In Act 1 of Julius Caesar, what are the two main conflicts?

In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Act I, Scene ii, continues the exposition begun in Scene i, and begins the rising action of the plot of the drama.  The most important characters are introduced in this scene.  In the plot development, the assassination conspiracy is introduced by its leader Cassius. 

When Cassius asserts his feelings toward Caesar, Brutus listens carefully.  He has been at war within his mind about Caesar’s lust for power.  Cassius and Brutus both see problems with Caesar becoming the emperor of Rome.  However, the first conflict in the play arises from the difference in reasons for joining the conspiracy.

Cassius dislikes Caesar personally.  He finds Caesar lacking in skills, weak, and womanish.  He also knows that Caesar suffers from the “falling sickness” which reinforces the idea that he is weak.  Cassius believes that he was born the same as Caesar.  His name is just as good as Caesar’s.  Why then should Romans have to bow down to one no better than Brutus or himself?

Brutus does not give much information about his feelings in this scene. He, however, does make it known that he is troubled by Caesar’s usurping government rule. When Antony offers the crown to Caesar, Brutus tells Cassius that he fears that Caesar will take the crown. In addition, Brutus tells Cassius that he does not know for sure what path that Cassius wants him to pursue.  If it is in the interest of Rome, Brutus is willing to listen to this serious subject.

Brutus:
Brutus had rather be a villager
Than to repute himself a son of Rome
Under these hard conditions as this time
Is like to lay upon us.  

Brutus loves Caesar as a friend and for the most part for his leadership.  Yet, Brutus wants to maintain the republican type of government which does not include having a dictator or emperor. 

This is the beginning of the conflict between Cassius and Brutus concerning the reasons for assassinating Caesar which continues until the Act IV.

Another conflict comes to the forefront.  Cassius makes plans to maneuver Brutus.  He decides to write letters and notes as though they come from the citizens of Rome declaring their unhappiness with Caesar and complimenting Brutus.  He will throw these notes into his house

Cassius:
I will this night,
In several hands, in at his windows throw,
As if they came from several citizens, I will this night, 
In several hands, in at his windows throw, 
Writings, all tending to the great opinion
That Rome holds of his name…

This manipulation continues throughout the play.  Brutus eventually stands up to Cassius and exhibits his stronghold over the conspirators and armies after the assassination.   This conflict does not speak well for the character of Cassius who is willing to get his way by any means necessary. Cassius’s dishonesty will raise its evil head again in Act IV.

In Julius Caesar, what are some conflicts in the drama?

Man vs. Self: Brutus struggles with the decision to join the conspirators and assassinate his close friend, Julius Caesar. Brutus struggles to discern whether or not Caesar is a genuine threat to the Roman Republic but eventually decides to take part in his assassination.

Man vs. Man: Julius Caesar struggles against his political enemies, who view him as a potential tyrant and threat to Rome. The conspirators assassinate Julius Caesar, which causes tremendous political unrest throughout Rome.

Man vs. Nature: Before Caesar's assassination, a terrible storm hits the city and unsettling supernatural events occur. The horrible weather and supernatural events foreshadow the chaos that will ensue upon Caesar's assassination. The unnatural weather and events disrupt the city, cause chaos, and appear to be preordained. The terrible weather also acts as an omen that Caesar should not visit the Capitol.

Man vs. Man: Following Caesar's assassination, Cassius and Brutus's armies battle Antony, Octavius, and Lepidus's forces. During the Battle of Philippi, Cassius makes a costly mistake and commits suicide because he believes that Brutus's forces have been defeated.

Man vs. Man (minor): Brutus gets into a serious argument with Cassius once he discovers that he has been selling political offices and bribing people. Brutus challenges Cassius before the Battle of Philippi, and the two friends almost come to blows.

Man vs. Society: Brutus and Cassius assume the leading roles in Caesar's assassination, and Brutus allows Mark Antony to address the masses during Caesar's funeral. Antony successfully stirs the masses to rebel, and both Brutus and Cassius become enemies of the public. Although Brutus and Cassius have supporters, the majority of Romans view them as enemies.

This is a question that covers almost the entire play.  In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, each act gives an example of some kind of conflict.   Conflicts move the story forward and usually tag the protagonist.

There are several kinds of conflicts:

Act I, Scene I---Man versus man

The tribunes oppose the workmen wasting a day celebrating the assassins.   The theory is that Pompey was a popular figure before his death.  Now, the Roman citizens welcome the assassin of the great Pompey with open arms.

Act II, Scene i-Man versus himself

Brutus had approximately thirty days to make his decision to join the conspirators. His life philosophy was stoicism; consequently, he made his decision based on logic and reasoning and trying to avoid any emotional influence.  He was the only conspirator who killed Caesar for the good of Rome.

Brutus:

Since Cassius first did  whet me against Caesar
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion all the interim is
Like a phantasma or a hideous dream;

Act I, Scene iii-Man versus nature

This conflict stems from the stormy day and night before the Ides of March.  As Cicero tells Casca, each man must decide for himself what the omens mean. 

Cassius went through the streets with his bare chest offering himself to be struck by lightning if his purpose was not supported by the gods.

Casca walks with his sword drawn because of the terrible signs that he has seen or heard about which were quirks in nature:

• Nocturnal bird seen in the daytime
• The heavens spewing fire
• Men on fire but not burned
• A lion giving birth in the street

There are many more conflicts which move the drama’s action forward and create havoc for the characters.  Shakespeare knew that to entertain the audience with a serious factual play that he had to provide many action filled contradictory scenes.  

What are the major conflicts in the play Julius Caesar?

There are many conflicts at work in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, but I'll focus on what I take to be the three main ones: the triumvirs vs. the conspirators, friendship vs. the needs of the state, and personal ambition vs. democratic governance.

The first conflict, the triumvirs vs. the conspirators, is the most obvious, as it takes the form of a civil war onstage, rather than as an abstract concept floating around in the ether. In the play, the triumvirs—Octavius, Antony, and Lepidus—engage the conspirators—most notably Cassius and Brutus—in open warfare on the battlefield. They do so to avenge Caesar's death and bring the assassins to justice (and also, one can assume, to take control of the power vacuum left in the wake of Caesar's absence).

The second conflict, friendship vs. the needs of the state, is a little more abstract, as it unfurls within the confines of Brutus' psyche. Brutus and Caesar are known to have a strong relationship as close friends; however, Brutus has also come to fear Caesar's unchecked ambition and the potentially autocratic implications it could have for the future of Rome. As such, Brutus must decide whether his friendship with Caesar is more or less important than the health of the Roman state. In the end, Rome wins.

The last conflict, personal ambition vs. democratic governance, can be seen in many forms. First and most obviously, we can see it manifest in Caesar's desire to rule Rome singlehandedly and the conspirators' desire to stop him at all costs. Second, we can also see it in Antony's willingness to employ an angry mob to catapult him to a higher position of power, disregarding the fact that the conspirators were fighting to protect Rome's representative government. This conflict is the most far-reaching of the play's tensions, and its tragic outcome (personal ambition seems to defeat democracy) still resonates today.

There are three main conflicts in this play. 

First, there is the conflict of friendship. Brutus and Caesar were friends. It was actually more than this. Caesar was like a father to Brutus. So, for Brutus to betray Caesar, there was a huge internal conflict. This is why if there is a tragic hero in the play, it is Brutus. 

Similarly there was a conflict of national interest. Brutus was torn in his loyalties, because he strongly believed in and valued the Roman republic and he loved Caesar. In the end, he choose to defend the Republic (wrongly). There is an important historical detail to keep in mind, because when the republic was established, it was Brutus's ancestor (another Brutus) who started the consulship and the republic. So, his family line was steeped in republicanism. 

Finally, there is a conflict between religion and reason. Right from the beginning of the play there were religious omens. For example, the soothsayer repeatedly said "Beware of the ides of March." There was also the storm and the dream of Caesar's wife. Caesar did not heed any of these things. 

This play is primarily a man vs. self conflict.  The protagonist, Brutus, must struggle with himself over his loyalty to his friend and his loyalty to his country.  He must decide for himself if murder is justified in the name of preserving democracy.  And, when the murder is committed, he must struggle with his guilt and his doubt of the loyalty of his conspirators.

This is also a man vs. society conflict.  Brutus is struggling against the movement of his society away from the republic and towards a dictatorship.  The people seem ready to accept such leadership, which is the cause of his actions.

Besides the obvious conflict between Ceasar and the senate, there are a multitude of internal conflicts throughout the play. 

1.  Cassius is jealous of Caesar's glory.  This is not the same as the political conflict; this one's personal.  Cassius remembers times when Caesar was weak (when he was ill, when he nearly drowned, etc), and Cassius believes that he is not getting the proper respect he deserves.

2.  Marcus Brutus is Caesar's close friend, and Brutus is torn between love for his country and love for his friend.  Love for country wins out, and Brutus joins the conspiracy.

3.  Calpurnia, Caesar's wife, had a bad dream and doesn't want him to go to the Senate House, but to stay home instead.  Caesar almost gives in until Decius Brutus reinterprets the dream to seem more favorable.  Decius also reminds Caesar that he doesn't want to be viewed as one who gives into his wife's fears, does he?

4.  Brutus and his wife Portia are in conflict because Brutus won't tell her what's going on.  She knows something's up, but Brutus thinks that she is better off in the dark.  This puts a wall between the two as she even says she'll stab herself in the thigh to prove just how tough she is.

5.  Brutus is tormented by his conscience after the assassination, and his guilt feelings materialize as Caesar's ghost.

6.  Brutus and Cassius begin fighting after the assassination about money to fund the battle and just where Cassius got the funds.

Enough?

The most obvious "major" conflict is the one between Caesar and the senate. Caesar is growing more powerful every day, and some of the senators fear that their jobs are on the line. They don't want Caesar to become king because all the power would then be centered in him. How is this conflict resolved? Murder.

What are the major themes in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

William Shakespeare based his political play Julius Caesar on actual events from 44 B.C.  Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman senators.  Their reasons were both personal and public.  There are several themes that Shakespeare illustrates in the play.

1st theme--

One theme emphasized by Shakespeare is friendship.  There is really only one friendship that comes from the play: Cassius and Brutus.  Obviously, Caesar has no real friends; even Antony was really just a worker for Caesar.  Yet, from the beginning. Cassius claims Brutus as his friend.

You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

Cassius did manipulate Brutus, but he needed him for the conspiracy to be successful.   This did not supplant his real esteem and respect for Brutus.  Brutus did not really dislike anyone.  Even though he was part of the conspiracy, Brutus still loved Caesar. 

Throughout the play, Cassius and Brutus may argue or disagree.  Still, they make up their friendship and move on with their goals. 

2nd theme-

Fate becomes a pervading influence in the play.

Cassius tells Brutus:

Men at some time are masters of their fates:
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.

To prove that he does not believe in fate, Cassius throws out his chest daring the gods to strike him with lightning. Cassius believes that it is up to individuals to make their own decisions and choose their own way.  Sounds logical except that at every turn someone is referring to the fates. In addition, there are  many portents or omens throughout the play.  The stormy night with men on fire, lions walking around, the owl seen at noon time--all point to the theme of free will versus fate

3rd theme

Individual honor conflicts with public honor in several situations.  The most evident situation concerns Brutus and his indecision to be a part of the assassination.  Brutus would not murder Caesar except for the honor of Rome.  His own individual honor is set aside.  On the other hand, Antony in his funeral oration ironically and sarcastically mocks  Brutus and the conspirators repeatedly by saying:

I should do Brutus wrong and Cassius wrong,
Who, you all know, are honorable men. 
I rather choose to wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you, Than I will wrong such honorable men.

Of course, Marc Antony means exactly the opposite.  He does want harm to come to the assassins and it wil come from Anotny. 

4th theme-

Power and Regicide

This is a political play written during the reign of Elizabeth I.  There was always intrigue and secrecy in the court during this time. Caesar is killed for having or possibly having too much power.

Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about. To find ourselves dishonourable graves. 

Regicide takes place in Caesar's time.  The killing of a leader does not solve any problems; usually, it creates them.  Such is the case in this assassination.  After Caesar's death, civil war ensues and the conspirator's are hunted down and killed.  The new triumvirate does not last.  Octavius assumes the power. 

What is the main conflict in Julius Caesar and how is it resolved?

I think that's actually a very challenging question. As I see it, there's an easy answer, and a difficult answer.

The easy answer is that the conflict is whether or not the conspirators are going to successfully manage to kill Caesar. There are a whole series of moments where Shakespeare makes you wonder whether they will get away with it, from the first moment Cassius persuades Brutus that Caesar might pose something of a threat to Rome and should somehow be dealt with, through Brutus' agonisings in his orchard, through Portia's worrying before the scene of Caesar's death (worrying that the conspiracy might be discovered), right up to this moment in the murder scene:

POPILIUS:
I wish your enterprise today may thrive.
CASSIUS:
What enterprise, Popilius?
POPILIUS:
Fare you well.
BRUTUS:
What said Popilius Lena?
CASSIUS:
He wish'd today our enterprise might thrive.
I fear our purpose is discovered.

This conflict is obviously resolved in Act 3, Scene 1, when Caesar dies.

Yet I'd argue the conflict is more complex. The real question is - was it right for them to kill Caesar? And that question resounds throughout the play. Brutus changes his mind - initially he thinks it's a good idea, but he tells Cassius that he should "be sorry" for the deed. And Shakespeare never resolves it: at the end of the play there is no hint as to whether Brutus and Cassius have done Rome a service, or committed a horrible crime. It's an unresolved conflict of right against wrong.
 

In "Julius Caesar," the main conflict resides within the tragic character of Brutus, whose idealism brings about the death of the man whom he loves, but loves less than he loves Rome.  For Brutus perceives Caesar as a tyrant who will harm Rome.  The irony is that by killing Caesar in his love for Rome, Brutus unleashes a brutal civil war as well as many unhonorable actions.  When Brutus argues with Cassius about taking bribes in Act IV, he condemns Cassius's behavior: 

I had rather be a dog, and bay the moon,/Than such a Roman (IV, iii, 26-28).

Brutus goes on to tell Cassius that he is

armed so strong in honesty/That they [Cassius's threats] pass by me as the idle wind...When Marcus Brutus grows so covetous /To lock such rascal counters from his friends/ be redy, god, with all your thunderbolts,/Dash him to pieces

Finally,when Brutus realizes that the civil war and the resulting triumvirate of Marc Antony, Octavius Caesar, and Lepidius is far worse, he runs onto his sword and dies, "dashing him[self] to pieces.  A tragic end, indeed.

What is the main conflict and resolution in the play Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is very obviously seeking to become a king or emperor and to have despotic rule over Rome and the empire. He has an army behind him. Numerous people fear and hate him. In the opening scene two tribunes are driving commoners off the streets and tearing down decorations in an attempt to undermine Caesar's growing popularity. This establishes the conflict.

Shakespeare is following actual Roman history and cannot impose his own imagination too heavily on the conflict or its outcome. When Cassius leads a successful coup, that would seem to be the end of that conflict. However, Antony becomes the dead Caesar's alter-ego and leads a counter-attack against Cassius, Brutus and the other conspirators. Caesar's ghost appears to Brutus twice, evidently to impress the audience that Caesar is still an awesome and mighty figure even after his death. When Brutus and Cassius are defeated at Philippi by Antony and Octavius, both acting as Caesar's representatives and avengers, Brutus says

O Julius Caesar, thou are mighty yet.
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails.

So the conflict throughout is between Julius Caesar and those who oppose his powerful will to establish an imperial dynasty.