“Cassius be constant.
Popilius Lena speaks not of our purposes;
For, look, he smiles, and Caesar doth not change” Brutus at the moment is in complete control and with these words he calms down the very nervous Cassius.
After Caesar has been killed the conspirators are a bit confused, some are frightened and some what to go shouting in the street. Cassius says:-
“ Some to the common pulpits, and cryout,
‘ Liberty, freedom, and enfranchisement! He is rejoicing that Rome is again free, free from Caesar and free from ambition, he is relieved and happy.
Brutus believes what they have done was honorable an that they have nothing to worry about,
“ People and senators, be not affrighted;
Fly not; stand still; ambitions debt is paid.!” Brutus tells the others that they have nothing to be worried about, Caesar by being ambitious has got what he deserves.
Brutus then goes on to say that they have done Caesar a favour:-
“ Grant that, and then is death a benefit:
So are we Caesar’s friends, that have abridg’d
His time of fearing death……………………….” Brutus claims that they must be Caesar’s true friends because by shortening his life they have shortened the amount of time he would of spent fearing death.
When Mark Antony enters the scene Brutus welcomes him , but Antony moves over to Caesar’s lifeless body. Antony says to the conspirators that if they are going to kill him they may as well kill him at that precise moment:-
“ Who else must be let blood, who else is rank:
If I myself, there is no hour fit
As Caesar’s death’s hour,” Antony asks that if the conspirators are planning on killing him he would prefer to die at no other time than the hour of Caesars death. He also goes on to say:-
“…………………………nor no instrument
Of half that worth as these swords, made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.” He wishes that if they are to kill him they must use the same sword they used to kill Caesar, he believes that the sword that killed Caesar is the sword that should kill him as well because it was:-
“ ……………………………………made rich
With the most noble blood of all this world.”
Brutus though assures Mark Antony that they don’t attend to kill him now or ever:-
“ ………………………….For your part,
To you are swords have leaden points Mark
Antony;” Brutus insists that there swords would not harm or even kill him. Brutus them goes on to say, that they consider him as one of them:-
“Our arms in strength of malice, and are hearts
Of brothers’ temper, do receive you in
With all kind love, good thoughts, and reverence.’ Brutus welcomes him with love and respect.
Antony pretends that he is joining them, he shakes all of their hands:-
“ Let each man render me his bloody hand” By doing this Antony is showing the conspirators that he is serious on joining them. He them goes on to say that he will only join them if they can give a good reason for killing Caesar:-
“Friends I am with you all, and love you all,
Upon this hope, that you shall give me reasons
Why and wherein Caesar was dangerous.” Antony will only join if they can tell him why Caesar was so dangerous that they had no choice but to kill him.
In this scene Brutus is very trustworthy towards Antony, he believes that Antony genuinely wants to join them. Brutus also considers that Antony will join them:-
“ Our reasons are so full of good regard
That were you, Antony, the son of Caesar,
You should be satisfied.” Brutus truly believes that Antony will most definitely join as their reasons are most satisfactory, for one that loved Caesar.
When Antony asks to look after Caesars’ body and speak at his funeral Brutus lets him, Cassius though is suspicious of Antony:- “ I know not what might fall I like it not.” He believes that if Antony speaks at the funeral, the crowds will be moved by his words, but Brutus believes that Antony should. Cassius knows this is a mistake but Brutus does not listen to his warnings.
At the end of the scene Antony is left on the stage alone, he reveals his true feelings about Caesar and the conspirators:-
“Thou art the ruins of the noblest man
That ever lived in the tide of times.
Woe to the hands that shed this costly blood!” In this quotation Antony Exposed that he considered Caesar as the greatest man that ever lived. Antony also gives the threat:- “ Woe to thee hands that shed this costly blood!” This shows that though he may be joining Caesars’ killers he truly despises them.
In this scene Caesar is arrogant:- “ The ides of March are come” He is says this to the soothsayer so as to establish he is not taking heed of the warnings, so as not to be afraid or superstitious.
He is also very vain in this scene, he has a very high opinion about himself:-
“ But I am constant as the northern star” By comparing himself to the northern star he is saying that he is extremely important and there is no equal.
Caesar also says that if he were an ordinary man like the others, they could easily change any decision he made:- “ I could be well mov’d, if I were as you” He believes that no one can change his mind , he is Caesar, the best.
I’m not 100% sure that the killing Caesar was the best option. I do believe that he was becoming very ambitious , not so ambitious as to have to kill him.
The reasons on Brutus’ behalf were that he considered Caesar to ambitious, Brutus assumed that killing Caesar was there best option to keep Rome a republic.
Cassius though was just jealous of Caesars’ power. He considered himself as good as Caesar. He believed it wasn’t fair that Caesar had all this power, Cassius should of realized that life just wasn’t ever going to fair.
By Kassandra Greaves-Ramal 9DV
