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| Character | Julius Caesar?Calpurnia?Decius Brutus?? | |
|---|---|---|
| Scene type / Who are | Siblings, Colleagues, Scheming, Persuading somebody | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical, Tragedy, Drama | |
| Description | Caesar's wife tries to persuade her husband not to go to the Senate | |
| Location | ACT II, Scene 2 | |
Summary
The play starts with Caesar 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. Cassius, an ambitious Roman general, conspires to kill Caesar together with other politicians, such as Casca, Decius, Cinna, Metellus and Trebonius. Cassius tries to have Brutus join them as Brutus has a great following in the city of Rome. By forging letters to make him think that the people of Rome are angry at Caesar, he manages to convince Brutus to kill Caesar.
The assassination is set to take place but in this scene Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, urges her husband not to go to the senate that day because she had a bad dream that she thinks is an omen that something bad will happen to him. She almost convinces him not to go until Decius Brutus shows up and argues that Calpurnia interpreted her dream in the wrong way since, he confides, the senate has decided to crown him king that day. Caesar leaves...
The assassination is set to take place but in this scene Caesar's wife, Calpurnia, urges her husband not to go to the senate that day because she had a bad dream that she thinks is an omen that something bad will happen to him. She almost convinces him not to go until Decius Brutus shows up and argues that Calpurnia interpreted her dream in the wrong way since, he confides, the senate has decided to crown him king that day. Caesar leaves...
Written by Administrator
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| [SCENE II. CAESAR's house.] [Thunder and lightning. Enter CAESAR, in his night-gown] CAESAR Nor heaven nor earth have been at peace to-night: Thrice hath Calpurnia in her sleep cried out, 'Help, ho! they murder Caesar!' Who's within? [Enter a Servant] [Servant My lord?] CAESAR Go bid the priests do present sacrifice And bring me their opinions of success. [Servant I will, my lord.] [Exit] [Enter CALPURNIA] CALPURNIA What mean you, Caesar? think you to walk forth? You shall not stir out of your house to-day. CAESAR Caesar shall forth: the things that threaten'd me Ne'er look'd but on my back; when they shall see The face of Caesar, they are vanished. CALPURNIA Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. There is one within, Besides the things that we have heard and seen, Recounts most horrid sights seen by the watch. A lioness hath whelped in the streets; And graves have yawn'd, and yielded up their dead; Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds, In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol; The noise of battle hurtled in the air, Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! these things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. CAESAR What can be avoided Whose end is purposed by the mighty gods? Yet Caesar shall go forth; for these predictions Are to the world in general as to Caesar. CALPURNIA When beggars die, there are no comets seen; The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes. CAESAR Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it will come. [Re-enter Servant] What say the augurers? [Servant They would not have you to stir forth to-day. Plucking the entrails of an offering forth, They could not find a heart within the beast.] CAESAR The gods do this in shame of cowardice: Caesar should be a beast without a heart, If he should stay at home to-day for fear. No, Caesar shall not: danger knows full well That Caesar is more dangerous than he: We are two lions litter'd in one day, And I the elder and more terrible: And Caesar shall go forth. CALPURNIA Alas, my lord, Your wisdom is consumed in confidence. Do not go forth to-day: call it my fear That keeps you in the house, and not your own. We'll send Mark Antony to the senate-house: And he shall say you are not well to-day: Let me, upon my knee, prevail in this. CAESAR Mark Antony shall say I am not well, And, for thy humour, I will stay at home. [Enter DECIUS BRUTUS] Here's Decius Brutus, he shall tell them so. DECIUS BRUTUS Caesar, all hail! good morrow, worthy Caesar: I come to fetch you to the senate-house. CAESAR And you are come in very happy time, To bear my greeting to the senators And tell them that I will not come to-day: Cannot, is false, and that I dare not, falser: I will not come to-day: tell them so, Decius. CALPURNIA Say he is sick. CAESAR Shall Caesar send a lie? Have I in conquest stretch'd mine arm so far, To be afraid to tell graybeards the truth? Decius, go tell them Caesar will not come. DECIUS BRUTUS Most mighty Caesar, let me know some cause, Lest I be laugh'd at when I tell them so. CAESAR The cause is in my will: I will not come; That is enough to satisfy the senate. But for your private satisfaction, Because I love you, I will let you know: Calpurnia here, my wife, stays me at home: She dreamt to-night she saw my statua, Which, like a fountain with an hundred spouts, Did run pure blood: and many lusty Romans Came smiling, and did bathe their hands in it: And these does she apply for warnings, and portents, And evils imminent; and on her knee Hath begg'd that I will stay at home to-day. DECIUS BRUTUS This dream is all amiss interpreted; It was a vision fair and fortunate: Your statue spouting blood in many pipes, In which so many smiling Romans bathed, Signifies that from you great Rome shall suck Reviving blood, and that great men shall press For tinctures, stains, relics and cognizance. This by Calpurnia's dream is signified. CAESAR And this way have you well expounded it. DECIUS BRUTUS I have, when you have heard what I can say: And know it now: the senate have concluded To give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change. Besides, it were a mock Apt to be render'd, for some one to say 'Break up the senate till another time, When Caesar's wife shall meet with better dreams.' If Caesar hide himself, shall they not whisper 'Lo, Caesar is afraid'? Pardon me, Caesar; for my dear dear love To our proceeding bids me tell you this; And reason to my love is liable. CAESAR How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them. Give me my robe, for I will go. |
