Student Question
Who is the Second Citizen?
The identity of the second citizen is confused between a priest and a cobbler. The phrase "A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience" could apply to both professions. Further confusion arises from the phrase "mender of bad soles," which could also be read as "mender of bad souls," a role associated with a priest.
Quick answer:
The Second Citizen, also referred to as the "Second Plebian," is a cobbler. This is evident from the play on words in his lines, such as "mender of bad soles" and his reference to working with an "awl" and being a "surgeon to old shoes." These lines clarify his profession and contrast his honest labor with the conspirators' treachery.
The Second Citizen (in my text, "Second Plebian") is actually a cobbler. The "mending of soles" is a clever play on words (soles = souls).
First, his lines read:
A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience,
which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles. (1.1.13-16)
Then,
Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman's
matters nor women's matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old
shoes. When they are in great
danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon
neat's leather have gone upon my handiwork. (1.1.22-26)
The cobbler lines are directed to Flavius and Marullus, who are plotting to kill Caesar (along with others). The cobbler is among the many who have come taken the day off in order to see Caesar. The talk about "souls" therefore makes the pair feel guilty about their impending betrayal. Their treachery is compared to the honest labor of the citizen.
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