Julius Caesar

Act II

Scene 1

Act II Scene 1

Setting

Brutus’ garden

The ides of March

A few hours before daybreak

Brutus is unable to sleep

Action

Brutus calls for his servant.

Brutus has a soliloquy.

He speaks of Caesar and his

concerns.

If Caesar is crowned it may change

his nature.

Brutus has never known Caesar

to abuse his power.

But everyone is humble when

they first take office.

Compares Caesar to a serpent’s

egg.

Lucius returns and brings Brutus a

letter.

Letter instructs Brutus to wake up

and help Rome.

He has received many unsigned

letters lately saying the same.

The conspirators come to his door

hiding their identity.

Conspirators are introduced and

Brutus joins them.

Cassius wants all to swear an oath

of allegiance.

Brutus is adamant that none is

needed b/c the cause is enough of

a bond.

Noble causes don’t need oaths.

Cassius asks if Cicero should be

approached about joining.

The others chime in about his

being needed.

Brutus says no b/c Cicero doesn’t

join things other men start.

The question is raised about who

else should be killed.

Cassius wants to eliminate Antony

b/c he feels he would be a threat.

Brutus says no b/c it would make

their cause too bloody.

Brutus does not feel that Antony is

a threat.

Cassius says he fears Antony.

Brutus reiterates that Antony is

nothing without Caesar.

Plans are made to make sure that

Caesar comes to the capitol.

If necessary, Decius Brutus will

flatter Caesar into venturing out.

Brutus’ wife Portia awakens and

starts questioning Brutus.

Portia tries to get Brutus to confide

in her.

She tells him that if he can not

trust and confide in her then she is

no better than a prostitute.

Caius Ligarius comes to Brutus

home and is made part of the

conspiracy.

Julius Caesar

Act II

Scene 2

Setting:

Caesar’s house

A few hours later

Caesar has spent a restless night

but is preparing to go to the

capitol.

Calpurnia has been crying out in

her sleep.

Calpurnia asks Caesar not to go to

the capitol today.

He dismisses her a silly.

She tells him of the things that

have taken place.

Caesar is moved.

Caesar states that he believes in

fate and he will not be a coward.

Priest report on sacrifices that

Caesar requested.

Bad results.

Caesar takes the results and

interprets them in a way which is

good.

Calpurnia begs him not to go and he agrees to have Antony make excuses for him.

Decius Brutus enters and starts to work on Caesar.

Caesar says he will not lie about why he won’t come to the capitol.

He says he is big enough to just not go.

Foreshadowing

The use of clues by the author to

prepare readers for events that will

happen in the story.

Calpurnia’s dream about Caesar’s

statue is foreshadowing.

Decius reinterprets the dream to

convince Caesar to go.

Tempts Caesar by mentioning the

crown.

Makes Caesar see how ridiculous he

will look if he stays home.

Appeals to his vanity.

Caesar gives in and plans to go.

Caesar speaks of when he is

crowned.

Calls the conspirators his friends

and they all leave together.

Brutus in an aside comments that

every seeming friend is not always

a friend.

Aside

In a play a comment made by a

character who is heard by the

audience but not by the other

characters on stage. The speaker

turns to one side and speaks away

from the others on stage.

Act II

Scenes iii & iv

A street near the capitol

Shortly after the previous scene

Action

Artemidorous is writing a letter of

warning to Caesar

In it he names the conspirators

Foreshadowing: If Caesar reads

this he will be saved.

Scene iv

Setting

Another Roman street

Immediately after the previous

scene

Portia and Lucius are trying to

reach Brutus

Portia is distraught and her

directions to Lucius are incoherent.

Lucius is confused.

Portia is aware of the conspiracy.

Soothsayer returns and indicates

that he is going to attempt to warn

Caesar again.