JULIUS CAESAR ACT I SCENE II LINE NO 25 to 36 Explained THE TEXT CASSIUS Will you go see the order of the course? BRUTUS Not I. CASSIUS I pray you, do. BRUTUS I am not gamesome: I do lack some part Of that quick spirit that is in Antony. Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires; I'll leave you. CASSIUS Brutus, I do observe you now of late: I have not from your eyes that gentleness And show of love as I was wont to have: You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand Over your friend that loves you.
ABOUT THE SCENE In this scene we see, Caesar enters in procession. Glorious Caesar comes accompanied by Antony, Calpurnia and others. He advises Antony to touch Calpurnia during his Lupercalian run so that she may be cured of her barrenness. A soothsayer warns Caesar against the “Ides of March”, but Caesar ignores the warning. Brutus is absent from the festival and Cassius drops out of the procession. He begins to persuade Brutus to think of the political degradation of Rome, when one man i.e. Caesar was dominating over all. He asks Brutus to take the lead against Caesar’s ambitious designs. He appeals to Brutus’s character, patriotism and ancestry. He starts the conspiracy by seeking the support of Brutus. By subtle flattery of Brutus and abuse of Caesar, Cassius finslly prevails upon Brutus to give his assent to a plan of liberation of Rome from the autocracy of Caesar. Casca returns returns and gives them an ironical description of Caesar’s refusing the kingly crown. Cassius himself shows all his characteristics of the prime conspirator. We have already seen that, 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. But, in this scene, we shall shall see that, Caesar’s appearance close upon Flavius’s words bears out rather than disprove the two tribunes fears. With masterly economy, Shakespeare creates the atmosphere of an oriental court with fawning flatterers and cringing attendants Well, students, before we start to study the scene, you must note down some of the points which may be drawn out from this scene. 1) Caesar’s assumption of a dictatorial role is well indicated. He is not only all powerful but apparently all knowing. It gives motive for the conspiracy. 2) The motive and the manner of the conspiracy are set forth as well as the main persons concerned in it. 3) The motive of Cassius and Brutus is made clear
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