Julius Caesar: Acts 1-2

Angry Tribunes

commoners in street dressed nicely and celebrating Caesar's victory over Pompey and son, Flavius and Murellas (followers of Pompey) separate groups in street and remove decor from Caesar statues

Lupercal Festival

February 15 is feast of Lupercal, celebrates God Pan of fertility (Calphurnia is barren, always the woman's fault), Mark Antony is a runner which is a great honor and touches Calphurnia to cure her barrenness

Beware the ides of March

soothesayer says to beware but Caesar dismisses him, continues with celebration

Seeds of Conspiracy: Brutus

good friend of Caesar but doesn't really want him in power, thinks he is too powerful

Seeds of Conspiracy: Cassius

tries to flatter Brutus to convince him to join his cause, ppl like Brutus as much as Caesar, sent kind and boastful words to him and plans to leave forged letters at his home saying ppl want him as king

Cassius 'view of Caesar

dislikes him, no better than any other man, no special qualities, considers him weak (reminds Brutus of his flaws > almost drowns, epilepsy, and partial deafness)

Thrice offered

Caesar's performance in town square where Antony offers crown 3 times but Caesar denies each time to make himself look humble, has seizure

Ides of march: night before

intense storm, slaves hand on fire but not burning, angry lion but not attacking, figures of fire walking street, owl active in the day (Cassius claims these as a call to action and says this is what will happen if Caesar is king

Brutus joins

frees conspirators of punishment for killing Caesar

Brutus' flaws

sees himself as a noble man with a strong sense of morality and works hard to maintain public opinion, thinks murder is the answer based on theories, plays God as he thinks his sense of human nature is so great he can see into the future, still trying to protect Rome

Brutus' soliloquy

his inner thoughts to himself, Caesar is a snake, power will change him into greed, thinks murder is answer based on theories, ladder > Caesar's ambition is to be crowned and once he is hatched (crowned) he will be dangerous

Conspirators debate

contradictory and unorganized, Debate oath, Brutus says Romans are true to their word so no, Debate adding Cicero, and Debate killing Antony (Cassius wants this), decide no as he is like an arm, decide to say Caesar is sacrifice to gods

Number 3

symbolizes ominous events and death, multiple examples (crowning, Calphurnia's cries)

Portia

Brutus' wife, strong women for time and outspoken,

Portia's 3 reasons

they took a vow, she is not promiscuous; is his wife and loyal, and is strong enough to bear a wound so strong enough for secrets

Decius' visit

Caesar is tempting fate and is scared (puts on mask for wife), shows strength by talking in 3rd person, Calphurnia accuses him of allowing wisdom to be destroyed by pride, Decius manipulates Calphurnia's dream into a good thing so Caesar decides to go instead of fake sick

Major theme

pride is subject to manipulation

Caesar inviting conspirators in for wine

allusion to last supper

Blood

is death and life, Calphurnia sees dream as Romans happy with Caesar's death, Decius says they are being fed strength and life from Caesar's crowning

Artemidorus

wise teacher who writes note for Caesar warning him of future events and will give it to him when he passes

Portia's worries

send Lucius to spy on Brutus to see what he is up too as she has heard chatter and is worried about what will happen at the senate