Download Act V - Bibb County Schools

Major Characters
Julius Caesar
A great Roman general who has recently returned to Rome after a military victory in Spain. Julius Caesar is not the main
character of the play that bears his name; Brutus has over four times as many lines, and the play does not show us Caesar’s
point of view. Nonetheless, virtually every other character is preoccupied with Caesar—specifically, with the possibility that
Caesar may soon become king. If Caesar were to become king, it would mean the end of Rome’s republican system of
government, in which senators, representing the citizens of Rome, wield most of the power. To noblemen like Brutus and
Cassius, who consider themselves the equals of Caesar or any other citizen, Caesar’s coronation would mean they would no
longer be free men but rather slaves. Caesar never explicitly says that he wants to be king—he even refuses the crown three
times in a dramatic public display—but everything he says and does demonstrates that he regards himself as special and
superior to other mortals. In his own mind, he seems already to be an absolute ruler.
Brutus
A high-ranking, well-regarded Roman nobleman who participates in a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Brutus is motivated by
his sense of honor, which requires him to place the good of Rome above his own personal interests or feelings. Thus, he plots
against Caesar in order to preserve the republic even though he loves and admires Caesar personally. While the other
conspirators act out of envy and rivalry, only Brutus truly believes that Caesar’s death will benefit Rome. Brutus’s sense of
honor is also his weakness, as he tends to assume that his fellow Romans are as highminded as he is, which makes it easy for
others to manipulate him.
Antony
A loyal friend of Caesar’s. In contrast to the self-disciplined Brutus, Antony is notoriously impulsive and pleasure-seeking,
passionate rather than principled. He is extremely spontaneous and lives in the present moment. As resourceful as he is
unscrupulous, Antony proves to be a dangerous enemy of Brutus and the other conspirators.
Cassius
A talented general and longtime acquaintance of Caesar. Cassius resents the fact that the Roman populace has come to revere
Caesar almost as a god. He slyly leads Brutus to believe that Caesar has become too powerful and must die, finally converting
Brutus to his cause by sending him forged letters claiming that the Roman people support the death of Caesar. Impulsive and
unscrupulous like Antony, Cassius harbors no illusions about the way the political world works. A shrewd opportunist, he acts
effectively but lacks integrity.
Octavius
Caesar’s adopted son and appointed successor. Octavius, who had been traveling abroad, returns after Caesar’s death, then
joins with Antony and sets off to fight Cassius and Brutus. Antony tries to control Octavius’s movements, but Octavius follows
his adopted father’s example and emerges as the authoritative figure, paving the way for his eventual seizure of the reins of
Roman government.
Casca
One of the conspirators. Casca is a tribune (an official elected to represent the common people of Rome) who resents Caesar’s
ambition. A rough and blunt-speaking man, Casca relates to Cassius and Brutus how Antony offered the crown to Caesar three
times and how each time Caesar declined it. Casca insists, however, that Caesar was acting, manipulating the populace into
believing that he has no personal ambition. Casca is the first to stab Caesar.
Calphurnia
Caesar’s wife. Calphurnia invests great authority in omens and portents. She warns Caesar against going to the Senate on the
Ides of March, for she has had terrible nightmares and heard reports of many bad omens.
Portia
Brutus’s wife and the daughter of a noble Roman (Cato) who took sides against Caesar. Portia, accustomed to being Brutus’s
confidante, is upset to find him so reluctant to speak his mind when she finds him troubled.
Flavius and Murellus
Two tribunes who condemn the plebeians for their fickleness in cheering Caesar when once they cheered for Caesar’s enemy
Pompey. Flavius and Murellus are punished for removing the decorations from Caesar’s statues during Caesar’s triumphal
parade.
Cicero
A Roman senator renowned for his oratorical skill. Cicero speaks at Caesar’s triumphal parade. He later dies at the order of
Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus.
Lepidus
The third member of Antony and Octavius’s coalition. Though Antony has a low opinion of Lepidus, Octavius trusts Lepidus’s
loyalty.
Decius
A member of the conspiracy. Decius convinces Caesar that Calphurnia misinterpreted her dire nightmares and that, in fact, no
danger awaits him at the Senate. Decius leads Caesar right into the hands of the conspirators.
Summary of Acts
Act I:
The play opens humorously with a little word play between Flavius, Marullus, and a few workers. The workers are on their
way to see Julius Caesar who has recently returned from his victorious battle against Pompey. The reader immediately sees
the dislike the tribunes have towards Caesar. However, the commoners seem to love Caesar.
The scene moves to a large gathering where Caesar is the focus. As Caesar converses with Mark Antony, we learn that Caesar is
superstitious. The belief in the supernatural and the forces of nature are very prevalent in the play, and Caesar's comment is
but one example. To keep with the idea of the supernatural, a soothsayer speaks, warning Caesar to beware the Ides of March.
He acts as though he is not concerned.
After the exchange with the soothsayer, Caesar is offered the crown three times and refuses each time, even though the people
are cheering for him to accept the emperorship. At the same time, Cassius is trying to convince Brutus that Caesar is too
ambitious and should be killed before being allowed to rule the Roman Empire. Brutus, always seeking to do what is right, says
that he will not betray his honor and loyalty to Rome.
That evening, there are strange and unusual natural occurrences--the weather is very strange and violent and fire falls from
the sky. Most of the people believe that the weather is a bad omen, but Cassius disagrees. He uses the unusual weather to
reason that it is only for evil men (such as Caesar) who need to be afraid. The plotting against Caesar continues.
Act II:
Brutus is convinced by Cassius that it is for the good of Rome that Caesar be killed. Some of the other conspirators want to kill
friends of Caesar's, but Brutus feels that it is not necessary to kill anyone else. Only the person responsible for the downfall of
Rome should perish according to Brutus.
Caesar is contemplating on whether he should remain home during the Ides of March (which is March 15th). Calphurinia,
Caesar's wife, tells Caesar of the horrible dream she had about his death and that the strange occurrences the night before are
a prelude of his death. He agrees to stay until Decius, a conspirator, tells him her dreams were not of his death, but of him
saving Rome. Thus Caesar leaves for the Senate despite his wife's pleas.
Meanwhile, Artemidorus waits in the streets of Rome for Caesar to pass so he can give him a note, warning Caesar of the
conspiracy.
Act III:
Attempts are made to warn Caesar of the plot to kill him, but none are successful. Caesar is murdered in the Senate House.
Brutus keeps the others from killing anyone else and they all believe that their deed will be celebrated throughout the ages.
Antony enters and pretends that he agrees with the conspirators actions and is granted permission to speak at Caesar's
funeral.
Brutus speaks first at the funeral to explain their reasons for killing Caesar. The people seem to accept his explanation and
then Antony speaks. Throughout his speech, Antony never really says anything bad about Brutus and the others, but he talks
about Caesar being such a great and noble man willing to sacrifice all for his people. The listeners become angry and a mob
runs through the streets in search of the conspirators; they even kill a man because he had the same name as one of the
conspirators.
Act IV:
Battle plans are being made as well as a list of people supportive of Brutus and the conspirators. These people are to be killed.
Octavius and Antony methodically pick people (even family members) who are to be executed.
This next part somewhat confused me. Brutus and Cassius are arguing with each other because Brutus would not pardon a
friend of Cassius caught accepting bribes. It is almost as if Brutus is mad at Cassius for convincing him to kill Caesar and uses
this to vent his anger. Then they make up saying they weren't really in their right minds.
As if things aren't bad enough for Brutus, he finds out that his wife committed suicide by swallowing hot coals. Later he sees
the ghost of Caesar who tells him that they will meet again in Philippi.
Act V:
The battle is about ready to begin. First Octavius, Antony, Cassius, and Brutus meet on the battlefield to talk, but obviously
they cannot and will not cooperate. Brutus and Cassius talk after the meeting about the inevitable battle. They say their
farewells and part. It appears that Brutus has been defeated. Pindarus tells Cassius that Brutus has been taken and Antony has
defeated him. Thus, Cassius kills himself and then after seeing Cassius's body, Titinius kills himself. Later Brutus says that
Caesar's spirit "walks abroad.”
By the end, Brutus and Cassius' armies have been overwhelmed and Antony and Octavius are fast moving in on Brutus. Brutus
asks Strato to kill him and he agrees. Once Antony and Octavius find the body they say that Brutus was the only noble person
among the conspirators.