JULIUS CAESAR

ACT III, SCENE II

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :
QUESTION 1
CITIZENS - We will be satisfied; let us be satisfied.
BRUTUS - Then follow me and give me audience, friends.
1. Why do the citizens wish to be satisfied? What mood are they in ? Give the
meaning of 'audience'.
Ans. They wish to be satisfied as to why their beloved leader has been
assassinated. They are in a restless and dangerous mood. The audience here means
'hearing.
2. What instructions does Brutus give Cassius?What does Brutus tell the crowd
before he goes up to the pulpit?
Ans. Brutus tells Cassius to go to the other street and divide the crowds. He tells
the crowd that those who wish to listen to him, they should stay there. Others who
want to hear Cassius should follow him.
3. What do the First Citizen and Second citizen tell each other?
Ans. They decide between them. The first citizen will hear Brutus and the second
citizen will hear Cassius. Then they will compare the reasons given to them.
4. What will be the purpose of Brutus' speech to the citizens who are waiting for
him to speak ?
Ans. Brutus' purpose will be to justify the murder of Caesar. He will tell the
listeners that Caesar was murdered to save the country from his despotic rule. If he
had lived, the people would have been treated as slaves.
5. According to Brutus what was the single major evil in Caesar's character?
Ans. According to Brutus, Caesar was highly ambitious. He was so ambitious that
he wanted to be a despot. The common people were just like slaves before him.
QUESTION 2
BRUTUS - As Caesar loved me, I weep for him, as he was fortunate,
I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honour him, but as he was ambitious, I slew him.
1. Where does the scene take place? Who is Brutus addressing?
Ans. The scene takes place in the forum amidst a throng of people. Brutus is
addressing the common citizens of Rome.
2. Why does Brutus ask who he addresses be a better judge ? Is Brutus correct in
his assessment of what he addresses ? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Brutus, addressing the citizens, says that they should judge for themselves
with all their wisdom. He says this to flatter them. No he is not correct in his
assessment because a throng cannot think and act rationally. A crowd cannot be a
better judge.
3. Who does Brutus feel he has offended in his speech? What reply does he get?
Ans. He feels that he has offended none in his speech because no one wants to be a
bondman (slave). When he asks whom he has offended, all citizens say in one
voice that he has offended none.
4. How does Brutus justify that he has offended no one at the end of his speech ?
Who enters after his speech?
Ans. Brutus justifies his stand saying that no Roman wants to be a slave. So he has
offended none. As for Caesar, his death will be recorded in the official records. His
glorious achievements, will not be minimised and his offences will not be
exaggerated for which he was killed. His greatest offence was, he was very
ambitious. After his speech Antony and others come.
5. How does Brutus introduce the person who enters ? Why is he confident that the
person means no harm to the conspirators?
Ans. Brutus introduces Antony to the crowd. He says that Antony had no hand in
the death of Caesar and he will be given due place in the commonwealth. He is
confident because he (Antony) has been instructed not to blame them in his speech.
He should only speak in praise of Caesar.
QUESTION 3
ANTONY - The noble Brutus
Hath told you that Caesar was ambitious; If it was so, it was a grievous fault, And
grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
1. Prepare a one minute speech on what is your ambition at this point of life and
deliver it in class.
Ans. I am a student of class X. I have taken up medical subjects. I want to become
a doctor and serve in some government hospital. Most of the poor who can't afford
to pay big fee come to these hospitals. I shall devote all my time to serve the
patients with all my ability.
2. State two instances cited by Antony in his speech to prove to the mob that
Caesar was not ambitious.
Ans. Antony cites two instances. Caesar brought many prisoners of war back to
Rome. The money paid for their liberation went into the public treasury. It shows
he was not ambitious. Secondly, he was offered the crown thrice yet he did not
accept it.
3. What is the word used by Antony in his speech which is a repetition in a
sarcastic manner (verbal irony) to incite the mob to anger and fury? How does he
cleverly play on the emotions of the mob against Brutus indirectly refuting what
Brutus spoke of Caesar?
Ans. The word is 'honourabe' for Brutus and others. It is ironical. By repeating this
word he plays upon the emotions of the mob. Indirectly he instigates the people
against Brutus.
4. Why does Antony ask the mob to bear with him? What is his ulterior motive in
doing so?
Ans. Antony says this to convey that he is so much overwhelmed with emotions
that he can't continue speaking. In doing so his interior motive is to watch if his
words have the desired effect on them or not. He wants to make sure that they are
ready to revolt.
5. What is the reaction of the mob? What do they discuss among themselves? Give
two instances of their conversation.
Ans. The mob is almost ready to find out the conspirators and destroy them. They
discuss that there is much reason in what Antony says. They feel that much wrong
has been done to Caesar. Secondly, they feel that Caesar was not ambitious,
6. What qualities of Antony do you admire? What character traits are portrayed in
his speech?
Ans. Antony is a good orator. He appeals to the heart of the common people. He
also watches the effect his words produce. The speech shows that he is very
shrewd. He has practical wisdom.
QUESTION 4
ANTONY - O masters, if I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny
and rage, I should do Brutus wrong, and Cassius wrong, Who, you all know, are
honourable men.
1. Who would Antony choose to wrong rather than the honourable men?
Ans. Instead of doing wrong to honourable Brutus and Cassius, Antony would
prefer to wrong himself, Caesar and the ordinary citizens of Rome.
2. What had Antony found in Caesar's closet? What four things would the people
do if they came to know of the contents of what Antony found ?
Ans. Antony found Caesar's will in his closet. They would kiss dead Caesar's
wounds, dip their napkins in his blood, beg a hair of Caesar for his memory, and at
the time of death, leave it for their children as legacy.
3. What reasons does Antony give for delaying in reading the contents of what he
had found in Caesar's closet? How does he incite the mob further ?
Ans. Antony says that it is not proper that he should read the will. It will inflame
them because they are neither wood, nor stone but human beings. Moreover, it will
make them mad and incense them very much.
He incites the mob by delaying the reading of the will.
4. What does he ask the mob to do ? What does he want to show them?
Ans. He asks the mob to make a ring about the dead body of Caesar. He wants to
show them the wounds made by the conspirators with their weapons.
5. Explain - "If I were disposed to stir your hearts and minds to mutiny and rage."
Ans. The words are highly ironical. Antony says that he does not want to arouse
them to a sudden rebellion. But this is exactly what he wants to do and he is doing.
6. Does Antony really stir their minds to mutiny and rage ? Explain.
Ans. Yes, Antony really wants to stir the minds of the common people of Rome to
mutiny and rage to such an extent that they should rush to kill the conspirators.
QUESTION 5
ANTONY - This was the most unkindest cut of all; For when the noble Caesar saw
him stab, ingratitude, more strong than traitors' arms Quite vanquish'd him, then
burst his mighty heart;
1. Which was the unkindest cut of all ? Who have already stabbed Caesar? Where?
When?
Ans. The cut made by Brutus in the body of Caesar with his sword was the
unkindest cut. Before Brutus, Cassius and Casca had already stabbed Caesar. They
had stabbed Caesar in his heart, in the senate hall.
2. Why was it referred to as 'the unkindest cut of all'? What was the reaction in
Caesar's body to this cut? What does it show about Caesars's relationship with the
person who gave him this cut ?
Ans. It was called so because Brutus was Caesar's best friend, his angel. Caesar's
blood flowed out of his body to ensure if it was really Brutus who had stabbed
Caesar. It shows that
Brutus was the best and most trusted friend of Caesar and was not expected to kill
him.
3. Where did Caesar fall? What was ironical about his fall?
Ans. Caesar fell at the foot of Pompey's statue. The ironical part lies in this that
Pompey was defeated and killed by Caesar and now he / (Caesar) was lying dead at
the feet of his statue.
4. What is spoken about the vesture of Caesar by Antony in his speech? What was
so special about it? What was its significance in history ?
Ans. Antony has said that the dress of Caesar was the same which he had worn in
his tent on a summer evening after defeating Nervii. The special thing about it was
that this dress Caesar wore after his greatest military victory. It is significant
because the day of victory was celebrated with a great procession.
5. How did the mob react? What did Antony achieve through his speech? How far
was he successful?
Ans. The mob was moved to tears. Many started weeping. Antony achieved
sympathy of the mob and his purpose of rousing the people to rebellion. He was
fully successful.
QUESTION 6
ANTONY - Good friends, sweet friends, let me not stir you up
To such a flood of mutiny.
They that have done this deed are honourable:
1. How does Antony go on to compare himself with Brutus? How does Antony try
to project himself to be simple and outright to the mob? Why does he do so? Does
he really mean it when he says 'let me not stir you up'?
Ans. Antony says that he is not an orator like Brutus. He is a plain, bļunt man,
simple and outright. He says so to identify himself with the common people of
Rome. No, he does not mean it. In fact, he wants the opposite of what he says. The
words are highly ironical.
2. What does Antony show the people that incites them still further to mutiny and
rage? What does it contain ?
Ans. He shows them the will of Caesar to still instigate them to mutiny. It contains
the fact that Caesar has left for every citizen of Rome seventy five drachmas.
3. What do the mob decide to do at the end of the scene ?
Ans. The mob decides to rise in revolt and burn down the houses of the
conspirators. People are ready to kill them.
4. Who enters after the mob disperses ? What information does the person bring?
Ans. A servant of Octavius Caesar comes there. He brings the information that
Octavius has come to Rome.
5. What shortcomings does Antony have as an orator according to himself? What
would have happened had Antony and Brutus changed their places ?
Ans. According to Antony himself, he is not an orator. He is a plain, blunt man. If
Antony and Brutus had changed places, the people of Rome would not have risen
in revolt. The story would have been different.