JULIUS CAESAR ACT - I SCENE - I Line No 16 to 33 Explained

Julius Caeser, is written by William Shakespeare and it is prescribed for the students of Classes IX and X of the Council for the ISC Examinations, New-Delhi. To understand this play, you need to understand the significance of each and every word of the play, which I shall try to explain in a lucid language.
Once again, let me remind you that, while listening to my explanation, I would advise to keep the text or the textbook in your hand along with a pencil. While the explanation will go on, you should go on writing the meanings or the significance of the words which we will cross. In case you miss out anything, I would advise you to rewind the audio and listen again and again, so that, it becomes easy for you to understand the play.

THE SCENE
ACT – I

SCENE – I

Line No – 16 to 33

Rome. A street.
The common people had gathered to welcome Caesar. There is a large gathering of common people in the streets of Rome. The common citizens and artisans of Rome have come out in the streets to see Caesar pass and to rejoice his triumphs. Artisans means – common people.
It is a holiday crowd composed of tradesmen and mechanics and artisans who are enthusiastically celebrating the triumph of Julius Caesar at the defeat of the sons of Pompey. The tribunes, Flavius and Marullus, (who belong to Pompey’s party are afraid of Caesar's increasing powers, who do have no sympathy for Caesar, rebuke the people most vehemently chase them home. They drive them away from the street, for they do not want Caesar to be shown any mark of honour. The crowd disperses “tongue tied in their guiltiness”. Flavius goes away to disrobe the images of Caesar wherever he finds them “decked with ceremonies”.

THE TEXT
JULIUS CAESAR

MARULLUS
What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade ?

Second Commoner
Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet,
if you be out, sir, I can mend you.

MARULLUS
What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow !

Second Commoner
Why, sir, cobble you.

FLAVIUS
Thou art a cobbler, art thou ?


Second Commoner
Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I
meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's
matters, but with awl. 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.

FLAVIUS
But wherefore art not in thy shop today?
Why dost thou lead these men about the streets ?

Second Commoner
Truly, sir, to wear