Act I Notes

Julius Caesar
By: William Shakespeare
Act I Scene 1
 February
15, 44 B.C.
 Festival of Lupercal
 Caesar has just returned from a
victory over Pompey’s sons.
 Plebeians in streets celebrating
Caesar’s victory.
Act I Scene 1
 Marullus
and Flavius (tribunes)
 Plebeians (laborers and
commoners)
Act I Scene 1
 Marullus
and Flavius are furious at
the plebeians celebration.
 Yell at them for being in their best
clothes and not working
 Plebeians use word play to
infuriate the tribunes further.
Act I Scene 1
 Marullus
and Flavius fuss at the
plebeians for being fickle.
 When the plebeians praise Caesar
the tribunes ask,” Why?”.
 Tribunes (M & F) say that in all of
Caesar’s triumphs he has not
brought back anything.
Act I Scene 1
 Marullus
and Flavius plot to take
all decorations off of statues.
 They
also plot to drive the
plebeians from the streets and
back to their work and homes.
Act I Scene 2
 Setting:
Roman street later the
same day.
 Lupercal is for a fertility god.
 Racers touch barren women.
 Antony agrees to touch Calpurnia
Act I Scene 2
 Soothsayer’s
warning:
 “Beware the Ides of March.”
 Caesar ignores the warning
proceeds on to the race leaving
Brutus and Cassius behind
 Cassius is concerned that Brutus
is angry with him
Act I Scene 2
 Brutus
is not angry
 Brutus blames it on a troubled
mind
 This gives Cassius an opening to
question Brutus on his feelings
about Caesar and his scope of
power.
 Cassius
leads Brutus to believe
that others see Brutus as a
leader.
 Trumpets sound in the distance
and Brutus comments that he
fears the people have crowned
Caesar, king.
 Cassius questions if Brutus truly
fears this.
Act I Scene 2
 Cassius
begins to tell Brutus his
true feelings of Caesar.
 Would rather die than have
Caesar lead him.
 Caesar is weak supports with
memories of times when Caesar
showed weakness.
Act I Scene 2
 Points
out to Brutus that true men
control their own fate.
 Points out that Caesar is no better
than they.
 Brutus tells Cassius to let him
think awhile before talking to him
any further.
 Cassius
suggest that they stop
Casca and ask what all the
cheering was about.
 Brutus notices that as Caesar
passes them that he and his
companions look unhappy.
 Caesar has a conversation with
Antony about how he doesn’t
trust Cassius.
 Casca
tells Brutus and Cassius
that the crowd offered Caesar a
crown.
 3 times it was offered.
 3 times Caesar refused.
 Crowd cheered after each refusal.
 Shows crowd does not want him
as king.
 Caesar has a “spell” and leaves
 Caesar
is disappointed that the crowd
did not want him to be king.
 Casca also tells Brutus and Cassius
that Caesar offered to let the crowd
kill him if they thought him unworthy.
 They refused and shouted praises to
him.
 Cicero spoke Greek to the crowd, but
Casca had no clue what was said.
 Casca
also tells Brutus and
Cassius that Marullus and Flavius
are to be punished for disrobing
the statues.
 Punishment: Banishment from
public affairs.
 Cassius has at the end of Scene 2
a soliloquy.
Soliloquy
A
long speech given by a
character who is alone on stage.
This usually reveals the private
thoughts and emotions of a
character.
 In
his soliloquy Cassius reveals his
manipulative nature.
 Plans to send false letters to Brutus.
 Indicates that everyman has his
price.
 Plans to use Brutus’s desires to get
what he wants from Brutus.
 Reveals that Caesar’s crime is
AMBITION.
Act I Scene 3
Setting:
 Roman street one month later.
 Violent storm is raging.
 Strange things are happening.
 Earthquakes, winds, high waves
 God’s are angry
 Bad omen

 Cicero
and Casca meet on the
street.
 Cicero does not let current
conditions bother him and is
surprised that the normally calm
Casca is upset by them.
 Tells things he has seen that
foreshadow bad days ahead.
 Casca
inquires whether Caesar
will go to the capitol tomorrow.
 Cassius meets up with Casca.
 Discuss conspiracy.
 All the things happening are a
good omen for Cassius’s cause.
 Suicide is the only out once the
deal is made.
 Cassius
has already spoken to
other Romans.
 Rome is no better than garbage if
Caesar is allowed to go on.
 Conspirators are named and are
headed to Brutus’s home to
hopefully get him to join.
Conspirators
 Cassius
 Casca
 Cinna
 Metellus
Cimber
 Decius Brutus
 Trebonius
 And hopefully Brutus (Markus
Brutus)
 Brutus
joining the conspirators is
critical.
 Brutus is well liked /Cassius in
not.
 Brutus is from nobler blood.
 Brutus will lend worthiness to
their cause.