Act+l+Scene+1



 Act l Scene 1 Summary: The opening scene of //Julius Caesar//, takes place on the Roman streets. The citizens are hanging around and enjoying their time, when the tribune, Flavius, tells them to go home (A tribune is a type of officer who protected the lower class). Flavius tells them that if it isn't a holiday, then men shouldn't be out in the streets unless they're doing their jobs. Flavius questions two men and the first man says he is a carpenter. The second man responds with a pun, saying that he is a cobbler. When Flavius asks them why they are in the streets and not in their shops, the cobbler says that everyone is out to see Caesar, because he is returning from his victory at Pompey. The Plebians want to celebrate the victory. The second tribune, Murellus, is very intolerant with the crowd, and was telling them that it wasn't long ago, when we were celebrating the victories of Pompey. Murellus says that Romans shouldn't be celebrating triumphs and victories over other Romans and sends the anxious workers home. After the crowd had left, Flavius tells Murellus how easily influenced the citizens of Rome are. Then he tells Murellus to take off all of the crowns that have been put on Caesar's statues. The two tribunes are trying to prevent Caesar from becoming too powerful and gaining glory.

Act 1 Scene 1 Analysis: This scene shows a major characteristic of the Roman citizens. They easily change their opinions and they are quickly influenced by the commoners around them. It is very important for the leader of Plebians to have the commoners on their side or else they will be swayed by the opinions of others. Scene 1 also shows that the city is divided with two thoughts of Caesar. They either think he is a very good leader and is very popular among some, or like the tribunes, some think Caesar is getting way too powerful. The fact that people are starting to go against Caesar is also foreshadowing the group of Conspirators forming.

Important Speech: //Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?/ What tributaries follow him to Rome,/ To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?/ You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!/ O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,/ Knew you not Pompey? Many a time and oft/ Have you climbed up to walls and battlements,/ To tow'rs and windows, yea, to chimney tops,/ Your infants in your arms, and there have sat/ The livelong day, with patient expectation,/ To see great Pompey pass the streets of Rome./ And when you saw his chariot but appear,/ Have you not made an universal shout,/ That Tiber trembled underneath her banks/ To hear the replication of your sounds/ Made in her concave shores?/ And do you now put on your best attire?/ And do you now cull out a holiday?/ And do you now strew flowers in his way/ That comes in triumph over Pompey's blood?/ Be gone!/ Run to your houses, fall upon your knees,/ Pray to the gods to intermit the plague/ That needs must light on this ingratitude./ - Marullus//



This speech shows that Marullus is trying to tell the townspeople Romans shouldn't be celebrating triumphs and victories over other Romans. Sources: William, Shakespeare,. __Julius Caesar __. New York: Signet Classic, 1998. http://www.novelguide.com/juliuscaesar/novelsummary.html

Picture Sources:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews25/a%20Julius%20Caesar%20Marlon%20Brando/a%20Julius%20Caesar%20marlon%20brando%20JULIUS_CAESAR-2(1).jpg

http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/gallery2/d/976-2/page_image612.jpg