JC ACT 2 HOT SEAT

According to Brutus, who is the serpent’s egg and why?

Caesar is the serpent's egg because Brutus believes Caesar could potentially be hatched out as tyrant with consequential power should they (the people) give him such power. Brutus is arguing that Caesar hasn’t yet hatched but when they give him the crown he will become deadly and tyrannical. 

What does Brutus mean in II, I, 20-25?

Brutus describes how Caesar is ambitious and uses other as a tool, contrary to what Erik says Brutus says that Caesar uses judgement in the place of emotion, he says that Caesar once he climbs the ladder of success will cut the steps of the ladder (referencing the people), in a metaphor, Caesar cuts off his wings (the people) to fly as a god without such constraints.

Explain the reasoning Brutus presents in II, I, 10-34 for killing Caesar.

Brutus says that he has no grudge against Caesar however begins justifying killing him speaking about how Caesar is dangerous and ambitious and for the good of Rome it would be better to kill him.

What irony can be found in II, I, 46?

The letter commands Brutus to be awake and see thyself, urging him to open his eyes and that Rome needs him to see who he is, however the irony is that it is forged by Cassius to manipulate Brutus, the irony is not only that he is being pulled into an illusion or manipulation but also that he knows it, because it’s something only Cassius knows

Cassius uses a letter writing strategy to trick Brutus into joining the conspiracy. What fault can you see in this strategy, and what does it say about Brutus?

The fault is that the message is so clearly from Cassius, it’s ironic because it’s supposed to be a message from the people yet it talks about something private only Cassius and Brutus know. It says that Brutus who is too smart to ignore this wants to join the conspiracy

What does Brutus personify in II, I, 76-85, and why does he use personification here?

He personifies the conspiracy, he calls the plot evil and acting however he does this to diffuse responsibility from himself and towards the plot.

What is ironic about the question Brutus asks Cassius in II, I, 97-99?

Brutus asks what has kept them from sleeping. The irony is that Brutus himself admitted that he had not slept well, however it didn’t seem to bother Cassius as much either.

What does Cassius ask the conspirators to do in II, I, 113, and why does Brutus disagree?

Cassius asks them to hold an oath, Brutus disagrees because they are noble romans and they don’t need to swear oaths as oaths are for untrustworthy people and would undermine their promise, as they are motivated by virtue of the people not a lie.

At the end of III, who is the leader of the conspiracy? Explain.

Brutus, notice how in the text he is consistently one who speaks the most? Brutus overrules him on every major decision he sets the expectation about Cicero, Caius Ligarious, Mark Antony etc… Brutus is the senior officer.

What kind of person does Casca seem to be? Why?

Casca is a yes man, every time someone says something he agrees and then switches his opinion. When Cassius suggests to include Cicero in the conspiracy, Casca response by saying that he should not be left out: but when Cassius switches his opinion a few moments later based on further conversation, Casca goes right along with Cassius, denouncing Cicero from joining the group.

What does Brutus want the public, or history, to think of him? Explain.

He wants it to be known he did this out of necessity, Caesar grew ambitious and potentially tyrannical; he wanted to be seen as a healer or purger not a murder, so that the assasination would be one preventing a shift in balance in Rome.

What do Brutus, Cassius and Trebonis think of Antony?  Hint:  They each see him differently.

Cassius believes Antony is a serious threat, a schemer who if he were to survive could use his reputation to destroy them. 

Brutus dismisses Antony, he’s someone who is known for being like a limb to Caesar and killing him would seem brutal and bloody, the only thing Antony could do if he really loved Caesar were to kill himself, however he would not do that because he enjoys sport, excitement and parties too much. 

Trebonius believes Antony is not a threat and suggests Antony isn’t serious about politics (live and laugh at this hereafter).

What is ironic about what Brutus says in II, I, 224-228? Explain the irony.

Brutus speaks about how they mustn't act down otherwise people may suspect something, this is ironic because of his previous monologue in line 82 to 90 speaking about the conspiracy as they both referencing acting for the vile deed once morning strikes.

Describe Portia’s character as revealed in II, i.

She’s very devoted to her husband and is daughter of the important man Cato, showing herself to be a “higher class woman”, and is very brave compared to Brutus.

What does Portia's view of marriage appear to be? Explain.

Portia believes when one is married they become one, and that they should share everything with one another, she says in the text that she asks if she lives in the outskirts of his mind? Is she there to just eat meals, occasionally speak to him and comfort him? If that’s all then she believes she is not his wife but his whore.

What does Portia do to prove her faithfulness? Explain.

Portia cuts her thigh to show that she has the discipline to understand anything Brutus says and the mental, physical and emotional strength to endure hardship without breaking.

What is ironic about Caesar’s opening statements in II, ii?

Caesar’s opening statement beginning in Act 2, Scene 2 is ironic because we as the reader know that Caesar is currently under threat of a murder, and Caesar unknowingly acknowledges it. It uses dramatic irony to get its point across. Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not, this is typically reinforced by the use of foreshadowing which Shakespeare uses in abundance through the use of augurers.

What does Calphurnia mean in II, ii, 30-31?

In lines 30-31, Calphurnia is describing how she believes Caesar will die, she sees omens through the supernatural circumstances which have transpired as of recent. She says when a beggar dies, the gods do not send any messages to explain themselves, but when someone like Caesar, a leader, a man of honor, some may say a king, is displayed omens of thunder and lightning then shouldn’t it serve a sign that his life is in great peril? Shouldn’t he be frightened for the gods are signalling to him a storm?

How does Caesar feel about death?

Caesar tells Calphurnia that people shouldn’t feel fear at the signs of death, for death follows everyone and comes at intervals unknown even to the strongest, however the text infers that Caesar does have some fear about the ides of march, it’s exactly why he asks his augurers to check, because he does a have a fear of death he just wants to exemplify that he fears nothing for Caesar is above fear in his eyes.

Why does Caesar ask the question in II, ii, 37, and what does it say about Caesar’s concerns?

Caesar asks for the augurers because he is afraid of death, Caesar isn’t so confident that he believes the omens of death negate him, he believes that it is weakness for him to present fear in the face of the supernatural, however it does show he does have genuine fear regarding the omens presented.

Why doesn’t Calphurnia want Caesar to go to the senate?

She doesn’t want Caesar to go to the senate because she believes he will die, she has seen these supernatural incidents, and the omens, the dreams and believes they aren’t coincidence but fate. If he goes to the senate, he may die, it is known that the Soothsayer had already foretold the idea of March was a grave death for Caesar, so she believes something may happen to him at the Senate on this day.

In II, ii, 60-70, is Caesar angry or gentle?  Explain.

Caesar is angry, he’s annoyed, he acts defiantly and on multiple occasions uses rhetorical questions to undermine Calphurnia’s concerns, he refuses to cite the omens as the reason initially for his unwillingness to go to the Senate on the day.

ex. “Shall Caesar send a lie?” – this line should be said with vigor as if mocking another.

How does Decius “trick” Caesar into going to the senate?

Decius appeals to Caesar’s pride, he tells Caesar he’ll be laughed at to invoke an emotional response from Caesar because if they mock Decius they are mocking Caesar, then when Caesar is able to explain why he’s not going (which is because of Decius making him open up), Decius is able to restructure and rephrase Calphurnia’s omens and dreams by explaining to Caesar why it is a noble dream and actually foreshadows greatness, when in reality it does not.

Does Caesar concede to Decius because he believes Decius or because he heroically accepts his fate?  Explain.

He concedes to Decius because he wants to believe Decius, he isn’t some hero accepting his fate, he wants to be king and badly, we know Caesar is someone driven off of confirmation of his own ego by others, so when Decius is able to appeal to his ego by telling him that he could lift the crown Caesar foolishly believes Decius.

As scene ii concludes, what does Brutus mean in his aside to Caesar?

“You speak as though we are just like ‘friends’ and not actually friends” Brutus feels regret, he knows they are friends and that he is betraying Caesar, it makes his heartache that he is betraying Caesar and that in his heart they may not be friends but just “like friends”.

By II, iv, does Portia know about the conspiracy? Explain your answer.

Portia knows about the conspiracy, we know that she has already confronted Brutus and that Brutus had already promised to explain as such to her, but even if he didn’t tell her we know that she knows because she demands to Lucius to take a look after not just his “lord” Brutus, but also Caesar, and she references how even for a woman as noble as herself she finds it hard to keep a secret as such as the conspiracy is.

Compare and contrast the relationships of Brutus and Caesar with their wives.  Use evidence from the text.

The relationships between Brutus and his wife and Caesar and his wife are very stark because of how Brutus and Portia’s relationship is structured being that of two halves of a marriage, both caring for each other, protecting one another, and serving as each others support, however Caesar’s own ego and confidence supersedes his wife, he blows off her concerns for his safety and is more interested in power.

One of the best indicators of this is how both of them treat their wives in the face of hardship. When Brutus has the conspiracy and secrets around himself he’s worried, he doesn’t know who to speak to, how to speak to her, if he can tell her, but we know from later in the text that he is willing to fall back onto her, while Caesar blows off his wife’s worries for Decius and even when he is convinced initially to stay home the text infers she had suggested intimacy to “calm” him down and make him stay home.

Describe how Shakespeare creates and builds suspense during II, iii-iv?

Shakespeare creates and builds suspense during Act 2, in scenes 3 and 4 through heavy foreshadowing, with Artemidorus's small passage describing the conspiracy, there is suspense that Caesar may find out about the conspiracy through the message, or through Portia’s worries regarding Brutus’s safety the direction is set to make the audience concerned whether Brutus may be exposed for his treason, however that is Caesar using suspense to redirect the morality of the situation, because the play isn’t just about Caesar dying, but Brutus’s own guilt, so instead of foreshadowing Brutus being physically harmed, it foreshadows the mental warfare taking place in Brutus’s mind.

Caesar’s scene with Calphurnia and later with Decius (II, ii) is a perfect example of a

play-within-a-play.  Describe the conflict, the decision made, and the new complication that changes that decision.

The scene with Decius, Caesar and Calphurnia is the perfect example of a play-within-a-play because of its own mirroring of the conflict displayed in the main plot, it displays the new complication of Decius convincing Caesar to instead of staying home with Calphurnia like he had originally planned to instead go with Decius to the Senate. This is a play-within-a-play because it changes the diction, it culminates all the elements and components of the story the audience already knows:

• Caesar’s arrogance

• The Supernatural

• The Conspiracy

It then ties all these events together into one decision, a decision that shapes the rest of the story completely.

When we make difficult moral choices, we look for absolutes of right and wrong behavior to guide us.  Discuss the moral choices that have been made so far by Cassius and Brutus.  What do you think of the absolutes that have guided them?

Both Brutus and Cassius follow the same one principle, that they are “protecting Rome”, however neither of them seem to have the same meaning of what they are doing. Cassius is fully understanding that Caesar’s growing power in Rome does threaten Rome, he knows this because he’s clever, he’s smart and deceptive, he finds Caesar such a large threat because Caesar is the person who can minimize his own power the most, Cassius might care for Rome but he cares for himself more, he uses the “absolute” that no man should have too much power, because of his own jealousy, he wants to be the powerful and his actions aren’t motivated by fear by his own ambition. 

Brutus may believe that he’s being honorable, that what he’s doing is actually protecting the Roman people, but he’s looking for that reason, he knows well that what he’s doing is illogical and logical at the same time, however his moral choices are made because of the questions he asks himself in his own Soliquoly, “Would Caesar abuse his power?”, “Could Caesar’s ambitions become too powerful”. He may want to say that it’s because he’s acting on civic duty however there is no real evidence logically that Caesar should die, he says in lines 82-90 in Act 2, Scene 1 that the Conspiracy is evil, yet he diffused his own role from within, he attempts to convince himself that they have a chivalrous and noble plot when in reality, his own idealism is created by his own moral martyrdom and his principles of honor which are just a construct of his own insecurities.