ACT III SCENE 1
Decius, on behalf of Trebonius said that the latter wished for Caesar to read through the document
at his convenience. Artemidorus entreated Caesar to read his first, as it was a petition with direct
ramifications on Caesars personal matters. Caesar, however, proclaimed that any petition that
affected him directly would be dealt with at last. Artemidorus kept on pressing Caesar to read it as
apparently, it was imperative that he did so. Caesar dismissed him for pressing him to read the
petition in the streets and informed him to come with it to the Capitol.
(Theme of fate versus free will; Ones destiny can be influenced by others.)
Cassius was disquieted about the conspiracy being prevented. He urged Casca to be quick and
probed Brutus with the question of what should be done. If their connivance were to fail, either
Cassius or Caesar would not come back, for Cassius would rather kill himself.
Brutus pressed Cassius to remain steadfast as Popilius Lena did not speak of their purpose. He was
smiling and Caesars countenance remained unchanged.
Metellus Cimber appeared to present a humble request before Caesar, straight from his heart that
was filled with humility.
Caesar asserted that he must prevent him from kneeling. Courtesies and civilities may warm the
blood or rouse the nature of ordinary men, but Caesar was not of the regular populace. Salutations
would make what was ordained by statute from the beginning as liable to change as the rules made
by children. Caesar advised against thinking his spirit to be false to its real nature and so susceptible
to that which enticed fools; the use of flattering language, exaggerated gestures of respect, and
excessive displays of servility like that of a dog. If someone tried to flatter Caesar, he would reject
them. Caesar did not make unjust decrees, and thus, Metellus brother would not be pardoned
without a good reason.
,Metellus believed his voice to carry more worth and significance when it came to persuading Caesar
to repeal the banishment of his brother.
Brutus was trying to assure Caesar that his gesture of kissing Caesars hand was not motivated by a
desire to curry favour, but an appeal to immediately repeal Publius Cimber banishment.
Cassius said that he would bow as low as Caesars feet to beg for Publius Cimbers restoration to
citizenship.
To their appeals Caesar replied that were he like them, were he adept at soliciting assistance, then
their prayers might have influenced him. However, this was not the case due to his own constancy
and strength of will. He was as unchanging as the Northern Star, a star that serves as a fixed point
of reference in the sky. He accentuated his steadfastness by contrasting it with the fleeting nature of
the stars that filled the sky which may shine bright but did not hold its place like the North Star. He
declared that the world was the same, pervaded with men made of flesh and blood and having
physical and mental senses. Caesar claimed that he knew only one individual who remained
unyielding in his decisions, and he was that man. By refusing to reverse Cimbers banishment,
Caesar not only affirmed his authority but also reaffirmed that he remained unwavering in his
decision that Cimber should be banished and would be kept so.
Caesar continued with another comparison that implied his godly status. He said that trying to get
him to change his mind was as futile as trying to move Mount Olympus, the mythological home of
the Gods.
(He seemed to have a very high opinion of himself but in truth, he indeed was the centre of attention
and seemed to have a lot of power.)
Casca signalled for the attack to commence with the phase Speak, hands for me! The realisation of
Brutus betrayal struck Caesar, and he uttered the line Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar. With those
final words, Caesar resigned himself to his fate as even his dearest friend had turned against him.
, The conspirators wanted everyone to know that their actions were justified as they forced Caesar to
pay ambitions debt. In other words, they had punished Caesar appropriately for his aspiration to be
king of Rome.
Cinna noted that Publius was quite alarmed by the anarchic disarray. Metellus Cimber advised the
conspirators to stay together to protect themselves in case Caesars supporters retaliate. Brutus
counselled the conspirators to not concern themselves with trying to defend themselves, rather, to
reassure Publius that no harm was intended towards him or any other Roman citizen. Cassius
concurred, suggesting that Publius should depart to avoid being harmed by the irate crowd. Brutus
restated Cassiuss advice and asserted that no one should bear the repercussions of their actions
except for the conspirators themselves.
Antony fled to his house, gripped with shock. Men, women and children stared wildly, yelling, and
ran around as though it was the end of the world.
Brutus claimed that people knew what Gods had in store for them. They were aware that they would
all die one day. The only uncertainty lied in when it would occur. By prolonging their lives, people
merely delay the inevitable. A man who died twenty years early also shortened the time he would
have spent in fearing death.
According to Brutus, accepting that, death became a benefit, a gift and not a curse. As his true
friends, they had shortened Caesars time of fearing death. He then instructed the conspirators to
bend down, dip their hands in Caesars blood, all the way up to their elbows and smear their swords
with his blood. They would then go to the marketplace and brandish their blood-stained weapons
over their heads. They would proclaim peace, liberty and freedom, to present themselves as
liberators rather than murderers.
Cassius affirmed Brutus directions of bending down and smearing their hands with Caesars blood.
He reflected on the future and speculated about how the assassination would be enacted and retold
in countries that did not yet exist and in languages that were then unknown. (Irony: Cassius was
Decius, on behalf of Trebonius said that the latter wished for Caesar to read through the document
at his convenience. Artemidorus entreated Caesar to read his first, as it was a petition with direct
ramifications on Caesars personal matters. Caesar, however, proclaimed that any petition that
affected him directly would be dealt with at last. Artemidorus kept on pressing Caesar to read it as
apparently, it was imperative that he did so. Caesar dismissed him for pressing him to read the
petition in the streets and informed him to come with it to the Capitol.
(Theme of fate versus free will; Ones destiny can be influenced by others.)
Cassius was disquieted about the conspiracy being prevented. He urged Casca to be quick and
probed Brutus with the question of what should be done. If their connivance were to fail, either
Cassius or Caesar would not come back, for Cassius would rather kill himself.
Brutus pressed Cassius to remain steadfast as Popilius Lena did not speak of their purpose. He was
smiling and Caesars countenance remained unchanged.
Metellus Cimber appeared to present a humble request before Caesar, straight from his heart that
was filled with humility.
Caesar asserted that he must prevent him from kneeling. Courtesies and civilities may warm the
blood or rouse the nature of ordinary men, but Caesar was not of the regular populace. Salutations
would make what was ordained by statute from the beginning as liable to change as the rules made
by children. Caesar advised against thinking his spirit to be false to its real nature and so susceptible
to that which enticed fools; the use of flattering language, exaggerated gestures of respect, and
excessive displays of servility like that of a dog. If someone tried to flatter Caesar, he would reject
them. Caesar did not make unjust decrees, and thus, Metellus brother would not be pardoned
without a good reason.
,Metellus believed his voice to carry more worth and significance when it came to persuading Caesar
to repeal the banishment of his brother.
Brutus was trying to assure Caesar that his gesture of kissing Caesars hand was not motivated by a
desire to curry favour, but an appeal to immediately repeal Publius Cimber banishment.
Cassius said that he would bow as low as Caesars feet to beg for Publius Cimbers restoration to
citizenship.
To their appeals Caesar replied that were he like them, were he adept at soliciting assistance, then
their prayers might have influenced him. However, this was not the case due to his own constancy
and strength of will. He was as unchanging as the Northern Star, a star that serves as a fixed point
of reference in the sky. He accentuated his steadfastness by contrasting it with the fleeting nature of
the stars that filled the sky which may shine bright but did not hold its place like the North Star. He
declared that the world was the same, pervaded with men made of flesh and blood and having
physical and mental senses. Caesar claimed that he knew only one individual who remained
unyielding in his decisions, and he was that man. By refusing to reverse Cimbers banishment,
Caesar not only affirmed his authority but also reaffirmed that he remained unwavering in his
decision that Cimber should be banished and would be kept so.
Caesar continued with another comparison that implied his godly status. He said that trying to get
him to change his mind was as futile as trying to move Mount Olympus, the mythological home of
the Gods.
(He seemed to have a very high opinion of himself but in truth, he indeed was the centre of attention
and seemed to have a lot of power.)
Casca signalled for the attack to commence with the phase Speak, hands for me! The realisation of
Brutus betrayal struck Caesar, and he uttered the line Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar. With those
final words, Caesar resigned himself to his fate as even his dearest friend had turned against him.
, The conspirators wanted everyone to know that their actions were justified as they forced Caesar to
pay ambitions debt. In other words, they had punished Caesar appropriately for his aspiration to be
king of Rome.
Cinna noted that Publius was quite alarmed by the anarchic disarray. Metellus Cimber advised the
conspirators to stay together to protect themselves in case Caesars supporters retaliate. Brutus
counselled the conspirators to not concern themselves with trying to defend themselves, rather, to
reassure Publius that no harm was intended towards him or any other Roman citizen. Cassius
concurred, suggesting that Publius should depart to avoid being harmed by the irate crowd. Brutus
restated Cassiuss advice and asserted that no one should bear the repercussions of their actions
except for the conspirators themselves.
Antony fled to his house, gripped with shock. Men, women and children stared wildly, yelling, and
ran around as though it was the end of the world.
Brutus claimed that people knew what Gods had in store for them. They were aware that they would
all die one day. The only uncertainty lied in when it would occur. By prolonging their lives, people
merely delay the inevitable. A man who died twenty years early also shortened the time he would
have spent in fearing death.
According to Brutus, accepting that, death became a benefit, a gift and not a curse. As his true
friends, they had shortened Caesars time of fearing death. He then instructed the conspirators to
bend down, dip their hands in Caesars blood, all the way up to their elbows and smear their swords
with his blood. They would then go to the marketplace and brandish their blood-stained weapons
over their heads. They would proclaim peace, liberty and freedom, to present themselves as
liberators rather than murderers.
Cassius affirmed Brutus directions of bending down and smearing their hands with Caesars blood.
He reflected on the future and speculated about how the assassination would be enacted and retold
in countries that did not yet exist and in languages that were then unknown. (Irony: Cassius was
