Question and Answers – Julius Caesar- Act-3 Scene-2

1. Brutus: Be patient till the last.

…..that you may the better judge.
(i) Where is Brutus? Whom does he request to be patient and on what
occasion is this speech made? What was the purpose of the speech?
Ans. Brutus is at the market place in Rome, at the Forum. He is about to
address the citizens of Rome from the pulpit about why he and his
associates killed Caesar.
He asked the people assembled there to be patient so that they can
listen to him fully before making any judgement on the act of killing Caesar.
Brutus tries to justify Caesar’s assassination to the public by telling
them that he loved Caesar and honoured his valour; but he loved Rome
even more and slew Caesar because he was ambitious and would have
made slaves of them all.
(ii) How important was honour for Brutus? Give one example to justify
your answer. In what way did his commitment to honour lead him to
the present crisis?
Ans. Honour was important for Brutus for he considered himself to be fair
and impartial. He also considered himself to act in the best interests of the
citizens of Rome.
In order to be honourable, Brutus allowed Mark Antony to address the
citizens of Rome at the funeral of Caesar. Had he not been honorable, he
would not have allowed Antony this privilege since he had been warned by
Cassius that Mark Antony’s speech could cause trouble for the conspirators.
This commitment to his principles caused a crisis for the conspirators as this
speech instigated the plebians to turn into a frenzied mob who were bent
on avenging the murder of Caesar by killing Brutus and his fellow
conspirators.
(iii) “Hear me for my cause.” What was his cause? Were his motives
genuine? How can you justify your answer?
Ans. Brutus’ cause was the prevention of the enslavement of the people of
Rome by Julius Caesar.
Brutus’ motives were genuine and these are the reasons:
Firstly, he truly believed that Caesar would become a tyrant once he was
crowned as the Emperor of Rome.
Secondly, Brutus had no personal motive in the killing of Julius Caesar.
That’s why he did not object when Mark Antony spoke in glowing terms
after he was killed.
 Brutus was respectful of all people. This can be witnessed from his
interaction with his wife, Portia and his young servant boy, Lucius. This
shows that he had a lot of respect for women, in a society which did not
respect women much. Likewise, his affectionate and caring tone for Lucius
shows his soft and caring side.
However, his judgement could have been clouded by his idealism and his
trust in the words of Cassius and other conspirators.
(iv) What was the reaction of his listeners in the beginning as well as at
the end of the scene? How did the change in their attitude come
about?
Ans. The reaction of the listeners at the beginning of the scene, when
Brutus addresses the audience, is one of agreement with the reasoning
given by Brutus for the killing of Caesar.
At the end of the scene, the reaction of the audience changes
completely. From agreeing to the killing of Caesar, it changes to hate for the
conspirators.
This change of the attitude is a result of the speech given by Mark Antony.
He convinced the audience that Caesar was neither greedy nor did he lust
for power. So convincing was his oratory that the citizens of Rome decided
to kill Brutus and his fellow conspirators.
This dramatic change comes about because of the manner in which Antony
manipulates their emotions and casts doubts on Brutus’ and the other
conspirators’ motives.
(v) Give the meaning of: “Censure me in your wisdom.” Who passed
censure on him? In what way has this changed the course of action in
the play?
Ans. Brutus tells this to the citizens of Rome. He means, that after hearing
his reasons for the killing of Caesar if the citizens disagree with the reasons
they may punish Brutus for the killing. He asks them to judge or criticise him
wisely.
The citizens of Rome passed censure on him. They initially praised him
but later turned against him. This censure changed the course of action in
the play since, Brutus instead of becoming a hero for the killing of Caesar, is
treated like a villain for wrongly killing Caesar. This change in attitude leads
to chaos and violence in Rome, ultimately resulting in the downfall of Brutus
and other conspirators.
2. Brutus: Good countrymen, let me depart alone….Save I alone, till Antony
have spoke.
(i) Why does Brutus intend to “depart alone”? Why are the listeners left
behind? Which error of judgement made by Brutus is revealed by his
instructions to the listeners?
Ans. Brutus intended to depart alone because he was convinced that the
citizens of Rome were in agreement with the reasons for the killing of Julius
Caesar. He also intends to give Antony the opportunity to address the crowd
without his presence overshadowing Antony’s speech.
The crowd is requested to stay behind to listen to Antony and pay respects
to Caesar’s corpse.
The error of judgement made by Brutus is underestimating the impact
Antony’s speech would have on the crowd and assuming that Antony’s
oration would be in line with the conspirators’ expectations.
(ii) Give the meaning of:
(a) Do grace to Caesar’s corpse, and grace his speech
Ans. Brutus urged the people of Rome to stay back after his speech to pay
respect to Caesar by honouring his corpse and to listen to Mark Antony’s
tribute to Caesar.
(b) …not a man depart.
Ans. This means that nobody should leave from the market place.
Everybody should stay back to listen to Antony’s tribute to Caesar on the
occasion of his funeral.
(iii) What explanation had Brutus given in his speech for the murder of
Caesar? What was the reaction of his listeners?
Ans. The explanation that Brutus gave in his speech for Caesar’s
assassination was mainly that he feared that Caesar would have made the
citizens of Rome his slaves on becoming the Emperor and that he was
greedy for power.
The reaction of the listeners to this was of complete agreement with
Brutus’ reasoning. They also agreed with the reasons and for the need for
the death of Caesar.

(iv) Who has given Antony permission to speak? Give any two conditions
under which Antony is allowed to speak.
Ans. Antony was given permission by Brutus to speak.
The conditions under which Antony was allowed to speak were: Antony
should speak only after Brutus had finished speaking, he should speak from
the same pulpit from which Brutus has finished speaking, he will not blame
Brutus and the other conspirators for Caesar’s death and he will clearly
mention that he has been given permission to speak by the conspirators.
 (v) State which of Caesar’s glories would Antony refer to in his speech a
little later. What does he want to achieve by is speech?
Ans. Caesar’s glories that Antony would refer to in his speech later are:
Caesar was faithful and fair to his friends, he worked hard to fill the
government treasury and coffers and he was not greedy for power as he
had publicly refused the crown thrice during the feast of Lupercal.
He highlights his achievements, victories and contributions to Rome. He
wants to generate sympathy for Caesar and sway the crowd’s opinion
against the conspirators, incite them to anger and seek revenge for Caesar’s
death.

3. Antony: Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;

And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
(i) As Antony ascends the platform to speak, what did the citizens feel
and say about Caesar, Brutus and Antony?
Ans. As Antony ascends the platform to speak to the citizens were all praise for
Brutus and wanted to carry him home in a procession, erect a statue of his and
make him Caesar. They felt that Caesar had been ruthless, greedy and
ambitious and that he had been rightly killed. They were neutral towards
Antony but were wary of what he might speak about Brutus and were not
willing to listen to any criticism about Brutus.
(ii) Why did the citizens stay behind to listen to Antony? In what way
does Antony repel their suspicion in the beginning of his speech?
Ans. The citizens stay behind to listen to Antony as Brutus had asked them to
do so. At the beginning of Antony’s speech, the citizens were a little suspicious
of the intentions of Antony. They are curious about what he has to say and are
willing to give him a chance to speak.
Antony repels their suspicions in the very beginning of his speech by stating
that he comes to bury Caesar and not to praise him. By framing his speech in
this manner, he appears to align himself with the conspirators and suggests
that he will not speak against him.
(iii) Which evil, which Caesar is said to have done, lives after him? Give
two examples of the good done by Caesar?
Ans. The evil that Caesar is said to have done which lives after him is the
perception of his ambition and tyranny that he allegedly displayed in his
lifetime.
The good done by Caesar which is often overlooked or forgotten includes
his acts of generosity, compassion and leadership. For example, Caesar brought
many riches and honours to Rome and when the poor had cried, Caesar used
to weep. He brought prisoners of war with him to Rome so their ransoms filled
the coffers of Rome.
(iv) Why does Antony say “the noble Brutus”? Why does he use the
expression “If it were so”? Why couldn’t he be frank in his
remarks?
Ans. Antony says ‘the noble Brutus’ because Brutus had just completed his
speech before Antony began his speech. Brutus’ speech had generated a lot of
respect for him. The public’s opinion was in favour of Brutus. In order not to
earn the wrath of the crowd, Antony addressed Brutus respectfully as ‘noble
Brutus’.
He uses the term ‘if it were so’ because he did not agree with the assessment
of Brutus that Caesar was ambitious. Antony could not have been frank about
his remark since in the beginning of Antony’s speech, the mood of the
audience was overwhelmingly in favour of Brutus and against Antony.
(v) Why do you admire Antony at this juncture? State briefly how he
dealt with the crisis, he found himself in.
Ans. Antony is admirable at this juncture because he demonstrates his ability to
navigate a delicate situation with skill and cunning despite his true intentions.
Against all odds and after the speech of Brutus and he had to generate
sympathy for Caesar. He begins his speech with a seemingly neutral and
conciliatory tone, gradually building his argument and manipulating the
emotions of the crowd against Brutus and the other conspirators. He effectively
uses rhetoric and persuasion to achieve his desired outcome despite the
challenging circumstances. Antony without antagonizing Brutus and the
conspirators got them to give him a chance to address the audience. He told
the commoners about Caesar’s will -that Caesar had willed his fortune to the
people of Rome. This generated sympathy for Caesar and turn the tide against
Brutus and his men
4. Antony: Let but the commons hear this testament -Unto their issue.
(i) Which testament is referred to by Antony and who are referred to the
‘the commons’? Why does Antony not want to read the testament?
Ans. Antony refers to Caesar’s will or testament, which outlines Caesar’s
final wishes and bequeaths his possessions.
‘The Commons’ refer to the common people or the citizens of Rome/the
plebians.
Antony does not want to read the testament because he knows it would
evoke strong emotions and incite the citizens to demand revenge against
Caesar’s murderers.
(ii) Give the meaning of: Bequeathing it as a rich legacy/ unto their issue.
 Ans. This phrase means that once the citizens of Rome realise what Caesar
had written in his will, they would be ashamed that they did not mourn the
death of their leader. Antony told the citizens that if they knew what Caesar
had left for them in their will, they would kiss the dead Caesar’s wounds, dip
their napkins in his blood as a mark of respect. They would beg to get a
strand of his hair and keep this strand of his hair like an heirloom and pass it
on to subsequent generations of their families.
(iii) Mention two of the purposes why the commons would dip their napkins
in Caesar’s blood and beg a hair of his? Why is the blood of Caesar said to be
sacred ?
Ans. The commons would dip their napkins in Caesar’s blood and beg for a
hair of his for memory as an act of reverence and devotion to Caesar.
The blood of Caesar is said to be sacred because it symbolizes his
martyrdom and represents his sacrifice for Rome. Antony uses
hyperbolic expressions like ‘sacred blood’, ‘kiss dead Caesar’s
wounds’. The effect that this language has on the commons is that
they are swayed by the oration of Antony and their mood changes.
From support for the killing of Caesar, the mood of the audience
changes to sympathy for Caesar and contempt for the conspirators.

Brutus had indicated in his speech earlier that Caesar should be killed
with honour and respect, not in a brutal manner like an animal.
(iv) Besides the testament, which other item does Antony show later to the
commons? How does that incite the commons?
Ans. Other than the ‘will’ Antony showed the commoners the cloak that
Caesar had worn for the first time when he conquered the Nervii. The mantle -
cloak of Caesar was stained with his blood. He points out the dagger cuts made
by Brutus, Casca and Cassius. This incites the commons by visually reminding
them of the brutality of Caesar’s murder and arousing their anger and desire
for revenge.
(v) State briefly how Antony cleverly played on the emotions of the common
people and show how they reacted as he desired.
Ans. Antony cleverly played on the emotions of the people to make them
react as he desired. He began by appealing to their love for Caesar and their
desire for justice. He uses dramatic gestures and vivid imagery. Antony first
began by showing a lot of respect to Brutus and his men as the mood of the
audience was in favour of Brutus and the conspirators. Later he cleverly
gave examples to the audience of why Caesar was neither greedy, ambitious
or that he had any intention of enslaving the people after becoming
Emperor. He reminded them that after a person’s death, the evil he has
done is remembered. Using this as a pretext, he reminds them of the good
that Caesar had done for the welfare of the people of Rome. He cleverly
asks the Romans why they were not mourning for Caesar and if there was
something wrong with their sense of judgement. He mentions Caesar’s will
to prove that Caesar was generous and willed his fortune to be divided
among the Romans. These issues generated a lot of sympathy for Caesar
and the opinion of the audience shifts from hatred for Caesar to sympathy
for Caesar.
5. Antony: I tell you that which you yourselves do know;
The stones of Rome to rise and mutiny.
(i) Why are the wounds referred to as ‘poor dumb mouths’? If Brutus were
Antony, what would have happened in every wound of Caesar?
Ans. The wounds of Caesar are referred to as ‘poor dumb mouths’ because
they are not able to tell the world the brutal manner of Caesar’s death
caused by people who Caesar loved and trusted.
Antony, on order to incite the people told them that if he had been Brutus
he would ensure that every wound in Caesar’s body would have been given
a tongue to tell the world how Caesar was killed by treachery. Antony
cleverly tells the people, using Brutus as a shield, how they must react to
the brutal killing of Caesar.
(ii) What does Antony indirectly say to indicate that there should be a
mutiny? Bring out the irony in his words in the extract.
Ans. Antony indirectly suggests that there should be a mutiny by stating
that if he were in Brutus’ position. He cleverly hints that if he and Brutus
exchanged places, Brutus would have talked about every wound of Caesar’s
body to generate such sympathy for Caesar that even the very stones of
Rome would have risen up inn revolt.
Thus, he incites the Roman citizens to revolt against the conspirators. The
irony lies in that.
(iii) At the end, how does the mob leave the scene? What do they plan to
do? What does Antony, being satisfied, say after the departure of the mob?
Ans. The mob leaves the scene in a murderous and destructive mood. They
leave with sympathy for Caesar and contempt and hatred for the
conspirators. They plan to hunt down the conspirators and punish Brutus
and Cassius for their role in Caesar’s assassination.
After the departure of the mob, Antony is satisfied with the outcome and
reflects the success of his speech and its effect on the crowd. He says the
Goddess of Fortune is with him and She will grant him anything given the
mood of the people. Then he asks the servant to take him to Octavius
Caesar.
(iv) Where does Antony go at the end of the scene? Whom does he join there?
What happens to Brutus and Cassius?
Ans. At the end of the scene, Antony goes to Caesar’s house to meet Octavius
and Lepidus.
He joins them there to discuss their plans and strategies following Caesar’s
death.
Meanwhile, Brutus and Cassius realizing the danger they are in, flee from Rome
like madmen, seeking refuge and safety.
(v) Mention with examples any three of the tactics used by Antony to make the
common people slaves of passion and resentment.
Ans. Three tactics used by Antony to manipulate the common people’s
emotions and incite them to action are: Not directly criticising Brutus and the
conspirators. This leads the Romans to believe that Mark Antony had no
ulterior motives in praising Caesar. By appealing to the emotions of the people
by showing them Caesar’s wounds and using dramatic language to evoke
sympathy and anger. He also constantly refers to the goodness and greatness
of Caesar. This makes the Romans believe that Caesar was unfairly killed.Finally,
he refers to Ceasar’s will to prove that Caesar was not greedy but wanted good
things for the people of Rome and that is why he willed seventy five drachmas
for every citizen of Rome.