining his power. __ Signs __
 * OTHER THOUGHTS CONTINUED...**
 * A Soothslayer's warning (the ides of March)
 * Artemidorus' letter
 * Calpurnia's dream
 * Weird omens outside
 * Suspicions towards Cassius

 Caesar. (Act III, Scene i, ll. 58-73) I could be well moved, if it were as you; If I could pray to move, prayers would move me; But I am constant as the northern star, Of whose true-fixed and resting quality... Antony. (Act III, Scene i, ll. 254-75)  O, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, That I am meek and gentle with these butchers! Thou art the ruins of the noblest man That ever lived in the tide of times. Woe to the hand that shed this costly blood! Over thy wounds now do I prophesy (Which like dumb mouths do ope their ruby lips To beg the voice and utterance of my tongue) A curse shall light upon the limbs of men. Domestic fury and fierce civil strife Shall cumber all the parts of Italy; Blood and destruction shall be so in use, And dreadful objects so familiar. That mothers shall but smile when they behold Their infants quarter'd with the hands of war; All pity choked with custom of fell deeds, And Caesar's spirit ranging for revenge... Antony pretends to side with Brutus in order to save his life. He is smarter than he looks, and Brutus is too trusting when he agrees to let him speak at the funeral speech. Cassius has good instincts and cautions Brutus, "But yet I have a mind that fears him much; and my misgiving still falls shrewdly to the purpose" (ll. 144-46). This speech shows what he is feeling inside his heart, his thoughts that he hid from the conspirators. He secretly mourns the death of Caesar, and already has plans for a bloody revenge. He wants to revenge Caesar in any way he can, because Caesar was his fatherly figure (and possible his illigitimate father). He also almost fortells the Civil War that will split Rome, and implies that it will be so terrible that 'mother's shall but smile when they behold their infants quarter'd with the hands of war'. He shows his true colors, and almost gives him the aura of being a merciless, calculating man with a plan to destroy those who have destroyed the Roman authoritarian rule.   [For the purpose of better understanding the text and also a form of review] > 
 * Caesar's stubborn nature angered the conspirators along with his harsh words, "I spurn thee like a cur out of my way" (ll. 46). It is not surprising that Metellus wanted to kill him. He may be a good ruler, but he needed to at least consider Metellus' request. He thinks of himself as a star in the sky that is impossible to move. Wise rulers are humble and do not proclaim their greatness ****. **
 * <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Why is Caesar stubborn and unwilling to listen to others around him?
 * <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Was the murder of Julius Caesar really necessary? Could this have been avoided? If you were in the place of a Conspirator what would your thoughts be about the action taken against Caesar?
 * <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Why does Brutus insist on having Antony join them? If you were in the place of Antony, how would you feel about your best friends killers asking you to join them? What would your actions be?
 * <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Does Antony's prediction of Caesar returning for revenge seem logical? Why or why not?
 * Why is Antony very cautious of Octavius' arrival? Why does he put so much time and effort into Octavius coming to the city?
 * What would you think might have happened if Antony did not speek at the funeral?

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Watch [|the Murder of Julius Caesar as Portrayed by HBO]and compare it to the painting at the top of this page. Think to yourself what liberties both the artists and directors took. Was it different then from how you would imagine the actual play as the Elizabethans saw it. Why or why not? <span style="display: block; font-size: 10pt; color: rgb(0,0,0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">

Modern Connection

There are times when we have a bad feeling about something or know that there will be consequences. However, we choose to do it anyway, just to prove others wrong or to keep the image of self-confidence. The truth is, there will always be a risk that something will go wrong and we should at least be cautious before making any decisions. As a group of people, it is easy to influence others and sway opinions, like in the case of the conspirators. Caesar never did anything wrong, but they kill him without warning or hesitation.