Julius Caesar Performance Assessment

Caesar has recently been killed, and Brutus has come out to speak to the people, and give them the conspirators' reasons for killing Caesar, so that they will not think badly of them. He says Caesar was ambitious, and therefore, dangerous. Antony then arrives with Caesar's body, and he too, speaks to the people, saying that he loved and respected Caesar, and did not think he was ambitious, even though the honourable Brutus says so. The Plebiens who have come to listen are convinced by Antony that Caesar's death was wrong, and that he truly was not ambitous, as they all belived him to be because of Brutus' speech.

The significance of the passage is that the foreshadowing we saw before, of the people turning against the conspirators, is now starting to take effect. Brutus was able to convince the people that killing Caesar was the right thing, but when Antony gives his speech, the people's minds are suddenly changed, and they see that there was not all truth in Brutus' words. This is the brink, right before chaos breaks loose in Rome, and everyone starts choosing sides.


Act 3, Scene 2, lines 12-44; 47; 53-59; 63; 67-108

Brutus - Be patient till the last. Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear. Believe me for mine honour, and have respect to mine honour, that you may believe. Censure me in your wisdom, and wake your senses, that you may the better judge. If there be any in the assembly, any dear friend of Caesar's, to him I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men? 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. There is tears, for his love; joy, for his fortune; honour for his valour; and death, for his ambition. Who is here so base, that would be a bondman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman? If any, speak; for him have I offended. Who is here so bile, that will not love his country? If any, speak; for him have I offended. I pause for a reply.

All - None, Brutus, none.

Brutus - Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enroll'd in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, wherein hi was worthy; nor his offences enforc'd, for which he suffered death.

(Enter Mark Antony with Caesar's body)

Here comes his body, mourned by Mark Antony, who though he had no hand in his death, shall recieve the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth, as which of you shall not? With this I depart, that, as I slew my best lover for the good of Rome, I have the same dagger for myself, when it shall please my county to need my death.

All - Live, Brutus! live! live!

1st Pleb - Bring him with triumph home unto his house.

2nd Pleb - Let him be Caesar.

Brutus - Good countrymen, let me depart alone, and, for my sake, stay here with Antony. Do grace to Caesar's corpse, and grace his speech tending to Caesar's glories, which Mark Antony, by our permission, is allow'd to make. I do entreat you, not a man depart, save I alone, till Antony have spoken.

Antony - For Brutus' sake, I am beholding to you.

1st Pleb - This Caesar was a tyrant.

2nd Pleb - Nay, that's certain. We are blest that Rome is rid of him.

1st Pleb - Peace! let us hear what Antony can say.

Antony - You gentle Romans-

All - Peace, ho! let us hear him.

Antony - Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If it were so, it was a grievous fault, and grievously hath Caesar answer'd it. Here, under the leave of Brutus and the rest, - for Brutus is an honourable man; so are they all, all honourable men - come I to speak in Caesar's funeral. He was my friend, faithful and just to me; but Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is and honourable man. He hath brought many captives home to Rome, whose ransome did the general coffers fill: Did this in Caesar seem ambitious? When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; ambition should be made of sterner stuff: yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and Brutus is an honourable man. You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, and sure he is an honourable man. I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke, but here I am to speak what I do know. You all did love him once, not without cause; what cause withholds you then to mourn for him? O judgment, thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason. Bear with me. My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar, and I must pause till it come back to me.

1st Pleb - Methinks there is much reason in his sayings.

2nd Pleb - If thou consider rightly of the matter, Caesar has had great wrong.


Meaghan Pappas and I will be performing this together.
Meaghan: Antony, 2nd Plebien
Nicole: Brutus, 1st Plebien