Julius Caesar Group at eNotes

In Act III, scene iii, we briefly encounter the minor character of a...

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:16:02 PST

In Act III, scene iii, we briefly encounter the minor character of a poet who unfortunately has the same name as one of Caesar's assassins, Cinna. Having dreamt of dining with the slain Caesar, Cinna is intent upon staying out of the mayhem that Mark Antony has stirred up, but despite his misgivings, "something" leads him forth. The frenzied plebian mob interrogates him mercilessly and it is evident that they are predisposed to harm him. When...

It is ironic that Mark Antony, the Roman general whose funeral oration...

Sun, 5 Jul 2009 09:14:56 PST

It is ironic that Mark Antony, the Roman general whose funeral oration turns the people against Brutus and the other "honorable" men is assigned the dramatic function of praising the fallen Brutus at the play's end. Antony calls Brutus the "noblest Roman of them all," but his words thereafter suggest that the "all" in question includes only the conspirators against Caesar. The conclusion of this brief speech, in which Nature stands up to say...

This world had been miserably wrong in understanding shakespeare in the...

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 23:36:09 PST

This world had been miserably wrong in understanding shakespeare in the past. The enquirer is advised to forget the names to begin with and concentrate on the main source of conflict and the conflict is between the two ideologies. one being the love for republicanism and the other for the monarchy. The Romans have suffered a lot under the reign of Torquin the Proud and have resolved to stick to republic texture of governance. who raised...

The festival began with the sacrifice by the Luperci of two male...

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:03:44 PST

The festival began with the sacrifice by the Luperci of two male goats and a dog. Next two young patrician Luperci were led to the altar, to be anointed on their foreheads with the sacrificial blood, which was wiped off the bloody knife with wool soaked in milk, after which they were expected to smile and laugh. The sacrificial feast followed, after which the Luperci cut thongs from the skins of the victims, which were called Februa,...

Shakespeare deliberately emphasized that the motivations of conspirators...

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 05:33:55 PST

Shakespeare deliberately emphasized that the motivations of conspirators are highly variable. Most of the minor members of the cabal are moved by personal grudges. Cassius, by contrast, takes part in the conspiracy against Caesar owing chiefly to his envy of the lofty and undeserved stature accorded to Caesar as a demigod. Brutus, however, has no personal grudge against Caesar, nor does Brutus resent Caesar's stature in the eyes of the people....

Brutus, not Julius Caesar, is the main protagonist of Shakespeare's...

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 05:32:53 PST

Brutus, not Julius Caesar, is the main protagonist of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and so the play's title appears to be misleading. Caesar dies before the mid-point of the play is reached and Shakespeare does not provide the Roman Emperor with a single memorable speech. On the other hand, it is Caesar's ambition to become absolute dictator of Rome that provides the dramatic conflict for Brutus's participation in the assassination conspiracy,...

I would say not very well in this day and age. They clearly have too...

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:40:14 PST

I would say not very well in this day and age. They clearly have too many faults and both are unable to either trust their own instincts or anyone else's because they have such a poor ability to choose friends wisely.

I concur witih marilynn07 that Cassius would fare better in the arena of...

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:59:09 PST

I concur witih marilynn07 that Cassius would fare better in the arena of politics than Brutus. If there were a comparison to presidents of our modern times, Brutus would, perhaps, be like Jimmy Carter, who also was so committed to principle. Unfortunately, however, he did not fare well in economics or many foreign affairs. He was, like Brutus in his battles, inept and ineffective During his presidency the attempt to free the Iranian...

Cassius is manipulating and sly. He would fit in just fine in...

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:44:40 PST

Cassius is manipulating and sly. He would fit in just fine in Washington with our current bunch. Brutus, even though he is noble and does what he thinks is right for Rome, is naive. He is gullible and allows people with ulterior motives to sway him to do something he doesn't feel good about...he would be fed to the wolves, unless he could learn to stand on his own feet and make decisions that were sound. I am reminded that what is...

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus form a political alliance and take of the...

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:20:41 PST

Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus form a political alliance and take of the rule of Rome as a triumvirate after Caesar's death. It can be argued that, of the three triumvirs, Octavius is the most wise and level-headed. When Antony speaks of their fellow-triumvir Lepidus slightingly, Octavius challenges him, asking him how he can allow Lepidus to have the power to condemn people to death if he feels this way. Octavius himself is "fair-minded...

The best answer is unequal. Cassius and Brutus struggle with one...

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:09:54 PST

The best answer is unequal. Cassius and Brutus struggle with one another, and Brutus clearly dominates the decision making, but they are friends. Cassius calls Brutus his "brother" at one point. However, the triumvirate of Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus is presented as all business, and Octavius clearly leads the pack. Antony doesn't like Lepidus, and feels he is not good enough to have power. Antony, in other words, is a snob. ...

What is the relationship among Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus in Julius...

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:58:08 PST

What is the relationship among Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus in Julius Caesar?

This is an interesting question. Cassius is ambitious and power hungry....

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 04:32:18 PST

This is an interesting question. Cassius is ambitious and power hungry. However, he is probably too moral for the present bunch of politicians. He would I think be able to assimilate into the mix and be just like the rest of the politicians in short order. Cassius would probably easily cast off his morals in favor of prestige and power. He would be the person who gains the favor of the "right" people to help him secure a position of power....

How would Cassius and Brutus fare as politicians in the 21st century?

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:01:22 PST

How would Cassius and Brutus fare as politicians in the 21st century?

Yours is a question that has long been debated, and arguments can be...

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:54:20 PST

Yours is a question that has long been debated, and arguments can be made for both characters. For, Caesar and Brutus of "Julius Caesar" both demonstrate hubris, arrogance as a result of his pride or passion; they both make tragic mistakes, or commit harmartia; and they both die as a result of their tragic mistakes, However, it would seem that Brutus commits his "act of injustice," hamartia, more closely to definition, having killed Caesar...

They somehow get to know that Antony has incited the mob in his speech,...

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:38:02 PST

They somehow get to know that Antony has incited the mob in his speech, and escape, on horses, from the gates of Rome "riding like madmen".

Who is the hero in the play "Julius Caesar"- Brutus or Julius Caesar?

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:14:06 PST

Who is the hero in the play "Julius Caesar"- Brutus or Julius Caesar?

There are several references to Caesar's "falling down sickness" which...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:01:50 PST

There are several references to Caesar's "falling down sickness" which is probably epilepsy. This would be considered something beyond his control...not a choice...an infirmity. Where Caesar is in control, but makes a choice that others see as "weak" would be an physical weakness. This includes the swimming incident where he is unable or chooses not to swim the length necessary to reach safety. Both of these incidents are pointed to by the...

I previously answered this in a message to you. Let me know if you...

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:51:50 PST

I previously answered this in a message to you. Let me know if you don't understand the swimming incident, the crown incident, or when Caesar actually had a seizure.

According to Shakespeare, which of the following is an infirmity,...

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:52 PST

According to Shakespeare, which of the following is an infirmity, physical weakness, of Caesar?