Act 3, Scene 1: The assassination of Caesar

1. Why does Caesar ignore the warnings presented to him on the way to the Senate?
Caesar dismisses the warnings from the Soothsayer and Artemidorus because of his supreme arrogance and
overconfidence. When Artemidorus tries to hand him a letter warning of the conspiracy, Caesar says, "What
touches us ourself shall be last served," prioritizing public business over personal affairs, and demonstrating his
impatience with anything that might hinder him.
2. What are Caesar's last words and what do they signify?
Caesar's famous last words are "Et tu, Bruté?" ("You too, Brutus?"). Spoken after he sees his friend Brutus
among the assassins, these words reveal his shock and deep sense of personal betrayal. Upon realizing his close
friend has turned against him, he gives up his will to fight.
3. What action do the conspirators take immediately after Caesar's death?
To symbolize their bloody deed as a noble sacrifice for Rome's liberty, Brutus instructs the conspirators to bathe
their hands and swords in Caesar's blood. The act is a grim, theatrical attempt to portray their violent act as a
cleansing of the state, but it only foreshadows the violent future to come.
4. How does Mark Antony react to the assassination?
Initially, Antony sends his servant to gauge the conspirators' intentions and secure safe passage for himself. He
then enters and delivers a seemingly humble but deeply ironic plea to be killed alongside Caesar if that is their
will. After the conspirators depart, Antony delivers a powerful soliloquy to Caesar's corpse, vowing to unleash a
brutal civil war in revenge.
5. What crucial error does Brutus make regarding Antony?
Brutus overestimates the power of his logical, honorable cause and underestimates Antony's masterful rhetorical
skills. Against the cautious advice of Cassius, Brutus grants Antony permission to speak at Caesar's funeral, a
decision that proves disastrous for the conspirators.

Act 3, Scene 2: The funeral speeches

1. How does Brutus justify Caesar's assassination to the Roman people?
In his speech, Brutus appeals to the crowd's reason and patriotism, arguing that he loved Caesar but loved Rome
more. He claims Caesar's ambition would have led to their enslavement and that the assassination was a
necessary act to preserve the republic. The crowd, initially swayed by his honorable reputation, agrees with
him.

2. What is the effect of Antony's rhetorical techniques on the crowd?

Antony masterfully manipulates the fickle crowd with emotional appeals and verbal irony.
 Initial humility: He claims he has "come to bury Caesar, not to praise him," which lowers the crowd's
defenses.
 Verbal irony: He repeatedly refers to Brutus and the conspirators as "honorable men," but provides examples
that contradict their honorable intentions. This repetition gradually turns the word "honorable" into a sarcastic
accusation.
 Emotional manipulation: He weeps for Caesar, displays Caesar's bloody body and cloak, and eventually reads
Caesar's will, which leaves money and land to the Roman people. This turns the once-sympathetic crowd into
an enraged mob calling for revenge.
3. What is the turning point of the scene and why?
The turning point occurs when Antony shows the Roman citizens Caesar's bloody, wounded body and reveals
his generous will. This shifts the crowd's perspective from rational acceptance of Brutus's logic to an emotional,
violent fury against the conspirators, marking the start of chaos and civil war.

Act 3, Scene 3: The death of Cinna the poet

1. Why does the mob kill Cinna the poet?

The enraged Roman mob kills Cinna the poet simply because he shares a name with Cinna the conspirator
giving the excuse of his bad verses.
2. What does this scene reveal about mob mentality?
This brief but brutal scene serves as a chilling testament to the mob's irrationality, showing how easily it can
descend into senseless violence. It is fueled by adrenaline and hatred, demonstrating that the crowd is incapable
of distinguishing between a poet and a murderer. The mob's actions highlight the dangers unleashed by
Antony's powerful rhetoric and signal that order has completely collapsed in Rome.

EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS

1. What excuse do the conspirators use to approach Caesar at the Capitol in Act III, Scene i?
They pretend to plead for the repeal of Publius Cimber’s banishment. Metellus Cimber kneels before Caesar,
using this as an excuse for all the conspirators to surround him.

2. How does Caesar react to them?

Caesar refuses to grant their request. He compares himself to the northern star—fixed, firm, and unchanging—
saying he will not be swayed by flattery.

3. Who stabs Caesar first?

Casca strikes the first blow.

4. Who stabs Caesar last?

Brutus stabs Caesar last.

5. What does Caesar say as he dies? What does this mean?

He says, “Et tu, Brute?—Then fall, Caesar.” This means that if even Brutus, whom he trusted, has betrayed
him, then his death is inevitable and justified.

6. Why is Cassius reluctant to allow Antony to speak at Caesar’s funeral?

Cassius fears Antony might turn the people against the conspirators by using his speech.

7. How does Brutus answer Cassius?

Brutus insists Antony will only speak with their permission, after Brutus has spoken, and will not blame the
conspirators. He believes Antony’s words will honor Caesar but not harm them.

8. At Caesar’s funeral in Scene ii, what reasons does Brutus offer for the assassination?
Brutus says Caesar was ambitious, and though he loved Caesar, his ambition threatened the freedom of Rome.
Brutus claims he killed Caesar not because he loved him less, but because he loved Rome more.

9. What does the crowd say it will do for Brutus?

They cheer Brutus and declare they will crown him as Caesar.

10. What does the crowd say about Caesar?

They quickly turn against him, calling him ambitious and even saying he should not have lived.

11. Why does the crowd let Antony speak at all?

They respect Brutus’s permission and trust his judgment, believing Antony will speak under agreed restrictions.

12. To which qualities and actions of Caesar’s does Antony refer in Scene ii?
Antony recalls Caesar’s compassion, his refusal of the crown, his generosity in his will, and his victories that
enriched Rome.
13. What does Antony say about the assassins?
He repeatedly calls them “honourable men” but uses irony to suggest they are treacherous and deceitful.

14. Relate the terms of Caesar’s will, and describe the crowd’s behavior as Antony ends his speech.
In his will, Caesar leaves seventy-five drachmas to every Roman citizen and gifts his lands and gardens to the
people for public use. By the end, the crowd is enraged, rioting, and ready to burn the conspirators’ houses.

15. Why does Caesar say what he does when Brutus stabs him?
Caesar is shocked that his most trusted friend betrayed him. His words express despair and a sense of utter
defeat.

16. In Scene i, why does Brutus brush aside Cassius’s concern about allowing Antony to speak at the
funeral?
Brutus is idealistic and naïve. He believes Antony is noble and will not misuse the opportunity, especially since
Brutus speaks first.

17. Which man – Brutus or Cassius – proves the better judge of Antony? Why?
Cassius proves the better judge. He correctly predicts that Antony will stir the people against them, which is
exactly what happens.

18. How should the people view the conspirators and Caesar, according to Brutus’s funeral speech?
Brutus wants the people to see the conspirators as liberators who saved Rome from Caesar’s ambition. Caesar,
in his view, was dangerous to Roman liberty.

19. How should the people view the conspirators and Caesar, according to Antony’s funeral speech?
Antony presents Caesar as a generous, wronged leader who loved the people, while portraying the conspirators
as traitors driven by envy and cruelty.

20. How does the meaning of the line “Brutus is an honorable man” change during Antony’s funeral
speech?
At first it seems genuine, but with repetition and evidence against the conspirators, it becomes sarcastic and
ironic, showing Brutus as dishonorable.

21. To what different aspects of human nature do Brutus and Antony appeal?

 Brutus appeals to reason, patriotism, and logic.

 Antony appeals to emotion, pity, anger, and a sense of injustice.

22. Which man is the better judge of human character?

Antony. He understands the people’s emotions and manipulates them skillfully, unlike Brutus, who misjudges
both Antony and the fickle crowd.

23. Who has replaced Caesar as the most powerful man in Rome by the end of Act III?
Mark Antony emerges as the most powerful man, rallying the crowd to his side.

24. Has Rome gained or lost from this change of power?

Rome has lost. Instead of liberty, chaos and civil war begin. The conspirators’ hopes fail, and Rome descends
into violence.

25. On the basis of the plebeians’ behavior in Scenes ii and iii, describe Shakespeare’s attitude toward
democracy. Explain the validity of Shakespeare’s attitude.
Shakespeare portrays the plebeians as fickle, easily swayed, and irrational—first praising Brutus, then turning
violent after Antony’s words. His attitude suggests skepticism about democracy, implying that the masses lack
the stability and wisdom to make sound decisions. While exaggerated for dramatic effect, this reflects concerns
of his time about mob rule versus stable governance.