Julius Caesar Group

Question:

sakthi
sakthi
Teacher
College - Freshman

Please explain Act II, scene 3 in "Julius Caesar"?

Rate question:

Posted by sakthi on Saturday August 1, 2009 at 7:12 AM and tagged with act 2 scene 3.

Answers:

  1. mwestwood
    mwestwood Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    In this short scene of "Julius Caesar," Artemidorus, a teacher and friend of some of the conspirators, has learned of the assassination plot against Caesar.  Therefore, he writes to Caesar naming the conspirators and urging Caesar

    If thous beest not/immortal, look about you:  security gives way to conspiracy/The mighty gods defend thee!

    Artemidorus determines that he will stand on the street until Caesar passes, and, as a devoted friend, he will give him the letter.

    Although this scene is extremely brief, it reinforces some of the reflections of Brutus in scene 1 and some of the remarks of Caesar in scene 2 of this act.  For instance, Brutus worries that Caesar as the

    climber [who] upward turns his face/But when he once attains the upmost round,/He then unto the ladder turns his back,/Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees/By which he did ascend.   So Caesar may (II,i,21-27)

    The concern of Brutus that Caesar may become too powerful and give little heed to those beneath him is suggested in Caesar's words in the next scene as he refutes the words of the augurer's (officials who interpret omens) who urge Caesar also not to go to the Senate; he feels himself more powerful than they:

    Danger knows full well/That Caesar ismore dangerous than he./We are two lion littered in one day,/And I the elder and more terrible,/and Caesar shall go forth. (II,ii,44-47)

     As a wise teacher and a man knowledgeable of the conspirators, Artemidorus wisely reflects that no good can come from those conspirators who envy him; at the same time he understands the power of Fate upon Caesar whose tragic fault of pride takes him to the Senate.

    My heart laments that virtue cannot live/Out of the teeth of emulation/If thou read this, O Caesar, thou mayes live;/If not, the Fates with traitors do contrive (II,iii,12-15)

    Thus, in this brief scene are allusions to the motifs of ambition and Fate as well as some foreshadowing of the interaction of these two elements.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/julius-caesar-text
    http://www.enotes.com/julius-caesar/act-ii-scenes-3-4-sum...

    Rate answer:

    Posted by mwestwood on Saturday August 1, 2009 at 9:32 AM