JULIUS CAESAR
ACT 2 SCENE 1 – Summary
Brutus is alone in his garden in the middle of the night. He is unable to sleep as he is disturbed whether
to join the conspirators against Caesar or not. He calls his servant, Lucius, to bring him a taper so that
he can read in his study. He has no personal grudge against Caesar but feels that Caesar’s death will
be for the general good of Rome. Lucius returns with one of the anonymous letters (written, as we know,
by Cassius) which is then read by Brutus urging him to save Rome. He promises to take action.
The conspirators enter the scene, led by Cassius and Casca who urge Brutus to plot to kill Caesar. While
Cassius and his host engage in whispered conversation, Casca, Cinna, Decius, Metellus Cimber and
Trebonius are occupied in a trivial talk about compass directions. Cassius has suggested that they take
a mutual oath of faithfulness but Brutus does not agree. He believes it is enough for him that they are
true Romans and that their cause is just.
Cassius then brings up the question of inviting the aged Cicero to join the plot but Brutus reminds them
that Cicero is most irresolute and will never follow any policy consistently to the end.
Brutus contradicts Cassius when the latter says that they should kill Mark Antony too as he was a
Caesar loyalist. Once again, Brutus overrides him assuring that once Caesar is dead, Antony who was
just a limb of Caesar, will be quite powerless. He declares they must not appear as bloody butchers
before the citizens and that Antony devotes his life ‘to sports, to wildness, and much company’,
hence he should not be taken seriously. Again, Brutus has his way to the future ruin of their fortunes.
When the clock strikes three, Cassius asks what would happen if Caesar were frightened by the signs
and portents and refuses to come to the Senate meeting. Decius assures he can make Caesar come by
means of flattery. They agree to meet at eight in the morning to escort Caesar to the Capitol.
After the conspirator’s leave, Brutus’ wife, Portia comes and tries to know what her husband’s worries
are. She kneels before him, claiming her equal rights of wifehood. She reminds him that she is the
daughter of Cato, the Stoic and that she has inherited from her father a belief in the importance of
loyalty to friends and also the capacity to endure physical pain. She will surely keep any secret of
Brutus.
Finally, Caius Ligarius arrives and Brutus convinces him to join the conspiracy despite the fact that he
is sick. On hearing Brutus’ need of him, he regains his health. This shows the great authority and
influence that noble Brutus had over the Romans.
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Significance of the scene-
The scene is very symbolic. The darkness of the night symbolizes the confusion that is in the mind of
Brutus. Brutus asks his servant Lucius to get him a candle. Lucius, who is calm and composed,
contrasts with Brutus who is in a disturbed state of mind. The storm symbolizes the fear and confusion
lurking in Brutus’ mind.
Brutus’ soliloquy is very important as he wavers between his love for Caesar and Rome, but his love for
Rome is greater than his love for Caesar. Caesar once crowned will be as dangerous as the serpent ‘that
craves wary walking’, so according to Brutus, it is better to kill the serpent in the egg itself, than to
allow the egg to hatch and then kill the dangerous serpent. (Caesar is compared ‘as a serpent’s egg’ –
simile)
Brutus is an idealist who believes that other men have the same high principles as himself and by
deciding to assassinate Caesar, lays the foundation for his later tragedy. He is depicted as a public
figure. His sincerity becomes an impediment to recognize the true nature of men and their political
actions. In this scene, we get a glimpse of Brutus as a loving husband.
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1. Give the meaning of the following lines-
a. It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking:
Crown him?---that;---
And then, I grant, we put a sting in him,
that at his will he may do danger with.
The abuse of greatness is, when it disjoins
Remorse from power:
In his soliloquy, Brutus is apprehensive about the future of Rome if Caesar is crowned King. On a bright
and beautiful day, one may get attacked suddenly by unknown and dangerous things. Brutus uses an
example of an adder ie; a serpent that may attack, hence one must walk carefully.
Just as sunny days cause poisonous things to come outside, similarly bad things can come out of what
looks good.
Brutus says that if they crown Caesar, he might then use the power they give him, to do many evil things.
When greatness is devoid of any compassion, that is when power becomes very dangerous or abusive.
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b. Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar,
I have not slept.
Between the acting of a dreadful thing
And the first motion, all the interim is
Like a phantasma, or a hideous dream:
The Genius and the mortal instruments
Are then in council; and the state of man
Like to a little kingdom, suffers then
The nature of insurrection.
While talking to himself, Brutus says that from the time Cassius has provoked him against Caesar, he
hasn’t slept well since he has lost his peace of mind. The interval of time spent between the first thought
and the execution of a dreadful act (fearful mission or conspiracy), feels like a phantasma/unreal or a
horrible dream. The intellect and the bodily powers are then at war against each other. At that point of
time the state of man is like a little kingdom, in which the unconscious/intellect and the body join in a
conspiracy to overthrow the conscious mind.
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Brutus’ Soliloquy
Brutus’ soliloquy reveals his confused state of mind and we sympathize with him. It gives us an insight
into the mental anguish that he was experiencing because of his divided loyalties between his love for
Caesar and his love for Rome.
He begins his argument by saying, ‘It must be by his death’, indicating that he has made up his mind.
Yet Brutus does not have any personal grudge against Caesar. His argument points to the fact that
Caesar must be assassinated not for what he is at present but for what he could become in future.
This tells us a great deal about the kind of man he is. He argues that once crowned, Caesar will be
beyond the power of anyone else to check him. He justifies the killing of Caesar which would be spiritual
and purifying. After deciding to join the conspiracy, Brutus becomes somewhat dictatorial.
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Prepared by – Ms. Reema
