Comprehension
Act II, Scene I
- Brutus talks about Caesar. He is afraid that Caesar may become king.
- It is one or two in the morning.
- An adder is a king of snake.
- Brutus says that the abuse of greatness is when you dont have any feelings for anyone or anything because you have so much power.
- L. 23: Brutus says that if you are low, you will want to climb the ladder of success. Having no power is why people want to climb the ladder.
- Caesar is on the ladder. When he reaches the top, he scorns at the people lower than him, and turns his back on the people that helped him get there.
- Brutus says that if Caesar is crowned, it will be much more than it is now, and he will turn his back even more.
- Being crowned would be hatching the serpent. If Caesar hatches, or is crowned, hell become powerful and dangerous.
- Brutus says that they need to kill Caesar before he hatches, or before he receives his power and crown.
- Lucius found the letter from Cassius.
- Brutus is, figuratively, sleeping. The letter tells him to open his eyes and see whats happening around him.
- Speak, strike, redress! Speak means to speak out against Caesar. Strike means to take action. Redress means to rectify, or justify Caesars bad actions.
- Brutuss ancestors drove out Tarquin.
- Brutus promises that hell return justice to Rome.
- Cassius instigated the conspiracy.
- A dreadful thing is the murder of Caesar.
- The conspiracy has been a nightmare for Brutus.
- The conspirators are in disguise going to Brutuss home.
- The conspirators are still kissing up to Brutus.
- Cassius introduces the conspirators to Brutus.
- The conspirators are arguing about where the sun rises, which seems insignificant since they are going to kill someone today.
- Brutus tells the conspirators to put their hands together, and Cassius suggests that they swear an oath.
- Brutus says that if they dont have a strong motive, they should go home. He assumes that theyre in the conspiracy because they need to get rid of a tyrant and save Rome. However, they all have their own agendas.
- Brutus says that they do not need an oath to validate the conspiracy, because their motives are true and pure.
- Brutus thinks that they are all honest and have the same motive as he. He cannot imagine them having other motives to kill Caesar.
- Brutus is the only one there with true motives, an honorable motive. The others have their own reasons, and they are all weak motives. They are not going for honorable reasons.
- Cassius suggests that Cicero join the conspiracy, but Brutus again vetoes it, because Cicero will not listen. He is a leader.
- Silver hairs means old and wise. Metellus says that Cicero will be helpful because hes wise and stable.
- Metellus says that they are young and their judgment might look immature, but if Cicero is in, hell make it look good because hes old. In essence, he could be the second alchemy.
- Cicero is a leader, not a follower. Cicero may not listen and do what they want, and he may discover their true motives.
- Brutus doesnt want Cicero in the conspiracy because Cicero might become more honorable than Brutus.
- Power corrupts those who hold it. Brutus is starting to become corrupt with the power he holds.
- Cassius thought he would be the master puppeteer. However, Brutus becomes powerful and makes several decisions, such as vetoing Cassiuss suggestions.
- Brutus is a terrible strategist. The ideas he vetoes were good ideas.
- Decius asks if Caesar should be the only one killed.
- Cassius suggests killing Antony because hes Caesars good friend. Antony might come after the conspirators to annoy them if he is not killed, which he does.
- Brutus says that if they kill Antony, it may look like revenge, not a purge. There will be too much death and bloodshed, and they will look like murderers instead of purgers.
- Antony is a limb of Caesar; he cant live without him.
- Brutus underestimates Antony because he is gamesome.
- Brutus says lets be purifiers, not killers.
- Brutus agrees that Caesar has to die, but that they should kill him honorably, not wrathfully. Carve him to make him fit for the gods, not to be something one might throw to the dogs. This is for honor, not envy.
- Brutus didnt want to unnecessarily kill innocent men. He was the honest man with true motives.
- Not killing Antony was a huge mistake.
- Cassius was afraid of Antony because he loves Caesar.
- Brutus underestimates Antony. He thinks that the most he will do is kill himself if Caesar dies, because he cant live without Caesar.
- Brutus says that Antony is devoted only to sports, wildness, and company.
- Trebonius says that Antony will later laugh at Caesars death.
- Cassius thinks that Caesar may not come to the Capitol because he may be afraid of the soothsayers warning.
- Decius says that hell flatter Caesar so hell come to the Capitol. Caesar says that he hates flatterers, but truthfully, he loves to be flattered.
- Metellus will get Ligarius in the conspiracy because Ligarius hates Caesar.
- Brutus tells the conspirators to be actors, and not to look like theyre going to do something evil.
- Brutus asks his wife, Portia, why she is up so early, since it is so early, since it is so early and so cold for her weak body.
- Portia argues that he shouldnt be up, and asks what the matter was. Brutus was upset; he had his arms folded, didnt eat, was ungentle, and he was more impatient than usual. She had left him alone, but to no avail.
- Brutus is not eating or sleeping; Portia asks what his grief was.
- Portia says that Brutus would go to a doctor if he were sick.
- Portia knows that it is not a physical sickness, but an emotional problem that she should know about.
- Portia knows something is up, because she saw the conspirators strangely dressed, and Brutus is acting oddly.
- Portia feels that she has a right to know his secret because she has been faithful to him.
- Portia says that she will not tell his secrets. Constancy in this case means loyalty. She stabbed herself in the thigh to show her loyalty and faithfulness.
- Stabbing herself means that if she can endure the physical pain, she can also endure the emotional pain, and share the pain together with Brutus.
- Brutus promises to tell her his secrets, but after he sees to his guest.
- Ligarius says that hell join the conspiracy.
- Brutus says that they should kill Caesar; it will make sick men whole. This means that men that are sick of Caesar will become whole after Caesars death.
- Ligarius says that killing Caesar will also make whole men sick. Marc Antony, like others who really like Caesar, will become sick.
- Ligarius says that he doesnt know exactly what hes supposed to do, but he will follow Brutus and all of his directions.
Act II, Scene II
- Calpurnia had a nightmare that Caesar was killed.
- Priests used to kill animals and make predictions from the animals body.
- Calpurnia tells Caesar not to go out of the house.
- Caesar says that he will go out. He says that when they see him, theyll disappear. He think hes a god; immortal.
- Calpurnia dreamt that a lioness (viewed as dangerous) conceived of a child in the streets. This is symbolic of the birth of danger. The dead came alive and started walking. People in the heavens fought each other, and blood fell on the Capitol. Ghosts shrieked about the streets.
- Caesar says that the predictions are for everyone but not him, because he is Caesar.
- Calpurnia says that omens only tell deaths of important people like Caesar.
- L. 34-35 If you live your life in fear of death, youre already dead because you dont live your life. The brave live life to the fullest and die only once, at their natural deaths. The cowards die every time they are afraid of death. Death will come to all; it is inevitable.
- This is ironic because Caesar thinks hes immortal, and he tells others not to fear death.
- The beast with no heart is supernatural because it couldnt live without its heart.
- L. 47-48 Caesar says that hes more dangerous than danger itself.
- Caesar says that he is older than danger. He makes it that danger is his twin, but Caesar is older and stronger than danger.
- Caesars ego is seen in this quote.
Act II, Scene III
- Artemidorus says that if Caesar isnt immortal, be careful and alert. He tells Caesar not to be so cocky and arrogant, and watch out.
- Artemidorus mourns that righteousness cannot live because so many are envious of their power.
- L. 15-16 Artemidorus said that if Caesar read his letter, he might live. If not, it is in fates hands.
Act II, Scene IV
- Portia is so confused and crazy. She tells Lucius to go to the Senate House, then asks him why he is still staying there. Lucius responds that he doesnt know what hes supposed to do there.
- L. 8 The huge mountain is to block Portia from telling anyone about the conspiracy. Shakespeare hated women, and portrayed them as weak and gossipy.
- L. 11 Lucius still has no idea what hes supposed to do.
- L. 16 Brutus was sickly because he had to kill his best friend.
- Portia hears a noise, and she thinks that they have already killed Caesar.
- The soothsayer says that he will beg Caesar to trust him and listen to his warnings and help himself.
- The soothsayer is not sure, but he is fearful that Caesar may die today.
- The soothsayer says that the crowd that follows Caesar could kill a man. He wants to talk to Caesar, but there are so many people around him that he cant talk to him. He will wait in a place where the crowds are not so thick before approaching him.
- Brutus desires that Caesar be not so ambitious, but Caesar will obviously not grant his request.
