Caesar quote

“You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things! O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome. Knew you not Pompey?”

• Speaker: Marullus

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Marullus scolds the crowd for celebrating Caesar when they once cheered for Pompey.

• Significance: Shows fickle followers, a trait of Roman tragedy, and questions loyalty and leadership.

“These growing feathers plucked from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch.”

• Speaker: Flavius

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Comparing Caesar’s supporters to feathers that help him rise.

• Significance: Early attempt to curb Caesar’s ambition and ego.

“Beware the ides of March.”

• Speaker: Soothsayer

• Device: Foreshadowing

• Explanation: A warning of Caesar’s death on March 15.

• Significance: Ties into Caesar’s ego, as he ignores the warning.

“A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March.”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: He repeats the warning casually.

• Significance: Foreshadows doom and highlights Caesar’s dismissiveness.

“It is very much lamented, Brutus, that you have no such mirrors as will turn your hidden worthiness into your eye…”

• Speaker: Cassius

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Cassius flatters Brutus by offering to "reflect" his greatness.

• Significance: Cassius’ manipulation of Brutus.

“. . . yet I love him well. . . . If it be aught toward the general good. . . . I love the name of honor more than I fear death.”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Parallel structure

• Explanation: Brutus values honor above all.

• Significance: Shows tragic flaw (too idealistic) and honor—traits of the tragic hero.

“And this man is now become a god, and Cassius is a wretched creature…”

• Speaker: Cassius

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: He’s jealous Caesar is seen as godlike.

• Significance: Cassius’ manipulation and Caesar’s perceived superiority.

“What you have said I will consider…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Parallel structure

• Explanation: He’s open to Cassius’ ideas.

• Significance: Beginning of Brutus' internal struggle.

“Let me have men about me that are fat…”

• Speaker: Caesar

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: He mistrusts Cassius for being ambitious.

• Significance: Shows Caesar’s ego and awareness of threats.

“I rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear…”

• Speaker: Caesar

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Claims to fear nothing—ironic given he’s assassinated.

• Significance: Reinforces Caesar’s ego and tragic blindness.

“Caesar hath it not; but you, and I, and honest Casca…”

• Device: Pun (falling-sickness = epilepsy + political downfall)

• Explanation: Wordplay mocks Caesar.

• Significance: Cassius uses humor to manipulate and insult Caesar.

“It is the bright day that brings forth the adder…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Compares Caesar to a snake that must be killed before it’s dangerous.

• Significance: Reveals Brutus’ tragic reasoning, justifying murder “for Rome.”

“Since Cassius first did whet me against Caesar, I have not slept.”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: “Whet” = sharpen; Cassius has stirred him.

• Significance: Brutus’ internal struggle begins—tragic hero.

“Our course will seem too bloody…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Argues against killing Antony too.

• Significance: Shows Brutus’ honor, but also his tragic flaw (naïveté).

“Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: He wants to kill Caesar nobly.

• Significance: Emphasizes Brutus’ honor, again showing tragic flaw.

“Dwell I but in the suburbs of your good pleasure?”

• Speaker: Portia

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: She demands to be treated as a wife, not a stranger.

• Significance: Reveals Brutus’ isolation, another tragic hero trait.

“If I could pray to move, prayers would move me…”

• Speaker: Caesar

• Device: Simile (“as the Northern Star”)

• Explanation: He refuses to change his mind.

• Significance: Highlights Caesar’s ego and hubris before his fall.

“Wilt thou lift up Olympus?”

• Speaker: Caesar

• Device: Rhetorical question

• Explanation: Challenges those trying to remove him.

• Significance: More ego, dramatic moment before death.

“Et tu, Brute? Then Caesar fall.”

• Speaker: Caesar

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Shock at Brutus’ betrayal.

• Significance: Shows Brutus’ role in tragedy, Caesar’s downfall, and betrayal.

“Let no man abide this deed but we the doers.”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Thinks only conspirators should bear the consequences.

• Significance: Misjudges public reaction—tragic flaw.

“Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Parallel structure

• Explanation: Justifies Caesar’s murder.

• Significance: Illustrates tragic hero’s honor and downfall.

“As Caesar loved me, I weep for him…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Parallel structure

• Explanation: Rationalizes Caesar’s death.

• Significance: Shows Brutus’ noble intent—but naïve logic.

“Who is here so rude, that would not be a Roman?”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Rhetorical question

• Explanation: Appeals to patriotism.

• Significance: Shows Roman values—but turns crowd cold later.

“I have the same dagger for myself…”

• Speaker: Brutus

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Offers to die if people demand it.

• Significance: Shows tragic nobility and isolation.

“Brutus is an honorable man…”

• Speaker: Antony

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Repeats to subtly discredit Brutus.

• Significance: Antony’s manipulation of the people.

“’Tis his will… Let but the commoners hear this testament…”

• Speaker: Antony

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: He’s pretending to delay reading the will.

• Significance: Manipulation—incites the crowd.

“You are not wood, you are not stones, but men.”

• Speaker: Antony

• Device: Metaphor

• Explanation: Trying to stir emotion in the crowd.

• Significance: More manipulation, flips public against conspirators.

“I come not to steal away your hearts…”

• Speaker: Antony

• Device: Irony

• Explanation: Pretends not to be persuasive.

• Significance: Masterful rhetoric—his manipulation is complete.