Julius Caesar, 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. 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. JULIUS CAESAR ACT I SCENE II Line 37 to 47 Explained 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. But, in this scene, we 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 THE TEXT BRUTUS Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look, I turn the trouble of my countenance Merely upon myself. Vexed I am Of late with passions of some difference, Conceptions only proper to myself, Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors; But let not therefore my good friends be grieved-- Among which number, Cassius, be you one-- Nor construe any further my neglect, Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war, Forgets the shows of love to other men.
Be the first to comment