Julius Caesar

Context Questions

Act I Scene II (175 lines)

QUESTION 1
CAESAR - Who is it in the press that calls on me?
I hear a tongue, shriller than all the music,
Cry 'Caesar!' Speak; Caesar is turned to hear.

1. Who called out to Caesar? What did he warn Caesar of?

The soothsayer called out to Caesar. He warned Caesar to beware of the Ides of March i.e.,
the 15th of March.
2. What is the meaning of 'Press'? Give another meaning of 'Press?
Here 'Press' means crowd. Another meaning of 'press' is the mob, the big crowd of the
common people.
3. Why is Caesar 'turn'd to hear'? How does Caesar challenge the speaker?
Caesar being deaf of the left ear turns his other ear to listen. He challenges the speaker
warning him to come to his face and say what he has to say.
4. How does Caesar react to the warning of the speaker?
Caesar does not take the warning of the speaker seriously. He just dismisses the speaker
calling him a dreamer not to be taken notice of.
5. Who else tries to warn Caesar about the danger which is in store for him later in the
play? What aspects of Caesar's character are shown?
It is his wife, Calpurnia who later warns Caesar as she had a terrible dream of Caesar's
death. Caesar is shown as taughty, arrogant and boastful.

QUESTION 2
BRUTUS - Cassius, Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself.
1. Where are Brutus and Cassius at this time? What is the occasion?
Brutus and Cassius are at a public place in Rome. It is the occasion of the feast of
Lupercal. The scene is soon after Caesar exits.
2. What has Cassius told Brutus regarding the latter's attitude towards him?
Cassius has observed lately that the gentleness and love that he used to receive from
Brutus’ eyes are missing. He has become too stubborn and strange in his treatment to
Cassius.
3. What reason does Brutus give to Cassius for not going to the games? With whom does
Brutus compare himself to?
Brutus says that he is in no mood for games and frivolous activities. He tells Cassius that
he is not a lively and energetic spirit as Antony is.
4. What does Brutus tell Cassius regarding his conflicting thoughts and emotions? What
effects are they having on Brutus regarding his attitude towards others?
Brutus tells Cassius that he is suffering from internal conflict. That is why his attitude
towards his friends has changed. He has been troubled recently with conflicting emotions
and moods which are purely personal, but he doesn’t want his friends to be troubled by
his behaviour. It means no offence or neglect to friends, but he has failed to show
customary respect and courtesies to others.
5. What is Cassius' motive in showing his friendship towards Brutus? How is Cassius
shown to be a schemer?
Cassius has his own selfish motive in showing his friendship towards Brutus. He wants to
poison Brutus' mind by speaking about the growing power and popularity of Caesar
whereas Brutus is no less than Caesar in any way.

QUESTION 3
CASSIUS - Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye.

1. What does Cassius go on to tell Brutus about what the people are lamenting about?
Cassius goes on to tell Brutus that people hold him (Brutus) in high esteem and Brutus is
unaware of his goodness and nobility. People are lamenting that the restrictions of the
present age are not being noticed by Brutus.
2. What 'dangers' does Brutus refer to after the extract?
Brutus refers to the dangerous insinuations made by Cassius. Brutus says that he is not
aware of what oppression is there because being a close friend of Caesar, he does not
notice Caesar's tyranny.
3. How does Cassius offer to show the Brutus his true worth?
Cassius says that since Brutus cannot see his worth, he offers to be Brutus' mirror and
honestly reflects the latter's virtues.
4. How does Cassius convince Brutus not to doubt him?
Cassius requests Brutus not to be suspicious of him. Brutus can judge him to be
dangerous if he laughs without a reason or insincerely express his love to everyone, if he
has the habit of making false promises to gain favour of great men, embracing them and
afterwards speaking ill of them, if he has the habit of professing his views to all the
crowd at a banquet. He assures that he is a trusted friend who is loyal in friendship.
5. How does Brutus portray himself to be truly concerned about the present condition
prevailing in Rome?
Brutus portrays himself as a wellwisher of the common people. He assures that he will
consider what Cassius says seriously, if it is for the general good of the people. He
promises that if the choice is between honour and death, he is ready to stake his honour
for the sake of Rome

QUESTION 4
BRUTUS- What means this shouting? I do fear, the people
Choose Caesar for their king.
CASSIUS-Ay, do you fear it?
Then must I think you would not have it so.

1. Why are Brutus and Cassius alone together at this time while the festivities are on?
Shakespeare emphasizes their importance as key players in the political landscape. It
allows them to discuss their concerns about Julius Caesar's growing power and their
shared desire to preserve the Roman Republic. This private conversation helps to
establish their motivations and lays the groundwork for their eventual involvement in the
assassination plot against Caesar.
2. Why is Brutus not in favour of Caesar becoming king?
Brutus is not in favour of Caesar becoming king because he fears republicanism can be in
danger if all powers are vested in one person.
3. What two weaknesses of Caesar does Cassius highlight to Brutus?
Cassius recounts a time when he and Caesar were swimming across the Tiber River, and
Caesar struggled in the water, requiring Cassius's help to reach the other side. Cassius
uses this incident to imply that Caesar is physically weak and unfit for the challenges of
leadership. When Caesar was in Spain he had a fever . when the ague fit on him, Cassius
noticed that he was shivering, his cowardly lips lost the colour, his eyes that frighten all
the world lost its lustre, Caesar was groaning, that voice of Caesar which told the Romans
to mark him and write down his speeches – cried then like a sick girl and requested
Titinius to give him some drink.
4. How does Cassius compare the names of 'Brutus' and 'Cassius' to the name of Caesar?
Cassius compares Brutus and Cassius' that when pronounced they have the same
emphasis and sound as good as that of Caesar. When written together ‘Brutus’ is just as
 good as ‘Caesar. ‘when they are spoken aloud both sounds equally good, weigh them
both are equally heavy, use them as charms and ‘Brutus ‘has much chance to call upon a
spirit as ‘Caesar.’
5. Brutus comments "I do fear". What does the word 'fear' signify? How does Cassius
interpret the word 'fear' to judge Brutus' mind?
The word 'fear' signifies something happening unfavourable to the individual as well as to
any wellwisher of the good of the state. Cassius interprets the word 'fear' to arouse
Brutus' spirit to rise against Caesar.

QUESTION 5
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber.

1. Who speaks these lines? Who was Aeneas?

Cassius speaks these lines. Aeneas was the founder of Rome. When the Greeks burned.
and looted Troy after ten years of seize. Aeneas rescued his father Anchises carrying him
on his back.
2. Why does Casius compare himself to Aeneas?
Cassius compares himself to Aeneas because just as Aeneas saved his father, old
Anchises from flaming troy, in the same way he (Cassius) saved Caesar from being
carried away by the strong waves of the river Tiber.
3. Who is this 'man' referred to in the fourth line of the extract? What grudge does the
speaker bear against this "man'?
This 'man' referred to here is Caesar. The speaker bears a grudge against Caesar who is
not stronger or better than him in any way.
4. How does the speaker compare this man to God?
The speaker (Cassius) compares Caesar to God just sarcastically, meaning that Caesar is
no God at all.
5. 5. What does this speech reveal about the speaker?
This speech of the speaker shows his jealousy for Caesar whom he does not consider so
great as he has been made to be believed.

QUESTION 6

BRUTUS - That you do love me, I am nothing jealous;

What you would work me to, I have some aim:
How I have thought of this and of these times,
I shall recount hereafter
1. What does the word 'jealous' mean in the extract?
The word 'jealous' in this context means 'doubt'; so nothing jealous means without
doubt or very sure.
2. Brutus is aware of Cassius 'motive'. What is the motive?
Brutus is aware of Cassius' motive, which is to seek Brutus' approval and consent to
join his enterprise in killing Caesar.
3. What does Brutus assure Cassius of after the extract that makes Cassius glad?
Brutus assures Cassius that he will think over the plan chalked out by Cassius
sincerely and seriously. This makes Cassius glad.