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| Character | Cassius | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Persuasive, Descriptive, Reminiscing life story/Telling a story | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical, Tragedy | |
| Description | Cassius describes Caesar's weakness to Brutus | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 2 | |
Summary
Caesar is celebrating his victory over Pompey with a military parade through the streets of Rome. The people of Rome show great support for him and some fear that Caesar has gained too much power and will become a dictator. In the first scene of the play we find two tribunes, Flavius and Murellus, scolding two commoners for celebrating Caesar's victory and remove decorations from all Caesar's statues.
In scene 2, ACT I, we find Cassius, an unscrupulous Roman general who is envious of Caesar's power, and Brutus, a longtime friend of Caesar's and a great supporter of the Roman Republic. Brutus tells Cassius that has been "at war with himself", is in no mood for celebration and has not been a good friend lately. Cassius reassures him that everybody in Rome respects him even if it might not appear so to him. The conversation then turns to Caesar's victory. Brutus is afraid the people of Rome might elect him king. Brutus, as a supporter of the Republic, is afraid of one man having too much power, even if Caesar is his friend.
In this monologue Cassius tells Brutus that he is perplexed that Caesar, a weak man, has now so much power in Rome. He narrates two episodes when Caesar proved to be a weak man, one when Cassius had to save him from drowning in the river Tiber, and one when he had a fever in Spain and behaved like a sick girl.
In scene 2, ACT I, we find Cassius, an unscrupulous Roman general who is envious of Caesar's power, and Brutus, a longtime friend of Caesar's and a great supporter of the Roman Republic. Brutus tells Cassius that has been "at war with himself", is in no mood for celebration and has not been a good friend lately. Cassius reassures him that everybody in Rome respects him even if it might not appear so to him. The conversation then turns to Caesar's victory. Brutus is afraid the people of Rome might elect him king. Brutus, as a supporter of the Republic, is afraid of one man having too much power, even if Caesar is his friend.
In this monologue Cassius tells Brutus that he is perplexed that Caesar, a weak man, has now so much power in Rome. He narrates two episodes when Caesar proved to be a weak man, one when Cassius had to save him from drowning in the river Tiber, and one when he had a fever in Spain and behaved like a sick girl.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| CASSIUS I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus, As well as I do know your outward favour. Well, honour is the subject of my story. I cannot tell what you and other men Think of this life; but, for my single self, I had as lief not be as live to be In awe of such a thing as I myself. I was born free as Caesar; so were you: We both have fed as well, and we can both Endure the winter's cold as well as he: For once, upon a raw and gusty day, The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores, Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now Leap in with me into this angry flood, And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word, Accoutred as I was, I plunged in And bade him follow; so indeed he did. The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it With lusty sinews, throwing it aside And stemming it with hearts of controversy; But ere we could arrive the point proposed, Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!' I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor, Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber Did I the tired Caesar. And this man Is now become a god, and Cassius is A wretched creature and must bend his body, If Caesar carelessly but nod on him. He had a fever when he was in Spain, And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake: 'tis true, this god did shake; His coward lips did from their colour fly, And that same eye whose bend doth awe the world Did lose his lustre: I did hear him groan: Ay, and that tongue of his that bade the Romans Mark him and write his speeches in their books, Alas, it cried 'Give me some drink, Titinius,' As a sick girl. Ye gods, it doth amaze me A man of such a feeble temper should So get the start of the majestic world And bear the palm alone. |
