JULIUS CAESAR

William Shakespeare
Act I Scene I (Exposition)
1. Flavius
Hence! Home, you idle creatures…
Marullus
Where is thy leather apron…
You, sir, what trade are you?

i. Who are Flavius and Marullus? Where are they and what are they doing there? Why?
The extract has been derived from the expository scene of the play “Julius Caesar” by
Sir William Shakespeare.
Flavius and Marullus are Tribunes, or representatives of the Roman ruling class.
Flavius and Marullus, the Tribunes, are in a street in Rome.
The common citizens of Rome have gathered in the streets of the capital to welcome
their hero Julius Caesar and to celebrate his victory over Pompey’s sons. The
Tribunes have assembled to scatter the mob, chide them, and demand an explanation
as to why they have absconded from work to celebrate on a regular working day.

ii. Who are the “idle creatures”? Why are they called so? What makes the speaker ask if
it’s a holiday?
The plebeians, who have gathered in the streets of Rome to celebrate Caesar’s
triumphant return after his successful campaign against Pompey’s sons, have been
referred to as the “idle creatures” by Flavius.
They are referred to as “idle creatures” because they are ignoring their respective
trade on a regular working day and instead engage in celebration.
The plebeians are dressed in their best attire, that was supposed to be worn on special
occasions and holidays. Moreover, they are out on the streets celebrating. This makes
Flavius ask if it was a holiday.

iii. Give meaning of the following: (Already discussed in class)

a. Being mechanical: being individuals who belong to the working class
b. A labouring day: a working day
c. Sign of your profession: professional uniform
Pick out from the extract, an example of a sign of a profession
“Where is thy leather apron and thy rule?” (Write in a complete sentence)
iv. Whom does Marullus address in the last line of the extract? What reply does he get?
How does he react to the reply?
Marullus addresses the Cobbler, who is also referred to as the second citizen, in the
last line of the extract.
The second citizen answers Marullus in a roundabout way by referring to himself as
someone who is just a cobbler when compared to a fine workman. Here, the Cobbler
is playing with the various meanings of words and uses a pun on the word ‘cobbler’,
which might indicate both a shoemaker and a poor workman. Furthermore, he
describes himself as a ‘mender of bad soles’, where he plays with the words ‘sole’
and ‘soul’ using pun.
 Marullus, the Tribune, is at a loss and cannot understand his profession because of all
the wordplay. Thus, he gets irritated and demands the second citizen to answer his
question directly.

v. Giving an example each, show how Flavius and Marullus are men in authority. Who
among them, do you think, exercises greater authority? Why?
Flavius and Marullus are men in authority because they openly demand answers from
the common citizens of Rome about their sudden act of celebration. Flavius asks the
plebeians why they are out on the streets on a normal working day in their best attire,
forsaking the tools of their trade. Marullus chides/ upbraids/ admonishes the common
people for celebrating Caesar’s victory over Pompey.
Flavius commands greater authority among them.
Flavius speaks less than Marullus, yet seems to be characterized by a deeply resolute
and free spirit. He asks Marullus to disrobe the images of Caesar when he commands:
“These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing
Will make him fly an ordinary pitch.”
He refuses to live in “servile fearfulness” and compels Marullus to agree with him
when the latter hesitates to disrobe the images. This suggests Flavius commands
greater authority among the two.
2. Second Citizen
A trade, sir, that I hope may use with a safe conscience; …
Marullus
What trade, thou knave? …
Second Citizen
Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: …

i. What is meant by “trade”? Of which trade is the second citizen? What is the pun
involved with the word “soles”?
Here, the word “trade” suggests the profession in which the Second citizen is
engaged.
The Second Citizen is a cobbler, whose job is to mend shoes.
The Second Citizen claims to be a “mender of bad soles” when asked about his
profession. Here, he plays a pun on the similar sounding words “soles” and “souls”
shoes, implying he is a cobbler who mends the soles of shoes and souls, that is
mender of people afflicted with a damaged soul.

ii. Why does the Second Citizen think that he “may use” the trade with a safe
conscience?
William Shakespeare was a master of playing with the slippery nature of similar
sounding words. Here, he uses a pun playing on the idea of cobbler and soles. A
cobbler mends shoes professionally and a shoe consists of a sole. Shakespeare makes
the Second Citizen who happens to be a cobbler say that he is a mender of damaged
“soles”. Since a soul has a deep connection with conscience, thus it is implied that he
might use his profession with a good conscience.

iii. What is meant by “naughty knave”? What does this attitude tell us about the Romans
towards artisans? Give two more examples of such expressions from the scene.
The term “naughty knave” refers to someone who is good for nothing.
 The Romans, particularly, the Tribunes Flavius and Marullus appear to be extremely
condescending towards the artisans.
The artisans have been condescendingly addressed as “naughty knaves” in the quoted
extract by Marullus. Elsewhere, Marullus addresses them as “blocks”, “stones”,
“worse than senseless things.” This is an obvious reflection of their anger at the
fickle-mindedness of the artisans.

iv. Give the double meaning intended in the following expression: “… be not out with
me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.”
Here, the Cobbler requests Marullus to not be angry with him, but, if his shoes are
worn out, the Cobbler might be able to mend the “soles”. Playing a pun on him by
mocking his poor sense of humour, he means that he can also mend the bad “soul”
that might be troubling him.

v. Give two characteristic traits, each with an example, of the common people in this
scene.
The common people are extremely fickle minded. They supported Pompey climbed
tall towers and buildings with their infants in their arms and waited for long hours to
get a glimpse of Pompey passing through the streets. However, they turn out to be
whimsical and lacking any strong ties of loyalty towards Pompey as they have
gathered to celebrate the victory of Julius Caesar over the sons of Pompey, whom
they formerly worshipped. Furthermore, the commoners are quite seditious in that
they exhibit a disrespectful sense of humour. The Cobbler sarcastically plays a pun on
the dual nature of the word “sole” when he offers to mend Marullus’s sole, meaning
and implying not just his shoes’ sole, but also his soul.

3. Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?

What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?
You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey?
i. Who speaks these lines? To whom are these words addressed? What type of rejoicing is
referred to in the extract?
Marullus, one of the Tribunes, speaks these lines. These words are addressed to the
common citizens of Rome. Marullus is referring to the rejoicing of people celebrating the
victory of Julius Caesar over Pompey and appealing to their sense of justice and loyalty.

ii. Who is “he” referred to in the first line of the extract? What message does the speaker
want to convey to his listeners through these questions?
Julius Caesar, the great Roman leader and General, has been referred to as “he” in the first
line of the extract.
Marullus appeals to the common sense and the sense of justice of the Commoners and
urges them not to worship any one blindly. His rhetorical questions imply that Caesar has
not brought any wealth, conquests or tributaries through his victory. Therefore, the victory
is not worth celebrating.

iii. What is the conquest referred to in the extract? Why has the conqueror not brought any
territory to Rome by his conquest?
Here, “conquest” refers to the victory of Julius Caesar over Pompey’s sons.
 The conqueror, that is, Julius Caesar had not brought any territory to Rome by his
conquest since he had only defeated a fellow Roman.

iv. Give meaning of:

“What tributaries follow him to Rome,
To grace in captive bonds his chariot wheels?”
This expression by Marullus reeks of utter contempt for Caesar and the commoners who are
celebrating Caesar’s victory over Pompey. This is because (as suggested by the sarcastic
rhetorical question) Caesar had not brought any new territory with his victory, he was not
bringing servants tied to the wheels of his chariot either.
v. Who are referred to as “the cruel men of Rome”? Why are they called so?
The common people, who have gathered in the streets to celebrate Caesar’s victory, has
been referred to as “the cruel men of Rome”.
The common people are extremely fickle minded. They supported Pompey climbed tall
towers and buildings with their infants in their arms and waited for long hours to get a
glimpse of Pompey passing through the streets. However, they turn out to be whimsical
and lacking any strong ties of loyalty towards Pompey as they have gathered to celebrate
the victory of Julius Caesar over the sons of Pompey, whom they formerly worshipped.
This is why they have been described as “the cruel men of Rome”.

4. Marullus
And when you saw his chariot but appear,
Have you not made an universal shout, …
That comes in triumph over Pompey’s blood?
i. Whose chariot was seen? When? What did “you” do on seeing the chariot?
Marullus refers to Pompey’s chariot in the mentioned extract.
Here, Marullus perhaps refers to the moment of the arrival of Pompey’s chariot after
achieving victory in his various military exploits.
Here, “you” refers to the plebeians or the common citizens of Rome. The commoners
would climb up the walls, battlements, towers, buildings, and even chimney tops with
their infants in their arms and wait all day long to witness their hero Pompey pass through
the streets of Rome. On having a but glance at him, they would shout unanimously and so
loudly that the river Tiber trembled beneath its banks echoing their sound.

ii. What is meant by “universal shout”? State in your own words what happened as a
consequence of that shout.
Here, “universal shout” refers to the commoners cheering in unison on seeing Pompey’s
chariot.
The mighty river Tiber trembled beneath its banks as a consequence of their “universal
shout”. It seemed the river Tiber trembled as the echo of their shout rolled through her
hollow banks.

iii. What is meant by “Pompey’s blood”? Who comes now in triumph?

“Pompey’s blood” refers to Pompey’s sons, who are his flesh and blood. It further refers
to the spilled blood of Pompey’s sons who were defeated by Julius Caesar.
Julius Caesar, the Roman General and leader, comes now in triumph over Pompey’s sons.

iv. How do the people now prepare for the triumphal entry of the person?
 The common people now prepare for the triumphal entry of Caesar with great pomp and
show. They have put on their best attires, picked up the day as an unofficial holiday, and
strewn flowers in the way of the man who had crushed the sons of Pompey.

v. What does the speaker want to achieve by his speech in the given extract?
Marullus attempts to upbraid/ criticize the commoners by highlighting their fickle
mindedness. The commoners would climb up the walls, battlements, towers, buildings,
and even chimney tops with their infants in their arms and wait all day long to witness
their hero Pompey pass through the streets of Rome. On having a but glance at him, they
would shout unanimously and so loudly that the river Tiber trembled beneath its banks
echoing their sound. The common people now prepare for the triumphal entry of Caesar
with great pomp and show. They have put on their best attires, picked up the day as an
unofficial holiday, and strewn flowers in the way of the man who had crushed the sons of
Pompey. He wants to highlight their shifting loyalties and make them feel ashamed of
forsaking Pompey whom they regarded as their hero so easily.

5. Marullus
May we do so?
You know it is the feast of Lupercal.
Flavius
It is no matter; let no images
Be hung with Caesar’s trophies….
i. “May we do so?” What was Marullus supposed to do? Why?
Marullus was asked to go towards the Capitol and tear down/ dismantle all the
decorations from the statues of Caesar, if he came across any along the way.
Marullus and Flavius were loyal to Pompey. They suspected that Caesar’s feathers were
growing and were resolved to pluck his feathers right at the beginning before he grew too
strong to overpower them. They were Republicans and feared the transformation of Rome
into a dreadful dictatorship like that under Tarquin’s regime, if Caesar was allowed to
command unquestioned authority.

ii. What was the feast of Lupercal? How was the feast normally celebrated?
The feast of Lupercal, also known as Lupercalia was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome
observed annually on the 15th of February to ensure the fertility of livestock during
spring. It was part of the fertility cult and involved the sacrifice of animals.
The feast celebrated and promoted fertility. It included a ritual foot race.

iii. What is meant by “trophies”? Why does Flavius say that no images should be hung with
Caesar’s trophies?
“Trophies” refer to the decorations or ornaments used to deck up the statues that would
magnify the glory of Caesar.
Marullus and Flavius were loyal to Pompey. They suspected that Caesar’s feathers were
growing and were resolved to pluck his feathers right at the beginning before he grew too
strong and soared too high above and attempted to overpower them. They were
Republicans and feared the transformation of Rome into a dreadful dictatorship like that
under Tarquin’s regime, if Caesar was allowed to command unquestioned authority.

iv. Who are “the vulgar”? Why are they called so?
The common people of Rome have been referred to as “the vulgar” in the mentioned
extract.
 The adjective “vulgar” signifies the lack of sophistication or refined taste. However, the
archaic sense of the word has its associations with ordinary people. That is why the
commoners have been referred to as “the vulgar.”

v. How does the scene reflect the changing fortunes of men in power and how does it
indicate the behaviour of the common people in Rome?
The opening scene or exposition of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar brilliantly depicts the
changing fortunes of men in power. It further highlights the fickle-mindedness of the
common people in Rome. Through the interactions between the Tribunes and the
commoners, one gets to know how Pompey, at the helm of his glory, was hero-
worshipped by the commoners. When Caesar defeated him, the loyalty of the mob shifted
effortlessly in the latter’s favour. The scene anticipates the tippling balance of power in
Rome and the shifting loyalty of the common people. It prepares the stage for a gripping
drama on political intrigue.